Third fastest in FP2 and fourth in the combined results, Alvaro Bautista enjoyed a solid start to the Dutch WorldSBK round at the immediate and iconic Assen TT Circuit.
Some consistent laps from Leon Haslam saw the Team HRC rider place eighth fastest in the morning’s session and twelfth overall at the end of the day.A mere two-tenths of a second from his team-mate.
Almost three weeks since the fourth round at Donington Park in the UK. The Superbike World Championship is now back in The Netherlands.
Keen to continue to build on its performance this weekend. Team HRC has completed two very encouraging first practice sessions with its factory riders Leon Haslam and Alvaro Bautista.
At 10.30 am local time, the Superbike field took to the track for the season’s first free practice.Which ran in dry but rather excellent conditions.
Determined to make the most of every session.British rider Haslam focused on the task at hand. Improving his performance throughout the 45-minute phase and closing with the fastest time of 1’35.173.
Bautista and his technicians made various changes to the electronic set-up of his CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE during the opening session.The Spaniard not focusing overly on lap times and recording a best of 1’36.024.
During the second session.Bautista gradually shaves precious tenths off his lap time before making a significant step in the final five minutes. Setting the fastest reference of 1’34.741 in the final stages to position a close fourth overall.
Haslam continued to work systematically throughout the afternoon’s sessio. And in a similar way to his team-mate, set his best time in the final second. A 1’34.976 putting him in twelfth place overall two tenths from Bautista’s best reference.
Dutch Free Practice 2 Results
via HRC
