Skip to main content
Home

MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

... that upgrading a website takes longer than you think

User Menu

  • Log in

Tools

  • Home
    • Contact
  • Subscriber Content
  • Round Ups
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Interviews
    • Opinion
  • Photos
  • More
    • Search
    • Riders & Teams
      • 2023 MotoGP Rider Line Up So Far
      • 2022 Provisional MotoGP Rider Line Up
      • 2022 Provisional Moto2 Rider Line Up
      • 2022 Provisional Moto3 Rider Line Up
    • Calendars
      • 2022 Provisional MotoGP Calendar
      • 2022 Provisional WorldSBK Calendar
      • 2023 Provisional WorldSBK Calendar
    • Championship Standings
      • MotoGP Standings
      • Moto2 Standings
      • Moto3 Standings
      • MotoE Standings
      • WorldSBK Standings
      • WorldSSP Standings
    • Race Results
      • MotoGP Race Results
      • Moto2 Race Results
      • Moto3 Race Results
      • MotoE Race Results
      • WorldSBK Race Results
      • WorldSSP Race Results
  • Subscribe!
  • Patreon
  • Old Forums

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Analysis and Background

2011 WSBK Assen Sunday Roundup - Of Heartstopping Spectacle, And Champions

By David Emmett | Sun, 17/04/2011 - 21:00

Assen always provides spectacle, whatever the classes are racing here, but today, there was perhaps a little too much of a good thing. The World Supersport race saw two horrific-looking crashes, and required two restarts before the race finally got done. The crashes were truly gut-wrenching, the kind of incident that makes you fear another Shoya Tomizawa or Craig Jones, but amazingly, everyone came away relatively unscathed.

The first crash was doubly disconcerting, involving Sam Lowes of the Parkalgar Honda team. It was the same team that Craig Jones was riding for when he died in a crash at Brands Hatch. The Parkalgar team boss Simon Buckmaster has an uncanny ability to spot young talent, Lowes just the latest in a line of promising riders, and seeing Lowes tumbling end-over-end through the gravel after an inexplicable highside was a sickening sight.

But medics responded immediately and effectively, and Lowes was quickly conscious again. The young Englishman suffered a concussion and a broken collarbone, and the whole paddock breathed a collective sigh of relief when World Superbike press officer Julian Thomas passed on the news that Lowes was OK.

Just three laps into the restart, the whole scenario repeated itself before our eyes. Another bizarre highside, this time on the exit of the GT Chicane, saw Alex Lundh and Marko Jerman go down, both men tumbling again, and Jerman being clipped by a following bike. The medical staff once again spent a long time tending to the injured riders, sending another cold shiver through the paddock, but once again, the riders escaped with a concussion, Lundh fracturing his wrist, Jerman suffering cuts to the throat and bruising.

The relative lack of injuries after such horrific crashes is a testament to modern safety equipment and modern circuits. Piloting 160kg motorcycles around at very high speeds remains extremely hazardous, but the layout of the tracks and the many lessons learned over the years in designing protective gear means that the odds of walking away almost unscathed from a crash have risen exponentially.

There was also some racing, and it was pretty good too once we had recovered from the shock. The two World Superbike races produced mirror-image podiums, Johnny Rea and Carlos Checa swapping 1st and 3rd places for each race, with Max Biaggi in 2nd for both. All three did excellent business in the championship: Checa consolidating his lead, Biaggi moving into 2nd, and Rea moving up to 4th from 6th.

Both Rea and Biaggi badly needed the improvement. Biaggi came off a nightmare weekend at Donington last round, where he basically had a mental meltdown. The Alitalia Aprilia rider was fined for slapping Marco Melandri, rode a terrible, mistake-filled race 1, then got black-flagged in race 2 for ignoring a ride through. Biaggi's approach at Assen was calm, focused, methodical, the polar opposite of his Donington weekend. The Italian could not get the tires to work for his Aprilia, but he kept his cool to take what was available.

Rea's season got off to a similarly rocky start, but for entirely different reasons. The Castrol Honda team have been struggling with the bike, a clutch problem reportedly holding the bike back. Team boss Ronald ten Kate was spotted on Saturday in the Southern Loop with a handheld video camera, shooting film of Rea and other riders as they passed. Naturally, that caught the attention of photographers, who turned their cameras on him. "At one point, I thought they were taking more pictures of me than of the bikes!" Ten Kate joked, before explaining what they were trying to achieve with the filming.

The work was really just an extension of the work that team managers and rider coaches have always done, he explained, it is just that cheap technology makes it viable to actually film and record a whole lot of passes, and analyze it more effectively. Where managers were previously forced to rely on their memories and their powers of narrative to recall and describe what they saw to riders, now they could put the video up on the big screen and show exactly what was happening, so the riders could see it for themselves.

The Castrol Honda team had been working on both riding technique and bike setup using the camera, Ten Kate went on to explain. On Friday, he had shot footage around the North Loop, working on Rea's riding style. On Saturday, on the faster, more flowing Southern Loop, they were working on bike setup, "some things with the traction control system," was Ten Kate's cagey response to my trying to push for more details. It definitely seemed to work for Rea, as his double podium attests.

