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When the WorldSSP season kicked off in Australia, there were three names being mentioned in the same breath as ‘title contender’: PJ Jacobsen; by virtue of a crescendo of excellent form in 2015, Jules Cluzel; a consistent and proven challenger, and incumbent Champion Kenan Sofuoglu; a master of the Supersport class.

His new Kawasaki Puccetti Racing teammate, Randy Krummenacher, was more of a question mark. As the paddock now heads north to the Netherlands, however, it is the Swiss rider who heads the Championship standings.

A tyre problem in Australia was a factor that halted Sofuoglu’s charge to the points lead, but the calm and collected rides that teammate Krummenacher has put together so far in 2016 show he is settling into his new paddock well; and that he is a very real pretender to the throne, even as a rookie. Assen is also another track he knows well, having ridden there on 125 and Moto2 machinery.

That said, reigning Champion Sofuoglu was spectacular in Aragón. Crossing the line with a comfortable margin and taking command of the race from pole, only PJ Jacobsen momentarily got past the Turkish rider, with a move that shortly after saw him hit the gravel and crash out of contention. The American has been a consistent scorer in the first few rounds until MotorLand however and will be looking to put the DNF behind him with another challenge for the podium as soon as possible.

Jules Cluzel suffered a more difficult race in Aragón than he did during his spectacular Thai victory, but still came home 4^th to secure another good haul of points. His fight back from the lower echelons of the top ten to get back nearer the podium positions at MotorLand was a great example of the determination he also needed over the winter to recover from his injuries sustained in Jerez last season, and proof if any was needed that the Frenchman intends to challenge for the crown once again.

2011 125 World Champion Nico Terol also showed fantastic form at MotorLand in the first of his home Rounds in 2016. His first podium in WorldSSP came by virtue of an impressive ride from 8^th on the grid, eventually crossing the line in a comfortable 3^rd place, possibly proving the springboard for a lot more podium challenges over the course of the season.

The other key protagonists of the WorldSSP Race in Aragón were the ESS riders, who joined the grid for the first time. San Carlo Team Italia in particular staged an incredible duel just outside the podium positions, and the riders from the FIM Europe Supersport Cup seem set to add a great deal of excitement to World Supersport this season.

Last year the Dutch Round saw a classic last lap clash between Sofuoglu and Cluzel at the final chicane. The TT Circuit Assen looks ready to stage another incredible battle as WorldSSP heads north to the Netherlands, with the lights ready to go out on Sunday at 11:20am (GMT +2), after the grid is decided in Tissot-Superpole on Saturday.