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Ten Kate Honda's Jonthan Rea won Superpole on Saturday and both World Superbike races on Sunday.
SBK Hannspree World Superbike Championship, Assen Round 4 of 13
World Superbike Hits the Beach at Assen
Assen, Holland, April 23-25th - The venerable Assen circuit has seen many moments of drama but the latest 4.542km version delivered two Superbike World Championship races today that were right up there with the very best. The local fans enjoyed two partial home wins as well, as Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea was victorious in each 22-lap race, riding for a squad based in the Netherlands. He had to work hard on a sunny afternoon in Holland to make sure he headed up two podiums ceremonies that featured British riders in each and every place for the first time since 2003.
Privateer Jacob Smrz was quickest in Friday practice on the customer Ducati 1198R
Privateer Smrz Quickest in Friday Practice
Jakub Smrz was the fastest rider on his Pata B&G Racing Ducati, setting a new circuit best of 1’36.041 this afternoon at a sun-kissed Assen circuit. The privateer Ducati 1098 rider made the best of the slightly changed Assen layout, adapting to it even more effectively than Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) who had tested on the new track layout last week.
Rea was second quickest, despite suffering a late technical issue. The hour long first qualifying session at Assen was halted for a few minutes to clean up an oil spill, leaving only one last flying lap for the riders to improve their early qualifying pace.
The official BMW Motorrad Motorsport S1000RR of Troy Corser was third quickest at the end of day one, proving that the BMW team has made a repeatable jump in its real world abilities, following the team’s best ever fourth place finish at Valencia last time out.Corser was 0.4 from provisional pole man Smrz, on this 4.542km track, which features a faster Ruskenhoek chicane section than last year.
Championship leader Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) rounded out the early top four at the 4.542km circuit, proving his prowess once again at another different layout and character of circuit.
Cal Crutchlow (Sterilgarda Yamaha) crashed more than once in the first session but still went into the top five, making it five different types of machine in the top handful of spots again.
Sixth was the early result for privateer rider Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) and Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia) outqualified his team-mate Max Biaggi today, going seventh to Biaggi’s 16th.
Chris Vermeulen’s comeback ride put him 20th on the opening day for the official Kawasaki Racing Team, but his team-mate Tom Sykes was top ZX-10R rider, 12th from the 22 riders.
Jakub Smrz: “I have a very good feeling with this track and every time I come back it is very satisfying to ride here. I like the new section but I do not have the gearing correct yet for that part, so there is more to come. I am ready for the rest of the weekend and I hope I will be battling for the top positions, especially at this track.”
Jonathan Rea: “We did a nice race run this morning and also went through a few tyres to find the best choices for the race, and I think we will try the best combination of front and rear tomorrow. I am really enjoying riding and in a rhythm now. I do not have to ride on the edge to achieve a lap time. We have more grip on the rear after our test here and we still managed to keep a good front end feeling.”
Troy Corser: “The team has done a great job and the traction control is working very well. The bike feels very connected. Both throttle and engine braking systems have given me a good feeling and our engine is pushing strongly. From first to fifth gear the acceleration is really hard. Overall, the bike is a good package now. Unfortunately, someone crashed in the last chicane when I was on my flying lap at the end of qualifying, and I lost another chance to go faster.”
Superbike Friday Practice: 1. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 R 1’36.041; 2. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR 1000 RR 1’36.339; 3. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S 1000 RR 1’36.489; 4. Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 1’36.618; 5. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’36.752; 6. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098 R 1’36.805; 7. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F 1’37.064; 8. S.Byrne (GBR) Ducati 1098 R 1’37.081; 9. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 R 1’37.165; 10. Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’37.166; 11. Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’37.344; 12. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10 R 1’37.434; 13. Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR 1000 RR 1’37.453; 14. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1’37.462; 15. Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 R 1’37.506; 16. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV 1000 4F 1’37.580
 Sharing Rea's first ever Superpole with his first ever trip to the podium isJakub Smrz (left), along with Troy Corser's (right) first ever placing on the front row of the grid for BMW. Click to GO BIG
Rea takes his first ever Superbike Superpole
Assen, Saturday 24th - The classic circuit of Assen once more played host to a tense period of practice and qualifying, with the new overall length of 4.542km making for new track bests in each class. Six of the seven competing WSBK manufacturers were represented in the top ten after three sessions of Superpole, with a new track best coming in the very final session, a 1’34.944.
Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) won the first Superpole prize of his career at Assen today after setting a 1’34.944 and will start tomorrow’s Two, 4th-round World Superbike championship races from pole position after setting the fastest time in this afternoon’s Superpole shoot-out. It marks the Northern Irishman’s maiden world championship pole start and was made in emphatic style as Rea was the only rider to dip under the 1’35s barrier at the recently revised 4.452km Assen circuit. Rea will be joined on the front row for tomorrow’s two 22-lap races by privateer Jakub Smrz (Pata B&G Ducati) came close with his second place time of 1’35.062. Troy Corser starts from the front row on his official BMW, the first time a BMW has started this high up in WSBK. Leon Haslam went fourth for Suzuki Alstare, having spent most of practice working on race set-up, but having enough left to make a good job of Superpole.
