Sykes uncatchable on the wet in Assen QP1
Tom Sykes is renowned for his amazing skills on the wet and in World Superbike Qualifying 1 at Assen the Kawasaki Racing Team rider has shown his whole potential with these track conditions. Sykes has topped the timesheets courtesy of a 1'57.190 lap-time, 1.634 seconds faster than current Championship Leader Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), who scored his maiden WSBK victory on the wet at Assen last year. The two riders finished same way in the morning's Free Practice 1, dominating the field on Day 1 at the TT Circuit.
Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) ended up QP1 in 3rd position, showing renewed confidence after the unfortunate race day at Aragon. The Toomebridge-born rider finished ahead of Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet), who proved to be more at ease on the wet than his team mate and double-race winner at Aragon Chaz Davies, 14th at the chequered flag.
After a small crash in the morning's Free Practice 1 at the Turn 5, Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) was 5th followed by Ayrton Badovini (Team Alstare Ducati) - who lost control of his 1199 Panigale at Turn 16 with 3 minutes to go.
A stoic Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), after the early week doubts on his participation to the round, was on track today - despite his left knee injury - to complete Qualifying 1 with an encouraging 10th place behind Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team), team mate Jules Cluzel and Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare).
Bad news for Pata Honda Team following Leon Haslam's Free Practice 1 crash at Turn 7: Haslam was taken to hospital in Assen where X-rays confirmed fractures to both his tibia and fibula in his lower left leg. The 29-year-old British rider is being transferred to hospital in Groningen where a specialist will operate later today to pin Haslam's leg.
