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Manzi heads Bulega in red-flagged WorldSSP FP1 at Assen

Friday, 21 April 2023 10:32 GMT

    • Aiming to take his first win of the 2023 season, Stefano Manzi got his team’s home round off to a great start

    Back in action in the Netherlands and the TT Circuit Assen, the FIM Supersport World Championship took to the track and got their FP1 banked on Friday afternoon. It was a dramatic start after a crash for Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing) and Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) on the exit of the final chicane, bringing out the red flags. However, once action resumed, it was contrasting fortunes for the Dutch team, as Stefano Manzi powered to the top.

    Leading the way for almost the entirety of the session, Manzi was on a mission from the start at a circuit at which he always goes well at. The Italian rider is looking at banking Ten Kate their 100th WorldSSP win and his first of the season to strengthen his title charge. Second place honours went to the Championship leader, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). The Italian finished second, one place ahead of Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in third, whilst Jorge Navarro recovered to P4 and gave Ten Kate Racing something to cheer about on the first day of their home round. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) took top Kawasaki honours in P5.

    Home-hero Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) took sixth place, ahead of Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing), who will hope for more after a promising opening couple of rounds. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) took eighth on his return, ahead of fellow countryman Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), whilst Niki Tuuli (Dynavolt Triumph) was tenth. Tom Booth-Amos (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) was top WorldSSP Challenge rider in P11 and just over a second off the overall top spot in WorldSSP, whilst best Honda honours went to Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) in 22nd. Alvaro Diaz (Arco Yart Yamaha WorldSSP) suffered technical issues in his first WorldSSP session and the reigning WorldSSP300 Champion didn’t set a time – along with Oli Bayliss, who didn’t return to the circuit.

    Top six from WorldSSP FP1 at Assen below, full results here:

    1. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) 1’38.316s

    2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) +0.122s

    3. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.271s

    4. Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.501s

    5. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +0.541s

    6. Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) +0.611s

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