Leon Camier made it five different makes in the top five on his Aprilia Alitalia RSV4, as he continues to strive to find a perfect set-up. Behind the leading handful of riders, the second row will be completed for Sunday’s 22-lap Superbike races by Carlos Checa, his team-mate Shane Byrne and factory Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox). Each rider had perfect conditions to run in, on the modified Assen circuit, with the top riders getting more and more used to the new 4.542km layout, with a major change at Ruskenhoek and a minor one at the right of Hoge Heide.
Of the eight riders who did not make the final Superpole 3 shoot-out, Cal Crutchlow was closest to the final session, with his Yamaha Sterilgarda team-mate James Toseland just behind him and tenth on the grid. Struggling to deal with his machine at this round, Max Biaggi was 11th overall on his Aprilia, Ruben Xaus 12th and a late faller in the second Superpole session. Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare), Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) and Max Neukirchner (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) rounded out the top 16 places, and the fourth row of the starting grid.
The tense and unpredictable nature of Superpole came to the fore again when Superpole started, with comeback rider Chris Vermeulen crashing his Kawasaki Racing Team machine by highsiding at a fast section of track, but escaping uninjured. He missed out on Superpole 2, as did Luca Scassa (Supersonic Ducati) who was 17th quickest, Lorenzo Lanzi (DFX Corse Ducati) and ECHO CRS Honda rider Broc Parkes (another comeback kid). Only two riders, Matteo Baiocco and Roger Lee Hayden did not make Superpole this weekend, qualifying 21st and 22nd respectively.
Jonathan Rea: “I am happy and excited to have won Superpole. I can’t quite believe that this is my first ever world championship pole, so it is good to win it. On a serious note, tomorrow is raceday and there will be at least three or four guys who have good pace, so it will be 22 long laps in each race.”
Jakub Smrz: “Practice and qualifying has gone pretty well, always in the first few places, and we all did a good job. The set-up and tyre choice is good but for sure in the race other guys will be very strong and I think it will be a tough race. A few things will depend on temperature tomorrow.”
Troy Corser: “This is my best qualifying for BMW so far, so I am pretty happy. The engineers have done a great job away from the track, we have done a fair bit of testing and it has definitely improved the bike. I feel more comfortable on the bike now and when you feel comfortable you push more, and can go a bit faster. I am looking forward to the race.”
Leon Haslam: “I am happy to have a front row start, because this weekend had been pretty tough and Jonathan has been fast - all the guys in front of me have. It has been a case for us of finding a set-up not just for a fast lap but for the race as well. The positions have been changing in practice but I have been happy with my lap times on race tyres.”
Superbike Times: 1. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR 1000 RR 1’34.944; 2. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1198 1’35.062; 3. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1’35.306; 4.Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 1’35.330; 5. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F 1’35.693; 6. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1198 1’35.892; 7. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1198 1’35.909; 8. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1198 1’36.405; 9. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’36.027; 10. Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’36.061; 11. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F 1’36.069; 12. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S 1000 RR 1’36.094; 13. Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 1’36.327; 14. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10 R 1’36.348; 15. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1198 1’36.574; 16. Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR 1000 RR 1’35.581.
World Supersport 600 Pole
Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) took pole position at a sun-kissed Assen, despite crashing in the final qualifying session. The Turkish rider set a new best of 1’37.908, to hold off Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) who put in a 1’38.421 today. Sofuoglu’s team-mate Michele Pirro was third quickest, one place up on Joan Lascorz (Motocard.com Kawasaki). Fabien Foret (Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki) went fifth just up on fastest ParkinGO BE1 Triumph, ridden by Matthieu Lagrive.
Supersport 600 Times: 1. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR 600 RR 1’37.908; 2. Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR 600 RR 1’38.421; 3. Pirro M. (ITA) Honda CBR 600 RR 1’38.567; 4. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6 R 1’38.660; 5. Foret F. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’38.780; 6. Lagrive M. (FRA) Triumph 675 Daytona 1’38.961; 7. Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’39.087; 8. Salom D. (ESP) Triumph 675 Daytona 1’39.143;
Superstock 1000 Pole
Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Race Junior Honda) took his first pole of the 2010 season with a 1’39.105, ahead of Suzuki rider Davide Giugliano (Team06 Suzuki). Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) could not add to his pole total of two so far, and now starts this race third on the grid. Michele Magnoni (SCI Garvie Image Honda) took the final place on the front row, in a class with 27 riders on the grid. Danilo Petrucci (Pedercini Kawasaki) was the highest-placed Kawasaki rider, sixth.
Superstock 1000 Times: 1. Berger M. (FRA) Honda CBR 1000 RR 1’39.205; 2. Giugliano D. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 1’39.677; 3. Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1’39.702; 4. Magnoni M. (ITA) Honda CBR 1000 RR 1’39.726; 5. Barrier S. (FRA) BMW S 1000 RR 1’39.897; 6. Petrucci D. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10 R 1’40.374; 7. Bussolotti M. (ITA) Honda CBR 1000 RR 1’40.429; 8. Antonelli A. (ITA) Honda CBR 1000 RR 1’40.434.
Superstock 600 Race
Florian Marino (Ten Kate Race Junior Honda) scored his second win of the year and moved to within 11 points of the championship lead at Assen. He was only 0.154 seconds up on second place rider Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Racing Yamaha) who still leads the championship, on a new total of 61 points. A close fight for third place saw Bernardino Lombardi (Martini Corse Yamaha) take the final podium place, from his team-mate Federico D’Annunzio and Fred Karlsen (MTM Yamaha).
