Assen’s ‘Cathedral of Speed’ welcomed the FIM Supersport World Championship riders for their Race 1 in the Pirelli Dutch Round. The afternoon’s action saw the stacked WorldSSP grid lay it on the line again, with Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) coming out on top for his home fans after a Lap 2 red flag. Oncu held an early lead, but first Bendsneyder, and later Manzi caught him to delegate him to P3

 The red flag was waved on Lap 2, after Loic Arbel and Eduardo Montero collided at Turn 5 with both riders immediately being taken to the medical centre where Montero will be reassessed tomorrow,however Arbel was diagnosed with a lower leg fracture. The race was restarted over a 12-lap distance with the grid based on the Superpole results

BENDSNEYDER WINS FOR THE HOME CROWD: Catches Oncu for P1

 Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) had another trademark quick start to claim the holeshot, establishing a margin for himself at the front of the pack. As the race continued, Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) -who leaped up the timesheet into the first corner from P6- and Bo Bendsneyder gradually cut away at the lead of Oncu until the Dutchman caught Oncu and overtook the Turk for P1. Manzi then seized his opportunity and took on Oncu in the final chicane to claim P2, relegating the polesitter to P3.

MASIA SOLID DAY AT ASSEN: P4 for the top Spaniard

Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) didn’t quite have the pace to battle with Manzi and Bendsneyder for the podium positions but a strong day at the office for the young Spaniard earned him a comfortable P4. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) and Leonardo Taccini (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) had a thrilling dogfight for the P5, the Italian and the Brit trading overtakes until Booth-Amos sealed the fight and claimed P5 and left P6 for Taccini.

STRONG SHOWINGS FROM OETTL AND MAHENDRA: Best results of the season for the pair

For their best results of the season, Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) and Aldi Mahendra (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) earned P7 and P8 finishes, a step in the right direction they will look continue. Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) had a deceptively strong Race 1 at Assen, finishing P9 while he was a mere half second out of P5. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) rounded out the top 10 to claim another top ten for his Kawasaki manufacturer.

CARDELUS, DEBISE, MONTERO CRASH OUT: Cardelus and Montero to be reevaluated tomorrow

Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) was leading the second pack of riders as they pushed to catch Masia and Manzi ahead of them when he crashed at Turn 3 on Lap 5. Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) and Xavi Cardelus (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) crashed on Turn 5 of Lap 5 after the restart and While Schroetter was given the all-clear, Cardelus was taken to the medical centre. Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) and Niccolo Antonelli (VFT Racing) crashed on Turn 1 after the restart and while Antonelli was able to restart, Bayliss’s race ended there. Kaito Toba (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) was forced to end his day early with a tech issue after entering the pit lane early before the session restart.  

The top six from WorldSSP’s Race 1: Full results here!

1. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse)
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +3.228s
3. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +3.930s
4. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +6.298s
5. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +10.800s
6. Leonardo Taccini (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) +10.924s
Fastest lap: Stefano Manzi (Yamaha) – 1’36.952s

WorldSSP action will continue tomorrow for the final day of racing from Assen, tune in tomorrow with the WorldSBK VideoPass!