WSBK Superbike Assen Superpole: Nicolo Bulega hindered by Toprak Razgatlioglu, pole goes to Sam Lowes

Sam Lowes, the famous British rider of Marc VDS scores the first qualifying goal during the Superbike Superpole in Assen. The leader of the World Championship, Nicholas Bulega, angry with Toprak Razgatlioglu.

De Paul Gozzi / Corsedimoto.com

The Superbike gunpowder is ready: Nicolò Bulega had set his sights on Superpole with a first attempt under the record, but with the second soft tyre he found himself with half the paddock ahead of him, having to abandon the attempt. Not before telling Toprak Razgatlioglu, who was leading the group, to go to hell and, more or less unconsciously, certainly did not make the Ducati rider's task any easier. From the chaos came the surprise with Sam Lowes, the British rider who scored his first goal in qualifying, generating explosive joy from the Marc VDS team. No matter which way you look at it, there is always a Ducati in front.

Bulega, the rider to beat in Superbike
This setback does not diminish the potential of Nicolò Bulega, who at Assen has once again become the rider to beat, as he had been at the first round in Australia. In his first attempt, he set an impressive time of 1'32.760, already below the absolute track record. We will never know how far he could have gone with the second new tire, because on his good lap he found himself facing a small train of riders led by Toprak RazgatliogluThe slowdown was inevitable, with an eloquent gesture directed at the rival at the first available opportunity. Damage, stats (and prices…) aside, everything is relative: Nicholas Bulega will start from the center of the first line, always in front of the Turk. From 14 p.m., there will be 21 shots!

Sam's First Time
Credit where credit is due: a brilliant Sam Lowes, who, in his second season in Superbike, seems to have raised the bar considerably. At the second attempt, he managed to snatch the lead from Nicolò with a fantastic 1'32.596, the first Superpole for the rider and the Marc VDS team. It will be very interesting to see the Briton's potential over the race distance: unless I'm mistaken, he could turn out to be a nasty surprise, for everyone: perhaps even for Bulega and Razgatlioglu themselves?

Andrea Iannone, what a flight!
Axel Bassani, second on Friday, confirmed his progress and that of the Kawasaki-powered Bimota, by securing a promising fourth place. Andrea Locatelli will also be in second place, with Alvaro Bautista in the middle, who is one of the most serious candidates for the podium here. Average qualifications for Danilo Petrucci, seventh. Big scare for Andrea Iannone which flew away at a very fast moment in the final: the rider is OK, the Panigale V4 R of the Go Eleven team was completely destroyed. The former MotoGP rider still can't find the right track with the extra soft Pirellis.

WorldSBK Superbike Superpole results at Assen:

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Paul Gozzi

Sam Lowes Assen Superbike