Superstock 600 Results: 1. Marino F. (FRA) Honda CBR 600 RR 17’07.536 (159,130 km/h); 2. Guarnoni J. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 0.154; 3. Lombardi B. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 7.436; 4. D’Annunzio F. (ITA) Yamaha R6 7.709; 5. Karlsen F. (NOR) Yamaha YZF R6 7.871; 6. Lanusse R. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 20.050; 7. Covena T. (NED) Yamaha YZF R6 20.892; 8. Major N. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 21.176; 9. Carrillo C. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 21.194; 10. Calero Perez N. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 21.244….
Points (after 3 of 10 rounds): 1. Guarnoni 61; 2. Marino 50; 3. Karlsen 47; 4. Lombardi 38; 5. D’Annunzio 31; 6. Lanusse 30; 7. Fanelli 25; 8. Major 20;
Rea takes the Superbike Double for Honda as the spectators win big at Assen
Race Day, Sunday 25th - The venerable Assen circuit has seen many moments of drama but the latest 4.542km version delivered two Superbike World Championship races today that were right up there with the very best. The local fans enjoyed two partial home wins as well, as Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea was victorious in each 22-lap race, riding for a squad based in the Netherlands. He had to work hard on a sunny afternoon in Holland to make sure he headed up two podiums ceremonies that featured British riders in each and every place for the first time since 2003.
A two-day test at Assen in the period after the last round at Valencia allowed Jonathan and his Dutch crew to make a major change in his set-up, and this had instant and repeatable results at the new length Circuit van Drenthe.
In both races Troy Corser on the factory BMW would immediately take the lead from his front row grid, holding hold the race lead until the mod point of the races when the BMW's race setup or power delivery would cause the tires to go away, and Troy would be relegated back to 5th place by the end of each race.
 Jonthan Rea (center) shared the podium both races with Haslem (left) and Toseland (right).
RACE ONE: Toseland and Rea Battle for the Win on the Final lap
Rea won a close opening race at Assen with two strong laps right at the end, finishing one second ahead of fellow Britons James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda) and Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia). This was Camier’s first SBK podium finish, and it was memorable one. Slow-starting Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) was a good fourth, with the BMW of Troy Corser fifth, having led for much of the race. Leon Haslam (Alstare Suzuki), the championship leader, struggled to 11th with a partial puncture. Suzuki, Ducati, Aprilia and now Honda machines have all won races in WSB so far this year.
Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike rider James Toseland made every lap count in Assen today, storming to two podium finishes and claiming hard earned points which move him up the championship table. The first race saw the British rider tear through the pack from his tenth place grid start position, making short work of his competitors with clean decisive overtakes, making up eight places to sit in second by just past mid-race point behind leader Jonathan Rea. An inspired overtake three laps to the end on the penultimate corner saw him temporarily lead the race, however Rea was able to get past at the end of the start straight, securing the win just 1.1 seconds ahead of Toseland.
Superbike Race 1: (Laps 22 = 99,924 Km)
Pos / Rider / Nat. / Team / Gap
1 / J. REA / GBR / Honda CBR1000RR / HANNspree Ten Kate Honda / 35'38.483
2 / J. TOSELAND / GBR / Yamaha YZF R1 / Yamaha Sterilgarda Team / 1.106
3 / L. CAMIER / GBR / Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. / Aprilia Alitalia Racing / 1.249
4 / C. CHECA / ESP / Ducati 1098R / Althea Racing / 1.548
5 / T. CORSER / AUS / BMW S1000 RR / BMW Motorrad Motorsport / 2.738
6 / M. BIAGGI / ITA / Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. / Aprilia Alitalia Racing / 2.813
7 / J. SMRZ / CZE / Ducati 1098R / Team PATA B&G Racing / 6.296
8 / C. CRUTCHLOW / GBR / Yamaha YZF R1 / Yamaha Sterilgarda Team / 12.022
9 / S. BYRNE / GBR / Ducati 1098R / Althea Racing / 12.146
10 / N. HAGA / JPN / Ducati 1098R / Ducati Xerox Team / 19.753
11 / L. HASLAM / GBR / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / Team Suzuki Alstare / 22.204
12 / T. SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki ZX 10R / Kawasaki Racing Team / 22.282
13 / M. FABRIZIO / ITA / Ducati 1098R / Ducati Xerox Team / 22.780
14 / S. GUINTOLI / FRA / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / Team Suzuki Alstare / 23.364
15 / L. SCASSA / ITA / Ducati 1098R / Supersonic Racing Team / 37.097
Fastest Lap 5° Carlos Checa 1'36.413 169,595 Km/h
 Jonthan Rea fights off Haslem, Corser and Biaggi in Race 2.
RACE TWO: Rea battles Halsam, Camier, Toseland and Corser Again
The last double win for Honda happened in the UK in 2008 but today Jonathan Rea took a double on his CBR1000RR in the Netherlands, by winning race two by 1.942 seconds. The extent of his final victory did not do justice to the second combative race of the day, with the top six or seven riders frequently riding and fighting as one. Haslam overcame his race one troubles to go second. Third was James Toseland to give the second all British podium of the day. Max Biaggi was a strong fourth, Troy Corser fifth, after another classic race at the classic circuit of Assen. Sixth came Phillip Island race winner Carlos Checa on his Althea Ducati, only just ahead of another Ducati privateer, Pata B&G racing rider Jakub Smrz.
