Assen, Superpole: Kove ahead of Kawasaki and Yamaha / Supersport World Championship 300

The series-running world championship schedule offers just one free practice session for the Supersport 300 World Championship this year. Rain had fallen over Assen during the night, and on a still wet track, Indonesian Aldi Mahendra (Yamaha) set the fastest time in free practice with 1:55.555 minutes, which was respectable given the conditions.

Superpole followed on Friday afternoon. The 25-minute qualifying session on the TT Circuit started at 2:10pm and was held in temperatures of just ten degrees and on a wet track. But there was also a new wind and the sun was shining – the asphalt in Assen got drier with each lap and the right line reappeared in many corners.

The record was set in 2021 by Victor Steeman (Kawasaki), who died too early a year later after an accident in Portimão, with 1:48.767 minutes. However, Dirk Geiger (KTM) set the fastest lap ever on a motorcycle in the 300cc category in the summer of 2023 at 1:48.380 minutes.

The first flying laps were still over 2:03, but after just seven minutes Mahendra was under 2 minutes in 1:58.216 The Indonesian was leading by 1.2 seconds in 1:56.778 over local hero Loris Veneman (Kawasaki). With eight minutes remaining, Yamaha rider Mahendra set the fastest time so far this weekend with 1:55.388.

Many pilots now came to the pits to install the new rear tire for the final test – world champion Jeffrey Buis (KTM) even chose the soft tire!

Buis played the poker correctly and moved up to second place, 0.3 seconds behind Mahendra – and slipped on his second lap! But the Dutchman scrapped his fastest time and was only ranked 13th.

Pole position was impressively defended by Julio Garcia and the Chinese Kove in 1:54.807 minutes! Fenton Seabright (Kawasaki) and Mahendra complete the front row.

World Championship leader Inigo Iglesias (Kawasaki) finished sixth on the grid.
Phillip Tonn and the second KTM did not get past 20th place.