Another strong performance from Iker Lecuona in race 1 at Assen, with Vierge close to a top 10 finish
TT Circuit Assen
Iker Lecuona and Team HRC have made a strong start to the WorldSBK weekend at the Assen TT Circuit, crossing the line fifth in the first of the three scheduled races.
Iker Lecuona and Team HRC have made a strong start to the WorldSBK weekend at the Assen TT Circuit, crossing the line fifth in the first of the three scheduled races. Team-mate Xavi Vierge, who continues to recover from recent injury, bravely concluded the day’s race in eleventh position.
Both Lecuona and Vierge improved on yesterday’s performance in this morning’s final free practice, despite a crash for Iker towards the end of the session. During the subsequent qualifying phase, Vierge put together a fastest lap of 1’35.199 to place fourteenth, meaning a spot on the fifth row of the grid for him, while Lecuona set his best time in the final stages, a best of 1’34.543 seeing him place eighth at the session’s end, for a third-row start.
The lights went out on the first of the weekend’s races at 2pm local time. Seventh through the first turns, Lecuona exchanged positions a couple of times with Garret Gerloff before moving up to sixth place on lap eleven when Alex Lowes retired. Iker then was able to maintain a consistent pace while defending his position from Loris Baz and gained one more position in the latter stages to cross the line a solid fifth. This encouraging result gives him another eleven championship points.
Still battling with the consequences of his recent injury, Vierge battled hard to maintain as strong a pace as possible and ultimately concluded race 1 just one position shy of another top ten finish.
The Superpole race tomorrow will kick off at 11am local time while Race 2 will take place later than usual at 15.15pm local time.