World SBK – Jonathan Rea Overcomes Hand Injury To Score Popular Assen Win

A great ride from Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) saw him overcome the pain of a hand injury suffered earlier in the day to win his first race of the year, at his team’s home track. He also scored the first win for Honda in 2012.

Race one winner Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati) was second after his team-mate Jakub Smrz dropped back from his long time race two lead after choosing a wet front tyre. Smrz eventually crashed while trying to pass a lapped rider.

The battle for third went to Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing) his first podium of 2012.

His team-mate Max Biaggi is now leading the championship after finishing eighth in race two, one point ahead of Carlos Checa (Althea Racing). Checa gambled on rain tyres but as the track dried and the rain stayed away, he had to come into change his tyres and he ended up 17th – out of the points. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) dropped back from a potential podium finish to go sixth, and stay third in the overall championship fight, 13 points from Biaggi.

World SBK – Update On Brett McCormick’s Condition

Recent clinical investigations have shown that in addition to the fracture of the 5 th and 6 th cervical vertebra, Brett has also reported a lumbar fracture, so for few weeks he will have to wear a collar and back brace to immobilize the affected areas.

The situation is positive, there aren’t any spinal damage, as it was  already excluded after the first analysis, on Sunday.

The young Canadian, currently still hospitalized at Assen Hospital, continues the medical treatment  with great serenity, but obviously he is suffering big pain.

Brett is in good mood; he has the desire to return to ride his bike, he is very confident, above all he hasn’t lost his usual smile that always characterizes him, and this positive mood is very important for him to deal with his rehabilitation.

With all probability Brett will leave to Canada by tomorrow, with a special trip that will include ambulance transport and a private plane, organized specifically, because the rider has to remain lying not to stress the fractures during the long flight itinerary.

It is still early to fix the time of his full recovery, however it could be in about two / three months.

The consequences of Brett’s disastrous crash are less serious than might be expected, especially watching with clear mind the video of the crash’s dynamics, it should be underlined, however, that the perfect Brett’s physical condition, guaranteed from his constant and hard training, was certainly helpful to avoid much more serious damage.

“I lived very bad moments after Brett’s accident, the joy of the previous hours, with our first win in SBK, has been completely set aside by the great fear for the health of Brett – declared the team Owner Mario Bertuccio – With all my of riders there is not only a simple sporting relationship, but also a sincere friendship. We’re all a big family, we enjoy together and suffer together! I’m close to him and his family and I’ll wait patiently for his recovery”.

The Effenbert Liberty Racing Team would like to thank all the people who are showing their solidarity to Brett McCormick and our team, and who are waiting with us for the return of “The Kid”.

SBK Dutch Round - statistics

 Nachricht von "www.worldsbk.com"

WorldSBK.com provides a quick round-up of the facts and figures from the third World Superbike round at the TT Assen circuit in the Netherlands.

RACES
? Maiden win for Sylvain Guintoli: France has been waiting for a win since the double scored by Regis Laconi in Misano, 2005. Sylvain also recorded the 300th fastest race lap for Ducati in the race;
? For the 55th time in history, Ducati locked out the podium, in race one, with Guintoli, Giugliano and Checa. The Italian manufacturer hadn't recorded such a clean sweep since last year's Miller race. In Superbike history, only another make was able to fill the podium: it happened only once, with Kawasaki, in Sugo, 1993, race two;
? Maiden career podium for Davide Giugliano, second in race one;
? For the first time since last year's Brno weekend, back in July, Carlos Checa wasn't able to win one of the two races;
? Ninth career win for Jonathan Rea in race two, the 112th for Honda. The Japanese manufacturer in the last three years has won only with Jonathan. The same applies for podium finishes: since 2010 the sixteen podiums scored by Honda have all carried his name;
? After the Assen races, Max Biaggi can count exactly 1800 career points;
? Marco Melandri was in the points for the 20th straight race (since Aragon last year);
? Best career result for Niccolò Canepa, eighth in race one;
? For the first time in his career, Leandro Mercado finished in the top-10: tenth in race one;
? First double points finish for David Salom, thirteenth and twelfth;
? For the second time in his career after Donington last year, Jakub Smrz was able to lead a race;

? Maiden win and fastest lap for Lorenzo Lanzi in Supersport. The Italian in his previous ten races run in this championship, back in 2004, was never able to reach these goals. Now Lorenzo can boast wins in Superbike (3), Superstock 1000 (4) and Supersport;
? Vladimir Leonov is the first Russian to score a podium in Supersport;

? First career hat-trick for Sylvain Barrier, who scored pole, win and fastest lap in Superstock 1000. With Barrier's win, BMW has reached Honda at thirteen. The Japanese squad won for the last time in Magny Cours, 2010;

? Bastien Chesaux is the first Swiss rider to score a pole in the Superstock 600 class.

QUALIFYING
? Third straight pole for Tom Sykes: it's almost a record for Kawasaki, which can count only one better string of four poles, from Estoril 1993 to Misano 1994. Tom is at his fifth career pole, the 60th for a British rider;
? For the first time after eleven race weekends, Carlos Checa missed the front row of the starting grid;
? Second worst qualifying performance for Max Biaggi: in his career he started in a lower spot only in Valencia, 2009 (18th).

Compiled by Michele Merlino