A CIRCUIT OF FIRSTS: Assen’s history of providing maiden poles, podiums and wins for WorldSBK riders
After Andrea Locatelli's first win, plus Sam Lowes claiming his first pole and podium, we look back at the other occasions riders claimed their first milestone at Assen
The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s last visit to the iconic TT Circuit Assen was memorable for so many reasons, but a couple of riders will remember it for their first win or podium or pole position. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) took advantage of Nicolo Bulega's (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) woes in Race 2 to claim his first win, while Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) stunned in Tissot Superpole for his first WorldSBK pole position, before claiming his first podium in the Tissot Superpole Race. After a weekend of firsts, who else claimed a first milestone at the ‘Cathedral of Speed’?
FIRST TASTE OF VICTORY: several riders claim first WorldSBK win at Assen
Locatelli is not the first rider to take their first WorldSBK victory at the Dutch circuit, and it actually happened a year ago with compatriot Nicholas Spinelli, who replaced Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) while he was recovering from injury, after an inspired tyre gamble helped him win his first race. The third rider whose first win came at Assen was Sylvain Guintoli, in 2012, with the Frenchman taking the first of nine WorldSBK wins at the iconic Dutch venue. Back in 2006, Chris Walker took his first victory in Race 1 onboard a Kawasaki ZX-10R, climbing from 13th on the grid, and set the record for most races before claiming a win with 131 races before victory; this was smashed by Locatelli who won in his 154th race.
FIRST ROSTRUMS: 15 riders stand on the WorldSBK podium for the first time at Assen
58 riders in WorldSBK history have claimed a podium at Assen, with 15 taking their first rostrum there. Starting most recently, four riders this decade have managed it: Sam Lowes this year, Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in 2024, Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) in 2022 and Locatelli in 2021. Prior to Locatelli, the feat was achieved in 2016 with the late, great Nicky Hayden secured as he secured his first rostrum. A year before that, home hero Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) stood on the podium for the first time while, in 2014, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) did – he finished P2 in the second race of the weekend, as did Sam when claiming his first podium. Davide Giugliano claimed his first WorldSBK rostrum back in 2012 while Leon Camier did two years before. Jakub Smrz stood on the WorldSBK podium in 2009 for the first time, with Fonsi Nieto, James Toseland and Juan Borja the rest of the riders to take their first podium in the 2000s. In the 1990s, Simon Crafar stood on the podium for the first time in 1995 while Paolo Casoli was the first rider to claim their first WorldSBK podium at Assen, back in 1994.
MAIDEN POLE POSITIONS: a handful of stars claim their first pole at the Dutch circuit
Away from wins and podiums, five riders also claimed their first pole at the ‘Cathedral of Speed’. Sam Lowes smashed the lap record to take his first pole, seven years after twin brother Alex took his first P1 in Superpole after a lot of family symmetry at Assen. French rider Loris Baz took the first of his two WorldSBK poles at Assen back in 2014, before ultimately finishing in fourth place in Race 1, while six-time Champion Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) claimed his first pole position at Assen in 2010, the first of 45 poles to date for the #65; he went on to win Race 1 and Race 2. Five years prior to Rea’s pole, Chris Vermeulen took his first as he put seven tenths over James Toseland to secure P1 on the grid for the first of three times.
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