PREVIEW: Four winners in four races in WorldSSP as unpredictable 2025 heads to Assen
One of the most historic tracks on the grid, Assen has hosted many famous races, however the diversity of talent around this season’s WorldSSP grid makes the upcoming Pirelli Dutch Round a must-watch
Two rounds, four races, four different riders celebrating atop the podium. 2025’s FIM Supersport World Championship season has been full of racing action. Riders like Can Oncu, (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team), Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing), Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) have all topped the podium yet no rider has yet won a second race; limiting points margins in the Riders’ Championship. Will the upcoming round at Assen’s ‘Cathedral of Speed’ bring with it a new contender throwing his hat into the ring, or will a rider lay claim to the podium and begin to carve out a margin for themself?
METRONOMIC MANZI: Race 1 win in Australia, worst 2025 result so far of only P2
Manzi will lead the WorldSSP in Riders’ Championship points into Assen, his consistency at the front of the pack on display once again after a similar run of strong results in 2024, his only negatives were being bested for P1 by Adrian Huertas on too many occasions. If he can improve his killer instinct in races this season will be his to lose. Booth-Amos has found another gear in 2025. He came home from Australia with his first race win – a feat that had eluded the Englishman since joining the Championship in 2022 – and if he can continue to improve than he will be in the title conversation going forward. Bendsneyder has similarly taken a step in 2025, winning his first WorldSSP race at Portimao’s Race 2 and coming into his home round at Assen with strong momentum. While he has not yet won a race in 2025, Lucas Mahias looks overdue to top the podium, near the front in every Race, he is one of the several Yamaha riders who looks to be adapting well to the new and improved Yamaha R9.
ONCU STRONG IN PORTIMAO: Crash out from P1 in Race 2 prevents Portuguese double
Can Oncu looked like he was going to take home a pair of race wins from Portimao, however a crash at Turn 1 of Lap 9 opened up the race and allowed Bendsneyder to complete his move up the timesheet and seal his first race win. The 21-year-old will look to improve his consistency and lock down strong results this time out at Assen. Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) will look to emulate his 2023 outing at Assen, earning a P2 and P4 in Race 1 and 2 respectively. Sitting with Schroetter tied for P6, Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki Racing Team) will look to continue to impress in his rookie season as the sole Kawasaki rider. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) has done well to establish himself in his WorldSSP rookie season, and Assen will be an opportunity for the Spanish rider to earn his first podium in the category. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) had a rocky start to his season after an injury suffered in Race 2, but he bounced back in Portimao for a pair of top eight finishes.
LOOKING TO TAKE A STEP: Oli Bayliss P10 in the Riders’ Championship
Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) has a chance to break back into the top 10 positions after a Portimao round which didn’t quite hit the mark of his back-to-back P7’s in Australia. Michael Rinaldi (GMT94-YAMAHA) had a slower weekend in Portimao than his breakout P4 in Australia, but the Italian WorldSBK transfer has shown he can compete for the top positions in WorldSSP, it is just a matter of making that more consistent. Xavi Cardelus (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) has finished within scoring positions in each race this season, a mark he will try to build on to get more out of Assen. Leonardo Taccini (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) improved in Portimao, He and his Ducati Panigale V2 will look to break into the top 10 for the first time this season at the Dutch circuit. Hampered by an injury prior to the Australian Round, Phillip Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) has had a slower introduction to WorldSSP than he had hoped for, but the German rider began his season with a P10 and P11 pair of finishes, a strong initial benchmark ahead of Assen.
LUKE POWER HOPES TO RETURN: To be reassessed Thursday ahead of round
After his strong season debut at his home round in Australia, Luke Power’s (Motozoo ME Air Racing) left shoulder injury prevented him from racing in Portimao; he will hope to be given the all-clear by the medical centre on Thursday to be able to get back on the track. As for the grid’s wildcard and challenge riders, Ana Carrasco returns alongside Corentin Perolari to complete the Honda WorldSupersport Racing Team duo. Representing QJ Motor, Finnish rider Nikki Tuuli is joined by Italian Raffaele de Rosa, the sole pair representing the ambitious Chinese manufacturer atop their SRK 800 RR. Just for this round in his home country, Melvin van der Voort and Belgian rider Luca de Vleeschauwer will represent their Tracks and Trades Wixx Racing Team at Assen, new faces on the grid atop their pair of Ducati Panigale V2’s.
Catch the World Supersport grid live or on demand at the ‘Cathedral of Speed’ April 11th-13th with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
