The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is back in action at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, with FP1 in the bag already at the Pirelli Dutch Round. Assen has always been a place where memories are made and classics are signed into the history books and after FP1, it looks like a big battle will await. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) improved his time with two minutes to go to cement his top time.

Bautista was competitive right the way through the session with the Spaniard inside the top three before going top with just ten minutes to go. He improved his time right at the end, getting the advantage over Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who looked back to his old self after a tricky start to 2023 in second. Top Independent honours went to the rider in third place, Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), with the Australian rookie in mighty form from the off as he is back on a circuit he knows well. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was top factory Yamaha with fourth place, ahead of Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in fifth, making it four manufacturers inside the top five.

As the clock ticks down in FP1 @axel47bassani improves his lap time #NLDWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/NqyIK4FuQx

— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) April 21, 2023

Sixth place went to Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), with the Turkish rider aiming to reduce his near-seven tenth deficit to the top. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) was shining in P7 ahead of Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Completing the top ten was four-time WorldSSP winner at Assen Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), with the Swiss rider making it four Yamahas inside the top ten.

It was a tricky session for the returning Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW), with a technical problem halting his progress in his comeback round. Top Honda went to Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) in P12, one place behind home-hero Michael van der Mark ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was only 14^th, whilst Bradley Ray’s (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) full-time debut saw him conclude in 18^th. Wildcard Gabriele Ruiu (Bmax Racing) was 23^rd.

Top six after WorldSBK FP1 at Assen, full results here:

1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’34.592s

2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.182s

3. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.584s

4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.593s

5. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.654s

6. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.681s

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Source: WorldSBK.com