Race two and again Toseland charged through the pack, making fifth position by lap seven. He spent several laps following a furious battle in the top four between Haslam, Rea, Corser and Camier before slipping through and fighting his own battle to take third. Positions changed several times in the tightly bunched pack however he held onto third over the line for his second podium of the day. Team mate Crutchlow had a less fortunate race, with a technical issue with the rear suspension forcing an early retirement. And poor Camier would crash whle fighting with the front runners agin.
Troy left Assen today, happy with two fifth places on his BMW S 1000 RR and is already looking forward to his next race. After what seems a long time Troy now has a bike that can compete with the best, thanks to the recent good work done by the team. Troy got the holeshot, led the first race for ten laps and looked in command until his tyres started going off five or six laps or so before the end. He didn’t get the holeshot in race two, but charged past Jonathan Rea (Honda) after seven laps and once again controlled things from the front. This time his lead lasted four laps, but at least he showed that he and the bike can run at the front for more than just one lap. Corser is now overall seventh, on 68 points. Ruben Xaus fell in race one but got a top ten in race two on the other factory BMW.
A troubled time for the official Ducati team continued at Assen, as Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) retired in race two, and was only 11th in race one. His team-mate Michel Fabrizio scored in each race, 13th and 12th respectively. Checa was the highest placed Ducati rider today, fourth in the opener.
Jonathan Rea, Hannspree Ten Kate Honda: 1st and 1st - 3rd overall. “It feels like a home win because I have spent the past two weeks here in my motor home behind the Ten Kate workshops. It has been great today and I could not have done this without my team. They gave me a fantastic bike. We changed the balance of the bike for this weekend and made it more comfortable. Both races are probably the smartest races I have ever ridden. I never got frustrated in traffic and when it was time to pull the pin I did. I am really happy with the double. It was a clean sweep, so I am proud as punch and I cannot wait to take this result on. I will savour the moment.”
James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team, (2nd, 3rd) - "We've had another tough weekend, especially Friday and Saturday, but we've pulled through. Once again the team has worked fantastically well, especially this morning, we had a new linkage system on the rear end just to try and sort some issues and it seems to have worked. It's been a long weekend but to come from tenth on the grid and get a second and a third, two podiums is just a great result for me and the team. It's been coming slowly, we've come from far behind in the first two races so it's fantastic to be up there at the front and fighting. There are a lot of Brits out there, and we're all racing at the front and doing a great job, everybody deserves to be in it. I've had great support from my family and friends and want to thank everyone for supporting me in getting back to where I should be."
Troy Corser, Team BMW 5th and 5th - "The podium was not far off, but I’m really happy how today and this weekend has gone. It was really good to lead a race again - and not just for one lap! I felt very comfortable in the lead both times and enjoyed riding the bike without thinking about it. Now, I’m looking forward to getting back on the bike again and going racing! I always knew that we would get to this stage, but I didn’t know when it would happen. Our bike is as fast as anything out there, except for maybe the Aprilias, and the only thing I am missing now is getting out of the turns as quickly as some of my competitors. I suffered a bit in the final chicane, but was pretty much a match for everybody else in the rest of the track. The rear tyre didn’t last long enough in race one, so I had to adjust the electronics to compensate for it and that slowed me a little in the second part of the race.
"In race two, the rear was pretty chewed up at the end, but I was happy in both races because I felt I was actually racing for a podium, not just riding around for points.
The racing was really close today and many times we nearly touched elbows or handlebars and it must have great viewing for the fans at the track and on TV. I got pushed out a few times, but it was all pretty fair and just normal for this series. Now that I am comfortable on the bike I don’t mind the cut and thrust because it is part of the package and I can give as good as I get. I know I probably don’t say this often, and probably not this season so far, but today I am very happy!"
Superbike Race 2: (Laps 22 = 99,924 Km)
Pos / Rider / Nat. / Team / Gap
1 / J. REA / GBR / Honda CBR1000RR / HANNspree Ten Kate Honda / 35'43.137
2 / L. HASLAM / GBR / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / Team Suzuki Alstare / 1.942
3 / J. TOSELAND / GBR / Yamaha YZF R1 / Yamaha Sterilgarda Team / 3.928
4 / M. BIAGGI / ITA / Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. / Aprilia Alitalia Racing / 4.067
5 / T. CORSER / AUS / BMW S1000 RR / BMW Motorrad Motorsport / 4.176
6 / C. CHECA / ESP / Ducati 1098R / Althea Racing / 4.525
7 / J. SMRZ / CZE / Ducati 1098R / Team PATA B&G Racing / 4.682
8 / S. BYRNE / GBR / Ducati 1098R / Althea Racing / 7.698
9 / M. NEUKIRCHNER / GER / Honda CBR1000RR / HANNspree Ten Kate Honda / 9.903
10 / R. XAUS / ESP / BMW S1000 RR / BMW Motorrad Motorsport / 11.465
11 / L. SCASSA / ITA / Ducati 1098R / Supersonic Racing Team / 15.489
12 / M. FABRIZIO / ITA / Ducati 1098R / Ducati Xerox Team / 23.604
13 / S. GUINTOLI / FRA / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / Team Suzuki Alstare / 29.085
14 / C. VERMEULEN / AUS / Kawasaki ZX 10R / Kawasaki Racing Team / 35.401
15 / M. BAIOCCO / ITA / Kawasaki ZX 10R / Team Pedercini / 44.330
Fastest Lap 2° Jonathan Rea 1'36.312 169,773 Km/h
Lap Record: New track.
