Saturday action went green for the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, but the weather had turned against the 25-rider line-up. Free Practice 3 was wet, meaning that times were far from ideal. As was forecasted, wet weather has played a part but the question is whether or not it will dry up before Tissot Superpole and Race 1. Leading the way after FP3 in the wet, Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who topped a WorldSBK session for the first time.

Looking comfortable in the dry on Friday and now in the wet, Gardner completed ten laps and had a 0.711s advantage over Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). The Spaniard was fast throughout and having been fastest on Friday, he was competitive in the wet, setting his fastest lap on his 15th and final lap. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) took third ahead of Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) who always shines in the wet and at Assen. Completing the top five was Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), having been briefly on top with ten minutes to go.

Best BMW honours went the way of the returning Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW), with the Frenchman taking advantage of the wet conditions which will unquestionably reduce the strain on his recovering right leg. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) put Honda in P7, ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). Setting a fast lap at the end of the session by following Alvaro Bautista, rookie Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was strong in ninth, ahead of Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), with a dry line forming towards the end of the session. Riders who go well in the wet weather – such as Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) were 11^th, 19^th and 20^th respectively.

Opting not to head out on track were Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW), Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), Eric Granado (PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Team) and  Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK).

Top six after WorldSBK FP3 at Assen, full results here:

1. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1’44.648s

2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.711s

3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.999s

4. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) +1.095s

5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometon WorldSBK) +1.125s

6. Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) +1.432s

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