2022 World Superbike Assen, Netherlands – Superpole Race Results

Long live the festivities… Six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea wins race #100 with Kawasaki after beating Alvaro Bautista on a final lap in Assen.

RIDICULOUS
RIDICULOUS https://t.co/QWGSQjc426

— Álvaro Bautista Arce (@19Bautista) April 24, 2022

Starting from pole for the fourth time in five World Superbike races this season, Razgatlioglu got off to a brilliant start as did Bautista who moved from fifth to second.

Hoping to make quick progress after a disastrous first race, Michael Rinaldi clipped Rea’s rear on the entry to turn five. It was a contact that did nothing to deter Rea who overtook teammate Alex Lowes for P3 two laps later.

Setting a very fast pace up front, Razgatlioglu made it difficult for Bautista and Rea to close in.

Everything changed on lap three when Bautista used the Panigale V4 R’s nice corner to close in on the world champion.

Andrea Locatelli, who lost fifth place to Rinaldi on lap one, regained that spot with seven laps to go, while Lowes began to slip back from the top three.

Very close, Bautista and Rea did everything to move, however, Razgatlioglu held on.

But with three laps and a bit to go, Bautista pulled off a stunning move before turn seven to take the lead, while Rea did the same with the Yamaha man two turns later for second.

After leading the final four and a half laps, Bautista was passed by Rea into turn seven, and although a late charge was dropped by the Ducati rider, Rea again held firm in the final chicane.

Alex Lowes suffered a late problem that caused him to miss a second straight score.

As the throttles began to twist in anticipation of the lights going out, Gabriele Ruiu was seen waving his hands towards the back of the grid which delayed the start.

The Superpole race is then reduced from ten to nine laps.

Assen Superbike World Records

All-time lap record – Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Yamaha 1:32.934s (2022)

Fastest lap in race – Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki 1:34.545s (2022)

Most wins – Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki (17)

Winners 2021

First race – Jonathan Rea

Superpole Race – Jonathan Rea

Race 2 – Jonathan Rea

Winners 2022

First race – Jonathan Rea

Superpole Race – Jonathan Rea

Round two of the 2022 Superbike World Championship is being held without Belgian rider Loris Cresson, as Pedercini Kawasaki announced an immediate split ahead of the weekend due to a breach of financial agreements by Cresson’s side.

Cresson, originally signed until the end of 2022, was scheduled for a second full season in Superbike before his contract was terminated on Wednesday.

This means that BSB driver Leon Haslam, who was already due to take part in four generic rounds with the team this season, has been drafted for FP1 and therefore, the rest of the Assen event. Haslam and Pedercini have already agreed to increase his participation in the 2022 championship, but the exact number of rounds Haslam will make remains to be confirmed.

Eugene Laverty will officially no longer participate in the weekend after suffering a big highside in FP1. The Bonovo Action BMW driver attempted to race in FP3 before missing Superpole.

Assen WorldSBK 2022 Weekend Schedule Update

Sunday

2:00 p.m. Second WorldSBK race