HOME ROUND COMING UP FOR PATA HONDA TEAM

2014-04-22 15:20
Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) will be looking for
more podium success at the third round of the FIM Superbike World
Championship after his top three finish in race one at the previous
round in Spain. For Rea and his team-mate Leon Haslam (Pata Honda
World Superbike Team) Assen is a round of special significance as
Dutch company Ten Kate is in charge of their racing operations and
its headquarters are situated not far from the famous TT Circuit.

The 4.542km long Assen circuit is also an integral part of Rea's WSBK
racing DNA, as the Isle of Man-based Northern Irishman has taken four
of 11 career wins there, the most recent in 2012. Jonathan has
enjoyed six podium finishes in all at the historic Circuit van
Drenthe and also secured one of his three Superpole qualifying successes there.

Jonathan arrives in Assen in good shape having scored a podium this
year already, in race one at Motorland Aragon only just over a week
ago. After two rounds and four points scoring races Rea is fifth
overall in the championship standings with 48 points, just 16 off a
top three slot.

A no score at the very first race of the year was a tough start for
Leon Haslam but consistent points scores from then on have placed
Leon ninth in the rankings as Assen approaches. So far Leon's season
best is sixth in race two at Phillip Island on the opening weekend
and his immediate aim is to improve on this mark, ideally with a top
three finish. Haslam has scored podium finishes three times at Assen
but a lower left leg injury effectively spoiled his 2013 season after
a nasty fall at the Dutch track last year.

There will be a wildcard Honda rider competing in the Superbike EVO
class at Assen as Kervin Bos (Winteb LiquidRubber Racing Team Honda)
joins the 27-strong field of WSBK regulars on his CBR1000RR this
coming weekend.

Assen is a unique circuit with a special place in the hearts of both
fans and riders. In its previous 6.027km layout the circuit was
nick-named the 'Cathedral' by all, given the reverence in which it
was held by the motorcycle racing world in general, above all by
riders contesting the world championship races at the circuit, it has
always been a real test of riders' skill and nerve. Laden with
heavily cambered and multiple fast corners, even after the loss of
the long North Loop section, Assen offers some one-off challenges and
opportunities to all riders in all classes.

The Assen circuit has been used for 44 individual WSBK races, with
the first round held there in 1992 before becoming a fixture on the
calendar every year since then. Honda riders have scored 14 race wins
at Assen over the years.

After the Dutch round the championship heads to southern Europe again
for the fourth round of the series, at the city-centre venue of
Imola, with raceday on Sunday 11th May. There will be a one-day
official test immediately after that event as private in-season
testing has been banned for the 2014 season.

VAN DER MARK ON HOME GROUND AS HE LOOKS FOR FIRST WSS WIN

The third round of the FIM Supersport World Championship will be a
home round for Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport
Team) as he goes for his first career race win in this intensely
competitive class of racing.

With both Michael and his team-mate Lorenzo Zanetti (Pata Honda World
Supersport Team) racing at their Ten Kate team's home venue this
weekend there can be no better place for either rider to lift their
performances to new heights early in the 12-round WSS season.

Van Der Mark was second last time out in Spain, equalling his career
best race finish as he moved up to sixth in the overall championship
standings. Zanetti is now eighth overall after his fourth in the
previous round at Motorland Aragon, while still recovering from a
painful finger injury. Fully fit he will be a force to contend with
in only his second full WSS season.

Raffaele De Rosa (CIA Insurance Honda) is the highest placed Honda
rider in the championship so far, third overall after a third place
in Australia and sixth in Motorland Aragon. Not even a full-time
rider at the start of the first round, his performances have given
him his deserved full season chance as part of the strong PTR Honda
squad, run from the UK.

The cosmopolitan Honda entry in the 2014 WSS class sees the Italian
Lorini team field two home grown riders in Riccardo Russo (currently
14th after a no score in Motorland) and Marco Bussolotti, who just
missed points at the previous race in Spain.

Ratthapark Wilairot (Core PTR Honda) from Thailand has now taken his
first WSS top ten as he learns the possibilities and limitations of
racing in a production-derived class at world championship level. He
is 16th overall, with 2013 season find Jack Kennedy (CIA Insurance
Honda) recovering from a nasty ankle break at the first round in
Phillip Island, just one place behind in 17th place.

