Michael van der Mark (BMW) returned to the old systems / Superbike World Championship

In retrospect, the Assen meeting, like Phillip Island and Barcelona before it, was not an easy weekend for the World Superbike Championship, but for different reasons. While heavy tire wear played a big role at the beginning of the season and in Europe, in the Netherlands it was low temperatures and constant rain. And replacing Petrucci Nicholas Spinelli (Ducati), there was a surprise winner in the first race, Alvaro Bautista (Ducati) was the best in the Superpole race and Toprak Razgatlioglu (BMW) won the second race.

Michael van der Mark would also like to secure BMW’s first victory at the TT Circuit. At least the 31-year-old wanted to be on stage with his ROKiT colleague. Van der Mark had already secured seven podiums with Honda and Yamaha. But nothing happened: the Dutchman took 7th, 8th and 9th place, making him the second best BMW driver.

“I think we can be very happy with the result this weekend,” said van der Mark apologetically. “In the Superpole race the goal was to be in the top nine and we achieved it. So we had a better chance to start the second race. Then I started well and immediately gained a few positions. I had a good pace and was in front of the leading group. At one point it started raining again in the middle sector. We had a great fight with the guys at the front. At the end of the race my driving style gave me a few problems and I tried to push hard keep up with those people.”

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Welcome to the Assen race

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Start of the race

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Razgatlioglu, Bautista, Gardner

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Remy Gardner

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Andrea Locatelli

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Rea, Lowes, Gardner

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Alvaro Bautista

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Toprak Razgatlioglu

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Bautista and Bulega

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Bautista and Razgatlioglu

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Gardner and Lowes

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Razgatlioglu and Gardner

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Bautista vor Locatelli

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Toprak Razgatlioglu wins the race

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Sieger Toprak Razgatlioglu

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Bautista, Razgatlioglu, Gardner

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Sieger Toprak Razgatlioglu

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Indeed, van der Mark, who hails from Gouda, crossed the finish line in sixth place in race two, a three-second time penalty for taking a shortcut at turn 17 setting him back three places.

“It was a shame to lose sixth place, but it is what it is,” van der Mark said with a bit of anger. “If you look back at the weekend, we showed that we are strong. It was also good to see Toprak get another win. So I’m sure we’ll have two BMWs on the podium soon.”