Best Lap: 2010 Jonathan Rea 1'34.944 172,220 Km/h
Riders Championship Standings:
1 HASLAM 148, 2 BIAGGI 128, 3 REA 110, 4 CHECA 103, 5 TOSELAND 86, 6 HAGA 85,
7 CORSER 68, 8 GUINTOLI 55, 9 FABRIZIO 53, 10 CRUTCHLOW 49, 11 CAMIER 48,
12 BYRNE 48, 13 SMRZ 38, 14 LANZI 26, 15 XAUS 25.
World Supersport Laverty wins again as top three move on up
Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) made it two wins in consecutive seasons at Assen, as he also won his second race of 2010 today. In second place today, Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com) now leads the title battle on 85 points, with third place finisher at Assen, Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), second in the series on 77 points. Laverty is now third overall, on 66 points, with nine races to go. Chaz Davies took his Triumph ParkinGO BE1 machine to fourth place, ahead of Matthieu Lagrive’s similar bike. Davies is not top Daytona 675 rider overall, fourth on 46 points.
Eugene Laverty, Parkalgar Honda 1st - “That was fantastic for us. I was not expecting to ride away at the front like I did at the end, but I knew the bike would be getting better as the race went on, so I stayed up there. When Lascorz passed me inside I passed him again at turn three, which isn’t a regular passing place. The gap just kept going up and that left me an easy last lap compared to last year. A fantastic weekend and a big thank you to all the team.”
600cc World Supersport Results: 1. Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR 600 RR 34’45.753; 2. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2.796; 3. Sofuoglu (TUR) Honda CBR 2.962; 4. Davies C. (GBR) Triumph Daytona 675 23.040; 5. Lagrive M. (FRA) Triumph 675 Daytona 26.338; 6. Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR 600 RR 32.544; 7. Rea G. (GRB) Honda CBR 600 RR 36.591; 8. Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 36.697; 9. Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR 600 RR 36.879; 10. Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR 600 RR…..
Championship standing (after 4 rounds of 13): 1. Lascorz 85; 2. Sofuoglu 77; 3. Laverty 66; 4. Davies 46; 5. Harms 35; 6. Rea 33; 7. Salom 32; 8. Foret 28; 9. Roccoli 24; 10. Fujiwara 23
Manufacturers standing: 1. Honda 95; 2. Kawasaki 85; 3. Triumph 55
Badovini the boss in 1000 Superstock on raceday
Ayrton Badovini (BMW Moytorrad Italia) won his third race in succession today, outpacing pole man Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Race Junior Honda) and Davide Giugliano (Team 06 Suzuki). Three podium places occupied by three different makes of machinery. Michele Magnoni (SCI Honda Garvie Image) was fourth in the race, a second up on Sylvain Barrier (BMW Garnier) after Loris Baz (MRS Yamaha) fell late in the race. After three rounds, Badovini now has 75 points, Giugliano 45, with Berger and Barrier on 40 points each.
1000cc European Superstock Results: 1. Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 21’44.147 (162,192 kmh); 2. Berger M. (FRA) Honda CBR 1000 RR 2.213; 3. Giugliano D. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 4.323; 4. Magnoni M. (ITA) Honda CBR 1000 RR 6.977; 5. Barrier S. (FRA) BMW S1000 RR 9.812; 6. Antonelli A. (ITA) Honda CBR 1000 16.677; 7. Petrucci D. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 16.713; 8. Mahr R. (AUT) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 17.069; 9. Baroni L. (ITA) Ducati 1198 17.198; 10. Tutusaus P.(ESP) KTM 1198 RC8R 18.927
Championship standing (after 3 rounds of 13): 1. Badovini 75; 2. Giugliano 45 ; 3. Berger 40; 4. Barrier 40; 5. Antonelli 28; 6. Baz 27; 7. Magnoni 27; 8. Tutusaus 20; 9. Petrucci 19; 10. Bussolotti 18
Manufacturers standing: 1. BMW 75; 2. Honda 53; 3. Suzuki 45; 4. Yamaha 27; 5. KTM 20; 6. Kawasaki 19; 7. Ducati 13; 8. Aprilia 9
 Yoshimura of Japan's World Superbikes await ready to air ship.
Yoshimura World Superbike Debute Delayed by Volcano Until Monza
Japan, April 26th - Following its 2010 World Superbike no show at the weekend's fourth round at Assen in Holland, due to flight restrictions in Europe caused by the Icelandic volcano eruption, the Japanese Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team is now set to debut at the Italian fifth round at Monza next month.
With European flights cancelled from Tokyo Narita airport last week, the team was unable to make the grid for the first of three 2010 World Superbike wildcard entries. But last-minute permission has now been granted by the Italian organisers which will see the team - and long-time Team Suzuki rider Yukio Kagayama - take part at the race on May 9th.
Said Yoshimura Team Manager Yohei Kato: "Since our Assen WSBK cancellation due to the airline chaos caused by volcanic activities in Iceland, the Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team has been working to reschedule its debut and we will now participate at the next round in Monza. Without the support from everyone, it could not have been done and we are glad to have this opportunity to challenge at this stage."
