DEFINING STORIES, ROUND 3: Spinelli’s inspired tyre gamble reaps rewards, Gardner takes first WorldSBK rostrum
Round 3 of the Championship was held at the iconic TT Circuit Assen and it provided plenty of surprises along the way…
The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship moved from Barcelona to the TT Circuit Assen at the end of April and it was a round that had everything. Rain greeted the field on Saturday and led to shocks in Race 1 as debutant Nicholas Spinelli (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed victory in his first WorldSBK race. There was a first-time podium finisher in Race 2 as well with Australian star Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) claimed his first rostrum after knocking on the door in the early part of the season. Catch up on the Race 1 and Race 2 action and watch highlights from a thrilling Tissot Superpole Race on WorldSBK’s YouTube channel – and don’t forget to subscribe for more!
SPINELLI’S DEBUT TO REMEMBER: intermediate tyre choice comes off
Spinelli stepped in to replace the injured Danilo Petrucci after the latter’s life-threatening motocross training crash. The #9 was cheering on his compatriot and even played an important role in Spinelli’s shock victory with a pre-race phone call helping with tyre choice. With the track damp but rain no longer falling, most riders opted for slicks but Spinelli went for intermediates at the front and rear, while Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) had a mix of slicks and intermediates. Spinelli burst into the lead from 11th on the grid and soon had a 25-second advantage over his rivals. However, with the track drying, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) were closing him down before a well-timed red flag – if you were in the Barni Ducati garage – at just over two-thirds race distance meant Spinelli was a WorldSBK winner in his first race.
GARDNER LANDS FIRST ROSTRUM: the #87 claims third in Race 2
Gardner had been closing in on a first podium towards the end of 2023 and he was even closer during his home Australian Round. Barcelona was tricky for all Yamaha riders but at Assen, the #87 was back in the grove. He took fourth in Race 1, just five seconds away from victory, and finished in the same position in the Tissot Superpole Race. It was in Race 2 where he finally stood on the podium, fighting for a well-deserved third place to stand on the iconic Dutch rostrum and finishing only a second away from victory, behind Razgatlioglu and Championship leader Bautista.
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