Source: World Superbike Championship

Ducati Superbike Team’s Davide Giugliano has posted the fastest lap in free practice to open the third round of the World Superbike Championship at Assen in the Netherlands.

Good conditions favoured constant improvements over the course of the day, with Giuguliano emerging quickest with a 1m35.396 lap despite a late crash which saw him tumble through the gravel trap in the final chicane.

Pata Honda’s Jonathan Rea continued his recent run of form, registering the second-fastest time ahead of points leader, Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes, who improved late in the piece.

Alex Lowes was a solid fourth for Voltcom Crescent Suzuki, with Chaz Davies completing the top five on the second factory Ducati.

Aprilia pairing Sylvain Guintoli and Marco Melandri were off their customary pace in practice, claiming eighth and ninth respectively.

Althea Racing Ducati’s Niccolo Canepa was again the fastest in the EVO sub-class and 11th outright on the overall timesheets. BMW’s Leon Camier was second, with Ayrton Badovini impressing aboard the Bimota for third.

Friday’s times could prove telling in setting the order for the Superpole, with rain predicted for day two.

Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres’ Florian Marino emerged quickest in the World Supersport field after 90 minutes on track, heading off home favourite Michael Van Der Mark on the Pata Honda machine.

MV Agusta RC Yakhnich Motorsport rider Jules Cluzel made strong gains in the afternoon sun to climb to third.

Aragon winner Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki’s Kenan Sofuoglu was fourth, with DMC Panavto Yamaha’s Kev Coghlan completing the top five.

Ondrej Jezek was comfortably quickest in the Superstock 1000 field, heading off Team Pedercini’s Lorenzo Savadori by 0.416 seconds.

Jezek’s Barni Racing teammate Leandro Mercado was third from home wildcard Kevin Valk, with positions five onwards extending beyond a one-second gap to the leaders.

Continuing the strong results for local riders was Wayne Tessels, who put his Suzuki GSX-R600 in top spot in the Superstock 600 class, marginally ahead of Belgian Gauthier Duwelz and Italian Marco Faccani.

It was a strong end to the opening day for Australia’s Adrian Nestorovic, who was sixth-fastest for MVR Racing Yamaha with a lap 1.093 off the leader’s pace.

Completing the support class activity was the first qualifier for the Honda European Junior Cup, with Hannes Soomer taking provisional pole.

2014 World Superbike Championship
Round three – Assen, Netherlands

Superbike free practice results:
1. Davide GIUGLIANO 1’35.396
2. Jonathan REA 1’35.880
3. Tom SYKES 1’36.146
4. Alex LOWES 1’36.219
5. Chaz DAVIES 1’36.417
6. Loris BAZ 1’36.449
7. Eugene LAVERTY 1’36.467
8. Sylvain GUINTOLI 1’36.670
9. Marco MELANDRI 1’36.697
10. Leon HASLAM 1’36.709

Supersport free practice results:
1. Florian MARINO 1’38.903
2. Jules CLUZEL 1’38.992
3. Michael Van der MARK 1’39.087
4. Kev COGHLAN 1’39.514
5. Kenan SOFUOGLU 1’39.652
6. Roberto TAMBURINI 1’39.811
7. Ratthapark WILAIROT 1’39.844
8. Jack KENNEDY 1’39.845
9. Marco BUSSOLOTTI 1’39.854
10. Ricardo RUSSO 1’39.911

Click here for detailed results