Yoshimura Suzuki's new 2010 schedule - and riders participating at each round - is now:
May 9th: Monza, Italy - Yukio Kagayama.
September 26th: Imola, Italy - Daisaku Sakai.
October 3rd: Magny-Cours, France - Yukio Kagayama.
 Playboy Playmates, red haired Jamie Edmonson left, and blond Heather Rae Young right, are FastDates.com's newest Calendar Kittens. Photo by Josh Ryan.
Playboy's hottest new Playmates become FastDates.com Calendar Kittens
and Team Ducati Corse Grid Girls at Miller USA World Superbike
Jamie and Heather appearing at 2010's Miller USA World Superbike May 29-31st
with team Ducati Corse and at the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show July 18th!
Los Angeles, CA, April 1st, 2010 - Playboy magazine's beautiful new 2010 Playmates, Miss January Jamie Faith Edmonson, and Miss February Heather Rae Young, have been confirmed by FastDates.com Calender producer Jim Gianatsis to be the official SBK World Superbike Fast Dates Calendar Kittens at the Miller Motorsports USA World Superbike round May 29-31st 2010 to photograph the next Fast Dates World Superbike PinUp Calendar with all the top factory team race bikes. Both Calendar Kittens have also been confirmed by multi-time SBK World Championship winning team Ducati Corse to be their official grid girls on race day for their two factory riders, Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio.
 At last year's Miller WSB round, Calendar Kittens Sabella Shake and Leanna Paragena (above) served as the offical Ducati Corse grid girls for Michel Fabrizio and Nori Haga. See more in Fast Dates Calendar News.
The beautiful Calendar Kittens will also be hosting the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show & Calendar Girl Music Festival at the Queen Mary Event Park in Long Beach on Sunday July 18th. They will be premiering the new 2011 FastDates,com Calendars, meeting with Calendar fans throughout the day, and hosting on-stage activities including the the Calendar Girl Music Festival and the Calendar Bike Building Championship awards ceremony.
Heather Rae Young has already been shooting with the FastDates.com Calendars since last fall and will be featured on the covers and inside of all three editions of the 2011 Fast Dates.com Calendars which will be premiering at the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show in July. In the new 2011 Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar, Heather is posing with American Ben Spies' 2009 World Superbike Championship winning factory Yamaha YZF R1 World Superbike and with Casey Stoner's Ducati GP09 MotoGP bike.
Heather is good friends with Jaime Edmonson from their various promotional duties together as Playboy Playmates, and it didn't take much effort for Heather to convince Jim Gianatsis that Jaime needed to join FastDates.com for both these exciting event weekends and too shoot for the Calendars.
Jaime Faith Edmonson was recently the fourteenth-season contestant on TV's "Amazing Race" where finished in second place with girlfriend Carla Rosenthal. Last summer Jaimie moved to Los Angeles from her home state of Florida for her modeling and acting career, having been a former City of St. Petersburg Police Officer and Miami Dolphins Cheerleader. Originally from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Jaime moved into the famed Playboy Bunny House while shooting her Playmate pictorial and to appear as a cast member on the E! Channel's hit reality TV Series "The Girls Next Door".
Both Heather's and Jamie's photo shots this year at Miller USA World Superbike with Jim GIanatsis will be featured in the 2012 FastDates.com Calendars for release on July 1st. next year 2011. But you can meet both Kittens together this year as they premier the new 2011 Calendars at the July 18th 2010 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show & Calendar Girl Music Festival at the Queen Mary Event Park, Long Beach, CA.
The Making of the FastDates.com Calendars now on DVD!
Sure, we may be slow getting around to some things, one of those being the re mastering of our infamous Making of the FastDates.com Calendars movies from VHS tape to high definition DVD. But now thanks to the help of Amazon.com we've entered the 21st century and you can stuff into your Computer or Big Screen DVD player the fastest, hottest, wettest, sexiest motorcycle movies ever made!
We guarantee you'll be left breathless by the incredible bikes, locations and beautiful girls. But don't wait to get those sticky rental copies of these exciting new FastDates.com Calendar DVD s from your your local rental dive. Be the hero of the next Race Watch or Bachelor's Party by getting your very own DVD copies over night from Amazon.com to hide under your bed from your mom, or download them now directly to your computer. The making of the FasDates.com Calendars DVD movies are available from Amazon.com and in the FastDates.com Video Store.
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Jim Gianatsis featured in Barnett's Magazine
April 2010 - The current issue of Barnett's Magazine features an interview with FastDates.com and
LA Calendar Motorcycle Show producer Jim Gianatsis. Interviewed by editor Wendy Manning at the 2009 Calendar Show, Jim talks about the Show, the current state of the motorcycle industry, and the haunted Queen Mary Ghost Ship where the Show takes place every 3rd weekend of July. This year's 19th annual LA Calendar Motorcycle Show takes place on Sunday July 18th. Be sure to join us!
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Double Dutch for Ten Kate Hannespree Honda at Home Track
Assen April 26th - Honda’s Jonathan Rea stamped an indelible mark on the 2010 World Superbike championship today by winning both fourth round races at Assen in Holland – his third and fourth championship wins, the first of this season and his debut double.