(On an unrelated note, I also asked about Ten Kate's Moto2 project, and Ronald confirmed the existence of the machine, but emphasized that they were not interested in moving into the world championship. The bike was being built for a customer in the Italian championship, Ten Kate explained, but Rea and probably Xaus would be testing the bike to help with the development. "Our home is here," Ten Kate said, "We've signed a three-year deal with Honda to represent them in World Superbikes, and we have no intention of leaving." Going to the Moto2 paddock would be require a massive investment, which the team were simply not willing to make at the moment. "If you're going to do something, you have to do it right, and we can't do that in Moto2," Ten Kate said).

But the big winner from this weekend was Carlos Checa, the Spaniard looking ominous all year. Four wins and two 3rds from six races is an impressive tally by any standards, but more than just sheer results, what impresses me most is Checa's bearing. Checa is already acting like champion, exuding a cool, calm attitude, with the confidence befitting a champion. That confidence gives the Althea Ducati rider the clinical detachment to make the right decision in each situation and gain maximum advantage from it.

The prime example at Assen was Checa's approach to his tires. The team believed the harder option would be the race tire, but warmer temperatures on Sunday made it wear much worse than expected. Checa did not panic, but secured third, then switched to the softer option for race 2 with no guarantee that that would work better. He then also kept his cool after a false neutral saw him lose the lead with two laps of the race left. Instead of worrying, he used the opportunity to size up Biaggi's tire wear, and risk a very tough pass on Biaggi going into the final chicane with one lap to go. "It was not easy at all," Checa explained, "but I knew he was struggling more than me with his tires."

But after victory in the second race, what Checa wanted to talk about most of all was the next round at Monza. Checa admitted the team were deeply worried by their lack of top speed, and the speed of the Aprilia. "A top 7 at Monza will be like a win," Checa said, backing down a little when pressed to make it a top 5. His best hope was to defend from the front of the second group, and hope to hold off enough riders to score points. "The championship is long," Checa added, "and we are looking race by race." That is what every rider with championship aspirations says.

The World Supersport race - once it finally ran to completion, that is - saw an equally convincing winner. Chaz Davies has been on the verge of a win for a very long time, but this was the first time he actually crossed the line in first place since 2001, he said. His victory in the Daytona 200 had been after Josh Hayes had been disqualified over an illegal crankshaft, and he said he felt he had been denied wins in both the AMA and World Supersport by events beyond his control - bike failures, being wiped out by other riders. Not today. On Sunday in Assen, Davies looked in control for all three of the race starts, running either at the front or very close to the front when the crashes had happened, and maintaining his rhythm and his composure for each of the restarts. That had been harder for the first restart than for the second, but everything had come together in that final race.

The bike is identical to the machines used by Cal Crutchlow to win the 2009 World Supersport title. The only difference was the suspension, both Davies and ParkinGO Yamaha teammate Luca Scassa having switched to Bitubo at the start of the year. That gave them more input into development, and was paying off in terms of support.

The crashes of Lowes and Scassa (who launched into the back of Florian Marino's bike, taking both riders down) had evened the points right up, Davies pointed out, leaving the title race completely open. "It's like a new championship," Davies said.

The World Superbike paddock now returns home to their respective bases, to await the next round of the series at one of the most magical racetracks on the face of the planet. Monza sits on the edge of a royal park in the heart of a suburb, and every breath you take their tastes of racing history. The chances of Italian victory there are strong: A Ducati victory is unlikely, but an Italian rider, probably one on an Italian bike, is a very safe bet indeed.

World Superbikes
World Supersport
Assen, The Netherlands
Aprilia
Ducati
Honda
Yamaha
Jonathan Rea
Carlos Checa
Max Biaggi
  • Log in or register to post comments

If you enjoyed this article, please consider supporting MotoMatters.com. You can help by either taking out a subscription, supporting us on Patreon, by making a donation, or contributing via our GoFundMe page. You can find out more about subscribing to MotoMatters.com here.

↑Back to top

Comments

Super cool.

echoplex
11 years 10 months ago
Permalink

"Checa is already acting like champion, exuding a cool, calm attitude"

To be fair though, he has been like that for quite some time. Remember how cool he was after his double DNF a Miller last year?

  • Log in or register to post comments

In reply to Super cool. by echoplex

Agreed! He had every right to

Browndog
11 years 10 months ago
Permalink

Agreed! He had every right to throw a bit of a tantrum but he was very calm. Such a shame as he was riding so well.

  • Log in or register to post comments

Competitive old bikes

Stinkwheel
11 years 10 months ago
Permalink

It's great to see that years old bikes are winning.

  • Log in or register to post comments

In reply to Competitive old bikes by Stinkwheel

Yes, it kind of make you wonder what Ducati will do

Nostrodamus
11 years 9 months ago
Permalink

with their new short stroke motor 2012. Obviously the 1198 is a very refined package maximising all it's strengths. But considering it's giving away more than 20hp you have to say the fours should be working a little better than only two wins out of six.

