Welcome to Saturday at the iconic TT Circuit Assen.
The morning carried a deceptive calm. Conditions were more stable than the day before, but Assen rarely offers simplicity. A cool track surface gradually warmed, while gusts of wind threaded unpredictably through the circuit’s fast, flowing sections. Grip was improved—but not consistent. Riders spoke less about outright speed and more about confidence: confidence on entry, confidence mid-corner, confidence when committing to a lap that could define their weekend.
WSPB Race 1: Home Hero Triumphs as Buis Takes WorldSPB Race 1 Victory at Assen with Suzuki, Beating Artigas
Jeffrey Buis delivered a standout performance at the World Superbike Championship support action during the Dutch round at the iconic TT Circuit Assen, thrilling his home fans with a commanding victory in the WorldSPB Race 1. For Buis, the victory was especially meaningful in front of a passionate home crowd, marking one of the highlights of his season so far. It was a performance built on patience, precision, and timing—everything needed to succeed at Assen, where small mistakes are quickly punished and opportunities must be taken immediately.
Behind him, strong competition came from riders like Xavi Artigas, who kept the pressure on throughout the race, but Buis never looked unsettled. His ability to combine consistency with sharp overtaking at key moments proved decisive around the flowing, technical Assen circuit.
The top 5 from WorldSPB Race 1
1. Jeffrey Buis (Track & Trades Wixx Racing)
2. Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) +0.065s
3. David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) +0.473s
4. Matteo Vannucci (Revo-M2) +0.521s
5. Ferre Fleerackers (Track & Trades Wixx Racing) +0.526s
Fastest lap: Ferre Fleerackers (Suzuki) – 1’42.575s
WSBK Superpole: Superpole Drama with Honda Crash, Yellow Flags, and Bulega on Pole
However, the session was far from clean. A crash involving a Honda machine added a moment of disruption, bringing out yellow flags and effectively ending several late attempts to improve lap times. While the rider was able to walk away, the incident added to the tension of an already intense Superpole battle.
There has been no official report of serious injury for the rider involved in the Honda crash during Superpole at the World Superbike Championship round at the TT Circuit Assen.
As the chequered flag fell, the timesheet reflected both speed and survival. Bulega’s pole position stood firm, but the narrow gaps behind him promised a fiercely competitive Race 1. Superpole at Assen once again proved why it is one of the most critical sessions of the weekend—where ambition, precision, and risk all collide in a single lap.
WSBK Superpole (Qualifying – fastest lap times)
- Nicolo Bulega — 1:32.144 (pole position, lap record)
- Sam Lowes — +0.329s
- Iker Lecuona — +0.423s
- Danilo Petrucci — +0.777s
- Xavi Vierge — +0.802s
Bulega’s 1:32.144 was the standout lap, putting him comfortably on pole and underlining his dominance at Assen.
WSBK RACE 1: Bulega Controls Assen Chaos to Take Race 1 Victory in Tight WorldSBK Battle
All eyes are on the front row, where pole-sitter Nicolo Bulega carries both speed and expectation into the race, knowing he will be heavily challenged from the very first corner. Just behind, aggressive starters like Sam Lowes and Iker Lecuona are ready to attack early, while experienced contenders such as Alvaro Bautista wait for the race to come alive in the later stages.
From the start, the race quickly formed into a tightly packed leading group, with Nicolo Bulega making the most of his strong qualifying to control the early stages from the front. Behind him, pressure came immediately from Iker Lecuona and Sam Lowes, both pushing hard to stay within striking distance as the laps ticked by.
Rain arrived mid-race. With just a handful of laps left, riders were forced to ease their pace and carefully manage grip through the wet patches, especially in Assen’s fast direction changes. Visibility dropped in the spray, and every corner became a risk as the remaining laps counted down. The changing conditions made the closing stages more about control and survival than outright speed.
In the closing stages, tyre wear began to influence the rhythm of the race, but the front-runners held their composure to the flag. Bulega ultimately came through to take victory after a controlled and intelligent ride, with Lecuona and Sam Lowes completing the podium after a hard-fought contest.
Second place in Race 1 at the World Superbike Championship round at the TT Circuit Assen went to Iker Lecuona, who delivered a strong and composed ride in a tightly contested battle at the front of the field.
From the opening laps, Lecuona was firmly embedded in the leading group, staying within striking distance of the race leader while managing the demands of Assen’s flowing and technical layout. His pace remained consistent throughout, allowing him to respond to attacks and maintain pressure without overextending his tyres early in the race.
From the early laps, Lowes showed strong pace and commitment, staying tucked in behind the front runners and keeping himself in podium contention as the race developed. Crossing the line in third, Lowes completed a strong podium performance that rewarded both his early pace and his ability to manage the race situation effectively.
That’s a wrap on a tense and action-filled day at the World Superbike Championship round at the TT Circuit Assen.
See you tomorrow, where the stakes rise again with more crucial championship points on the line, tighter battles expected in Race 2, and another chance for riders to strike back under changing Assen conditions. If today was about survival and precision, tomorrow promises all-out aggression as the fight for the top steps of the podium heats up even further.