Rea’s stunning weekend performance also included his maiden world championship pole position after yesterday’s Superpole and the fastest lap of the weekend in a dramatic and thrilling race two – setting a new lap record for the revised 4.452km Dutch circuit.
In race one, Rea battled with Troy Corser and Leon Camier in the early laps before stretching out a lead from James Toseland, who finished second, with Camier third. Race two was a stunning Assen classic, as the 23-year-old Rea traded places with Corser, Camier and series leader Leon Haslam, eventually leading Haslam home by almost two seconds.
Rea’s results today have leapfrogged him from fi fth to third in the championship points standings, with 18 points separating him from second placed Max Biaggi.
It was an encouraging weekend, too, for Rea’s Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Max Neukirchner. The German, who celebrated his birthday just a few days ago, bounced back from a race one crash to record his best result of the season with ninth in race two.
Neukirchner has altered the set up of his Honda CBR1000RR significantly recently and has had to adapted his riding style as well. Starting from 16th place on the grid, the 27-year-old was encouraged to be matching the lap times of the leading riders throughout race two.
Jonathan Rea, 1st and 1st - You know, it’s been great, but I couldn’t have done it without my team; they gave me a fantastic bike today, so thanks to everyone – my crew chief, data guy, suspension guy, everyone involved. We changed the balance of the b ike quite a lot for this weekend and it’s made it more comfortable to ride. I guess you could say that today’s two races were probably the smartest I’ve ever ridden; I never got frustrated or caught in traffic and, when it was time to pull the pin, I did, and I’m really, really happy with the double. It’s a clean sweep with pole position, a double win and, I think the fastest lap, so I’m as proud as punch and I can’t wait to take this home. I’m looking forward to getting back into the swing of things and going to Monza but we’ll definitely savour the moment and I’ll stick around the hospitality this evening and definitely by the big boss a drink!
Max Neukirchner, 20th and 9th -We have changed the bike a lot this week and I adapted my riding style a bit better this morning in warm-up so we thought we could improve more in the race. The problem was that, although the settings were the same I hadn’t ridden this new style, which requires braking further into the corner, with a full tank. Anyway, I ended up losing the front, but brought the bike home. We went harder at the front and the rear for race two and it worked for me, so it feels like a great step forward today. I can’t wait to get to Monza – not only to close the book there after last year’s crash, but to improve the bike further. I’m also very happy for Johnny, who did a great job here this weekend. In fact, it’s been a good step forward for the whole team.
Ronald ten Kate, team-manager-
It’s quite difficult to describe our feelings at the moment. Jonathan’s clean sweep this weekend happened to be completed in one of the most exciting races we’ve seen. His victories also put us back in contention for the championship race. The second outing also showed a breakthrough fo r Max who has been working so hard to change his riding style this weekend. It’s paid off with his best result of the season and the whole performance of the team gives us something solid to build on as we head into the middle part of the season.
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HASLAM INCREASES WORLD SUPERBIKE LEAD AT ASSEN
Team Suzuki Press Office - April 25 -
Team Suzuki Alstare rider Leon Haslam recovered from a disappointing 11th place in race one of the Assen World Superbike fourth round in Holland today to take runner-up spot in race two and extend his World Championship lead.
His main rivals - Max Biaggi (Aprilia) and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) - were unable to fully-capitalise on his lower-than-normal placing in the opener and Biaggi now trails the GSX-R1000-mounted Briton by 20 points.
Haslam's position in the first race was a result of a loss of air pressure in his front tyre which meant he couldn't push hard at all: At first he thought it was a brake problem, but he kept going and collected five valuable Championship points. Jonathan Rea (Honda) won the race, with fellow Britons James Toseland (Yamaha) and Leon Camier (Aprilia) second and third.
Race two was an absolute scorcher - one of the best in World Superbike history: Rea won it, but only after the 'Mother of Battles' with Haslam, Troy Corser and Toseland, which saw plenty of close contact involving elbows and handlebars.
As Haslam celebrated extending his lead in the series, it was not such a good day for team mate Sylvain Guintoli: The Frenchman hardly recovered from his position in qualifying and never found his rhythm in either of today's 22-lap races, finishing 14th in race one and 13th in race two.
Leon Haslam - Race 1: 11th, Race 2: 2nd: "Today was very, very hard, but I am happy because I have extended my lead in the series. In race one I had a problem with the front end and was struggling in 16th after five laps. I wasn't sure if it was a brake problem, but when the bike was checked over after the race, the team discovered that air had escaped from the front tyre. It was a real struggle to keep going especially when I was with a couple of other riders, but I was determined to bring the bike home one way or another. The team changed the front discs and pads - in case they were part of the problem - for race two and I was able to do a normal race. It was a fantastic race, with plenty of close contact. Elbows were everywhere and we were close enough to touch each other's handlebars. It was very hard, but fair, and we all enjoyed it a lot. It must have been great for the fans and of course, having both podiums filled by Brits was also great."
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TWO DIFFICULT RACES FOR THE DUCATI XEROX TEAM AT ASSEN -
Assen (The Netherlands), Sunday 25th April: a difficult fourth World Superbike round for Ducati Xerox riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio at the TT Circuit of Assen.