Young Spanish rider Nacho Calero (CIA Insurance Honda) scored points
in Phillip Island and wants more this weekend to get higher in the
rankings than his current top-20 position. British rider Fraser
Rogers (Com Plus SMS Racing) has already posted 15th at the opening
round in his first full WSS year.

The FIM Supersport World Championship class will join the WSBK and
Superstock riders at the next round in Imola, to be held between 9th
and 11th May.

HONDA RIDER COMMENTS:

Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team)
"I'm really looking forward to riding at Assen this weekend because
it's a circuit that I really enjoy. There are lots of passing places
and there's usually a fast group at the front, which I hope to be a
part of. I've spent quite a bit of time there with my team over the
years, and done quite a few laps developing the bike, so I hope we
can get it dialled in quite quickly this weekend. Of course, a lot of
that will depend on the weather because, although we're at the end of
April, it can still be unpredictable, so we'll have to work on both
wet and dry settings so we can aim for two good results. We've had a
solid start to the season, with top five finishes and a podium at
Aragon, so we'll try to carry that momentum into the Assen weekend.
There's always a fantastic atmosphere there as it's the team's home
race and we had another amazing Pitstop Day at the workshop last
Saturday with a record crowd. It's a perfect way to set up for the weekend."

Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike Team)
"I have had a few good days in the Netherlands and we have been at
the annual Ten Kate Pitstop Day recently. At the previous round in
Aragon we had everything working well but after my crash in Superpole
we had a few issues on raceday because of that. As Johnny proved the
bike did work well enough to get a top three in the race so it was
more than capable in a race situation. I am happy that the bike has
definitely moved forward after the testing we did in Cartagena and
Jerez. We still have a few issues to look at and overcome but for me
we are now moving into the proper part of the season. At Assen, Imola
and Donington the bike is definitely capable of running at the front.
I feel I am getting back to how I should be after injury last year
and with Assen being the home round for the team I just want to get
my season kicked off properly. I have had podiums at Assen and scored
two podiums on a private Honda there in 2009. Almost every time I
have finished a race at Assen I have been battling for a podium. It
is a good track that I definitely enjoy. We just need to get some dry
weather, hopefully."

Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport Team)
"It is always busy in the build up to a home race as many friends and
sponsors will come along. There has been more media interest this
year and we had a half hour TV programme on last week, which included
the Superbike team and me. I think this weekend more journalists will
also come than usual. I am racing at my home track in Assen and I
think everybody's dream is to win a home race. Last time out at
Aragon was good and we rode at the front. We showed we can be the
fastest, and we also showed that in the first round at Phillip Island
for a time. I hope we can fight for the podium at Assen and I will be
giving it all to win. I came from sixteenth place to have a good
finish at Assen last year, just off the podium, but I hope this year
I do not have to fight as hard!"

Lorenzo Zanetti (Pata Honda World Supersport Team)
"Assen is a special race because it is my second home race. It is my
team's home round so there is always a lot of pressure there but that
is also OK because I like to ride with pressure. Assen is a very
special track but last year I did not finish so well, I think in
tenth place, but this year I have more confidence on the bike and the
team has worked hard all winter. We had a good result in Aragon and I
want to fight for a good position all weekend in Assen and go for a
podium. My finger injury has not yet had time to come back to 100%
and in Aragon it was painful when I was riding the bike. The season
is very competitive and there are many riders and bikes in it this
year, which is good for the spectators. Also for us, because when you
are fighting with a lot of riders it is exciting."

Ratthapark Wilairot (Core PTR Honda)
"After the Aragon race I felt good with the bike because we worked
hard in all the sessions. I understand more about how the tyres work
but we still need to find more on rear grip. Assen is one of my
favourite tracks. I like it and it seems to suit my riding style
because I enjoy riding on the fast corners. In 2010 I had a good race
here in the Moto2 class. I hope to get good result this weekend but
we need to work harder, even more than we did at the Aragon race."

Jack Kennedy (CIA Insurance Honda)
"It hasn't been the ideal start to the season but the ankle I injured
in Australia is improving with every day and I do like Assen as a
circuit. I expect there will also be a big UK contingent over to
support so will take strength from that as well. My CIA Insurance
Honda is strong as Raffaele is showing, so I am looking forward to a
good result."

Source: Honda Pro Image

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