But fair play to Checa. He really is looking so good, so confident and slow motion fast on that Duke.

Interestingly I still see Xerox Ducati adverts on CNN and in The Economist magazine regularly.

  • Log in or register to post comments

In reply to Yes, it kind of make you wonder what Ducati will do by Nostrodamus

Wall Street Journal too

vegasjon
11 years 9 months ago
Permalink

I pulled a full page ad from the WSJ only a few months ago (2-3). Maybe they will be back next year, after Carlos wins the championship...

  • Log in or register to post comments

Love it...

SV650Nut
11 years 9 months ago
Permalink

I'm so glad to see Carlos doing well. A real racers racer.

I also am a huge Chad Davies fan and knew that it was only a matter of time before he made his mark.

Now if I could only get Nori riding well again I would be in fan heaven!

(On a side note: Go Spies!)

  • Log in or register to post comments

In reply to Love it... by SV650Nut

I am thinking the tall skinny

rholcomb
11 years 9 months ago
Permalink

I am thinking the tall skinny kid, Leon Camier, is going to have a breakout race soon. He was the fastest man of the weekend pretty late in race 2. Along with your favs, I'd like to see Leon frequent the podium this season.

  • Log in or register to post comments

Checa!

3B43
11 years 9 months ago
Permalink

Checa has always been a 'class act' and many/MANY sportsmen, not only racers, could learn something by watching him!

  • Log in or register to post comments

Honorary Brit :)

shog
11 years 9 months ago
Permalink

Isn't Carlos still living in Yorkshire? I believe he favours bitter :)

  • Log in or register to post comments

The good,the bad and the ugly

PIT BULL
11 years 9 months ago
Permalink

The good. Ducati with an underpowered kit maintain the lead with a good man holding the reins. The bad. Monza, allowing the twin nothing.
The ugly. The SS crashes.
Question. I saw the bike labelled in the standings as a 1098R. Surely an 1198S derivative.
All strength and success to Carlos 2011.A more likeable racer you could never wish to meet.
It is going to be tough and he knows it.
De-restrict the twin,let it breathe.

  • Log in or register to post comments

In reply to The good,the bad and the ugly by PIT BULL

Not the needy

Stinkwheel
11 years 9 months ago
Permalink

They may struggle at some tracks, but overall the bike doesn't seem to have a problem putting in fast laps or fending off the competition. On any given weekend some bikes may struggle more than others. But the idea that it's only fair when the Ducati has an advantage every weekend just doesn't add up.

  • Log in or register to post comments

End of the road for CV?

Rod
11 years 9 months ago
Permalink

Admittedly I haven't had a thorough look. but I haven't found any mention of the reason for Chris Vermeulen's DNF and subsequent DNS in Race 2.

Is this the end of the line for him??

The Kawa media release didn't give a reason, although there was a lot of disappointment with the weekend.

  • Log in or register to post comments

In reply to End of the road for CV? by Rod

Cramps

NinjaMaster
11 years 9 months ago
Permalink

Chris' leg cramped up and lost strength after about 8 or so laps so he pulled in. He was running in the points up until then. With an extra 3 weeks rest and Monza not being so physically demanding with lots of straights, I think his next weekend will be a full one.

  • Log in or register to post comments

Tyres

vladut50
11 years 9 months ago
Permalink

I believe it was down to tire management, as both riders were very close. The twin cylinder bikes are more tire friendly and Checa said that he saw Biaggi had some tire issues before he passed him for the victory. Biaggi excused himself claiming that he had a mechanical problem during the last 5 laps....I wonder what problem was he talking about!
Anyway, the Aprilia horsepower is tremendous. Even on the short not-so-straight back-straight, the difference was immense. I wonder what Monza would bring us...maybe something like Qatar 2007, when Stoner seemed to have 30 hp more than Rossi.

  • Log in or register to post comments

Log In or Register

  • Create new account
  • Reset your password

MotoGP.com latest

  • 10 things you probably didn't know about Franco Morbidelli
  • What's new for 2023 in MotoGP™?
  • Get a FREE TRIAL for MotoGP™ VideoPass & TimingPass
  • MotoGP™ expands agreement with Viaplay across Nordic region
More

Follow MotoMatters on Twitter


Mastodon

MotoGP Technology

Buy Neil Spalding's essential guide to the technology of MotoGP bikes, MotoGP Technology.

Recent comments

  • Yep, works a lot better at…
    1 hour ago
  • I agree that Fabio would…
    2 hours 29 minutes ago
  • Bring it on!
    2 hours 52 minutes ago
  • Feedback
    5 hours 38 minutes ago
  • Comments section has been…
    6 hours 58 minutes ago

All content copyright of MotoMatters.com unless otherwise stated. MotoGP is a trademark of Dorna Sports s.l. and MotoMatters.com is not associated with it.

Site hosted by