In Race 1 neither Noriyuki or Michel got off the line particularly fast, Noriyuki in 13th and Michel dropping to 14th position from eighth on the grid. For the first half of the race the Ducati Xerox riders oscillated between 13th and 16th position and by mid-race they found themselves in a duel with the two Suzukis of Haslam and Guintoli. When the Suzuki riders made some mistakes, Nori was able to pass both of them and Michel too got by Guintoli. Over the 22 laps Noriyuki made up several places, to move from sixteenth at the end of lap two to tenth, the position he held from lap seventeen until the finish line. Michel closed Race 1 in thirteenth position.
The Ducati Xerox men made similar starts to Race 2. Noriyuki went wide at the first corner when he tried to pass riders by going around the outside. Feeling strong vibrations from the engine of his 1198, which only became worse during the first couple of laps, and realizing there was an engine problem, Noriyuki was forced to return to the box, thus retiring from the race. Michel, in the first half of the race, had a good pace which allowed him to make up a few positions but he then suffered from a sudden drop in the performance of the rear tyre which badly affected his lap times; he concluded the race in twelfth position.
After this fourth round of the World Superbike Championship, Japanese rider Noriyuki lies in sixth position in the general standings, with 85 points. His team-mate Michel is in ninth with 53 points. Ducati is in third position in the manufacturers classification, with 130 points to Aprilia’s 134 and Suzuki’s 148.
Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 – 10th , Race 2 – DNF) “It was a very difficult day for us today. In Race 1 I didn’t make the good start that I needed to, and from the fourth row I had to push very hard even to make up one or two positions. In Race 2, I realized already during the warm-up lap that the engine vibrations I was feeling were maybe stronger than normal. I hoped it wouldn’t be a problem and started the race but it became worse as I rode and I knew there was something wrong technically. It’s very disappointing of course because this year, more than ever, it’s important to be consistent – there are so many of us fighting for the positions that count and it’s becoming more and more of a battle.”
Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 – 13th , Race 2 – 12th) “In Race 1 I got off to a bad start and it was difficult to match the pace of those ahead of me. We made a few changes to my 1198 between the two races and for the first half of race 2 it was better; I was able to push hard and make up a few places. But then, in the second half of the race, practically from one lap to the next, the rear tyre performance dropped dramatically. I risked falling a couple of times and realized I had to take it easy if I wanted to finish the race. I’m looking forward to Monza where I hope we can perform a lot better in front of my home crowd.”
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Double Podium for returning World Champ Toseland at Assen
Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike rider James Toseland made every lap count in Assen today, storming to two podium finishes and claiming hard earned points which move him up the championship table. The first race saw the British rider tear through the pack from his tenth place grid start position, making short work of his competitors with clean decisive overtakes, making up eight places to sit in second by just past mid-race point behind leader Jonathan Rea. An inspired overtake three laps to the end on the penultimate corner saw him temporarily lead the race, however Rea was able to get past at the end of the start straight, securing the win just 1.1 seconds ahead of Toseland. Team-mate Cal Crutchlow had a great start, making it up to sixth on the first corner before a bunched up pack of riders pushed him wide, dropping him to 13th initially. He fought back with a determined push and was the fastest lapping rider mid way through. He finally crossed the line in eighth having made up five positions on the tricky to overtake circuit.
Race two and again Toseland charged through the pack, making fifth position by lap seven. He spent several laps following a furious battle in the top four between Haslam, Rea, Corser and Camier before slipping through and fighting his own battle to take third. Positions changed several times in the tightly bunched pack however he held onto third over the line for his second podium of the day. Team mate Crutchlow had a less fortunate race, with a technical issue with the rear suspension forcing an early retirement.
Toseland now heads to the next round in Monza having climbed to fifth position in the standings on 86 points, just 17 behind Carlos Checa in fourth. Team-mate Crutchlow remains in tenth position just four points behind Michel Fabrizio in ninth.
James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team, (2nd, 3rd)
"We've had another tough weekend, especially Friday and Saturday, but we've pulled through. Once again the team has worked fantastically well, especially this morning, we had a new linkage system on the rear end just to try and sort some issues and it seems to have worked. It's been a long weekend but to come from tenth on the grid and get a second and a third, two podiums is just a great result for me and the team. It's been coming slowly, we've come from far behind in the first two races so it's fantastic to be up there at the front and fighting. There are a lot of Brits out there, and we're all racing at the front and doing a great job, everybody deserves to be in it. I've had great support from my family and friends and want to thank everyone for supporting me in getting back to where I should be."
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team, (8th, DNF )
"It's been a very frustrating end to the weekend for me, I know I had the pace to achieve really good results and be up there fighting with the front guys in both races. I made a good start in the first but lost a lot of places on the first corner when the pack pushed me wide, but fought back and was one of the fastest riders on the track mid-race. Race two was even more frustrating as I was determined and ready to fight for a podium. Unfortunately the technical issue was out of my control so there was nothing I could do."
Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager
"We had a great result today, especially considering how we got it, after a lot of challenges over the last two days. James also put all his heart into his racing today. I'm sorry for Cal, I think he had the ability to have a great two races, especially in the second one. Unfortunately we had a technical issue, we don't know what yet but we will figure it out. We've made big advances with our electronics and also with our chassis which could be seen with James's performance. We are now getting to a point where we have a very competitive bike with a set up that works on different tracks, but obviously we will continue to work for the next level. We head to Misano for testing next week motivated to keep on improving. A big thank you to all the team and the riders who worked so hard this weekend."
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