A motivated Team HRC heads to Assen
The 2024 Superbike World Championship continues this coming weekend with round 3, to be staged at the historic TT Circuit Assen in The Netherlands.
Team HRC riders Xavi Vierge and Iker Lecuona will be looking to bounce back after a challenging second round at the riders’ home track of Barcelona. Both men have continued to train hard since the last race weekend, with the aim of putting together a stronger and more consistent performance over the course of the entire weekend. Both riders enjoy the Dutch track and have significant experience there, which they hope can be of benefit as they set out to make good inroads already on Friday. The team’s best result to date at this particular track was a third-place finish for Lecuona in 2022.
Located in the Drenthe province, the TT Circuit Assen has staged motorcycle races since the 1950s, and SBK competition since 1992. This ‘Cathedral of Speed’ currently measures 4.542 km and comprises eighteen turns, the layout of which poses a technical challenge, while the variable spring weather adds another dimension to the weekend.
Weekend schedule (CEST):
Friday
10.20 – 11.05 – SBK Free Practice 1
15.00 – 15.45 – SBK Free Practice 2
Saturday
9.00 – 9.20 – SBK Free Practice 3
11.00 – 11.15 – Superpole
14.00 – SBK Race 1
Sunday
9.00 – 9.10 – SBK Warm-up
11.00 – Superpole race
14.00 – SBK Race 2
Xavi Vierge 97
"We arrive at an iconic track for the third round of the season. I love Assen and am eager to get back to racing after a long break. We've had time to analyse and reflect on how things went in Catalunya, to unwind and relax, while, of course, continuing to train hard. I also had a great time visiting the HRC MXGP team in Sardinia, a weekend I thoroughly enjoyed with our fellow Honda riders, which motivates me even more. We know our current situation is not easy, but I'm looking forward to working with my team and the HRC engineers, to understand how to improve and be prepared to fight for strong results."
Iker Lecuona 7
“Assen brings back some of my best World Superbike memories of course, because I achieved a podium finish and had some strong races in the past, in MotoGP too. Having said that, after struggling so much in Catalunya, I anticipate a tough weekend ahead. But we cannot really know until we get back on track. It would be great if we could find a way with the bike setup because I really enjoy the track, so let's see.”
Location Information
“The Cathedral” of motorcycle racing as it is known colloquially, the TT Circuit Assen has been hosting WorldSBK races since 1992, and celebrated its 25thanniversary as a Superbike venue in 2016. TT Circuit Assen
| Pole Position | Left |
| Length | 4.542 Km |
| Corners | 18 |
| Right Corners | 12 |
| Left Corners | 6 |
Records
| Pole Record | 1'32.934 (175,944 Km/h) T.Razgatlioglu (Yamaha YZF R1, 2022) |
| Race Record | 1'33.620 (174,65 Km/h) A. Bautista (Ducati V4, 2022 SPR) |
| All Time Record | 1'32.934 (174,87 Km/h) T.Razgatlioglu (Yamaha YZF R1, 2022) |
| 2024 Race 1 Winner | N. Spinelli (Ducati V4) |
| 2024 Superpole Race Winner | A. Bautista (Ducati V4) |
| 2024 Race 2 Winner | T.Razgatlioglu (BMW M 1000 RR) |
