The FIM Supersport World Championship returns to action at the iconic TT Circuit Assen for round three of the 2023 campaign with the Pirelli Dutch Round, while it’s also the first round for the WorldSSP Challenge competitors. After the drama of Australia and Indonesia, the Championship resumes in the Netherlands with plenty up for grabs across the Championship’s two races over the Dutch Round.
TEN KATE RACING’S HOME ROUND: can Manzi or Navarro put Ten Kate on top?
The Dutch Round marks Ten Kate Racing Yamaha’s home round and the team will also go in search of their 100th WorldSSP victory with riders Jorge Navarro and Stefano Manzi. Both enjoyed a test at the circuit between the Indonesian and Dutch rounds to prepare in the best possible way for the team’s home round with new items to try, while it was also another chance for Navarro to be on the bike in search of full fitness. Can either take the team’s, and Yamaha’s, first win of 2023 as well as the 100th in WorldSSP for Ten Kate Racing Yamaha? Another Yamaha rider to potentially look out for is Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) after the Dutch rider narrowly missed out on his first WorldSSP win at Assen last year, after he was overtaken by Dominique Aegerter mere seconds before red flags were shown. Second in Race 1 last year, could he go one better this year?
BULEGA TOPS THE STANDINGS: looking to extend his lead
Two wins and three podiums in 2023 means Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) leads the Championship standings after two rounds, 18 points clear of Manzi. The Italian took third and fourth in Race 1 and Race 2 respectively in 2022 and he will be aiming to build on that in 2023. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) comes into the Dutch Round off the back of his first WorldSSP victory in Indonesia and, with a podium finish at Assen to his name from 2022, will be looking to add to that and close the gap in the Championship standings. Mandalika Race 2 winner, Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) is a race winner at Assen from 2019 and he will be looking to extend his winning run after a strong start to the 2023 campaign.
AIMING HIGH: Triumph and MV Agusta to be in the mix
Both Triumph and MV Agusta will be hoping they are in the fight for victory having been so in Australia and Indonesia. Niki Tuuli (Dynavolt Triumph) has been in the top eight in his last three races at Assen, and four times in his last five outings here, and he has a podium to his name this season. For MV Agusta, Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) is currently leading their charge in his rookie campaign. Although he hasn’t been to Assen in WorldSSP, it’s a circuit he knows very well from his time in the 125cc World Championship, Moto3™ and Moto2™ with a best result of fourth.
WorldSSP CHALLENGE RIDERS BEGIN THEIR CAMPAIGN: WorldSSP300 Champion debuts in WorldSSP
The WorldSSP Challenge begins at Assen and it will mark the WorldSSP debut of 2022 WorldSSP300 Champion Alvaro Diaz (Arco Yart Yamaha WorldSSP) as he graduates with the same team that took him to the 2022 World Championship. Yuta Okaya (Prodina Kawasaki Racing WorldSSP) also makes the step up in 2023. Maiki Abe (VFT Racing WEBIKE Yamaha), son of the late, great Norick Abe, makes his WorldSSP debut, as does Luke Power (MOTOZOO ME AIR RACING TEAM) this season while Tom Edwards (Yart – Yamaha WorldSSP Team) will take part in his first full campaign. In terms of returning riders, Federico Fuligni (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) returns to WorldSSP on Ducati machinery, Maximilian Kofler (D34G Racing) sticks with Ducati but switches teams to be alongside Oli Bayliss while Tom Booth-Amos (MOTOZOO ME AIR RACING TEAM) sticks with the same team for a second campaign.
RIDER NEWS: injury updates and wildcards
Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) missed the Indonesian Round through injury but he is aiming to be back on a bike, subject to medical clearance, at Assen along with Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) who was injured in the same crash; Montella was riding at the recent Catalunya Test. In terms of wildcards, there is only one for the Dutch Round as Simone Corsi (Altogo Racing Team) makes his WorldSSP debut after 12 seasons in Moto2™.
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Source: WorldSBK.com