Locatelli leads damp WorldSBK Warm Up at Assen, Vierge P3 for Honda
Only 12 riders ventured out in the tricky morning conditions for Warm Up, with three manufacturers in the top three positions
After a Saturday to remember for numerous reasons, the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship heads into Sunday with a very open mind and very open skies. The sun has finally come out and whilst showers are possible from midday onwards, Warm Up will have proven critical for at least the Tissot Superpole Race at 11am local time (CEST). On top at the close of the ten minute Warm Up, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) bounced back from Race 1 dramas to lead Sunday action in the morning.
After the #55’s Race 1 ended in a cloud of smoke, he bounced back in damp conditions and built into the session and took control ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Honda’s Xavi Vierge (Team HRC), who was up inside the top ten in Race 1. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) clinched fourth, whilst Race 1 heroic winner Nicholas Spinelli (Barni Spark Racing Team) was fifth and again in the mix.
In the second group, it was a strong session for Brad Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) in P6, whilst Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) was seventh and will aim to fight back on Sunday after a second consecutive DNF. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was eighth, ahead of Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who made it four Yamahas inside the top ten. Adam Norrodin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) and Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) were the only other riders who went out, with the rest in the box.
Top six after WorldSBK Warm Up, full results here:
1 Andrea Locatelli (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1’44.917
2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0270s
3. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) +0.491s
4. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) +0.785s
5. Nicholas Spinelli (Barni Spark Racing Team) +1.646s
6. Brad Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) +2.056s
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