Following the primary Honda World Superbike weekend in additional than a decade, Jonathan Rea replaces injured Jake Dixon because the World Championship strikes to Assen.
After retiring on the finish of final season, Rea moved to HRC’s check crew and has a document 17 wins on the legendary Dutch circuit on Honda and Kawasaki machines.
The six-time world champion could have much more modest targets this weekend, together with his sights set on a better of twelfth place in Portimao. Thus far, it was only one spot off Honda’s better of the 12 months, gained by Tetta Nagashima at Phillip Island.
“As soon as once more, I will likely be filling in for Jake, however first I want to want him a speedy restoration,” mentioned the six-time World SBK Champion. “We’re happy to proceed to assist the staff and collaborate within the improvement of the CBR1000RR-R.
“Assen is a circuit that I do know nicely and after racing the bike at Portimao I now perceive it higher, which implies I arrive with a fundamental set-up and a clearer concept of what’s going to work.”
“I’ve at all times loved Assen and have had many podiums and wins there through the years with Honda as nicely.
“It is a distinctive course and the climate is at all times unpredictable presently of 12 months, so that you by no means know what circumstances you’ll face.”
Jonathan Rea, 2014 Netherlands WorldSBK.
© Gold & Goose
The Ulsterman turned notably fashionable amongst Dutch followers throughout races for his residence staff Ten Kate Honda.
“The native followers are at all times nice and there are additionally numerous Dutch supporters, so I am actually trying ahead to going there once more,” he added.
“We hope to collect extra info, proceed to maneuver ahead and be just a little extra aggressive than we have been in Portugal.”
On the opposite aspect of the storage, World SBK rookie Somkiat Chantra may also be competing in his second event of the season after lacking Phillip Island attributable to damage.
The Thai rider additionally is aware of Assen nicely from his Grand Prix days, scoring his first MotoGP factors on the circuit in 2025.
Chantra tied for that fifteenth place within the ultimate race in Portimao and opened his WorldSBK account.
“In Portugal, I scored my first level at WorldSBK, however an important factor is that I used to be capable of enhance little by little all through the weekend,” Chantra mentioned. “That was a very optimistic factor for all of us.
“Now we head to Assen, which has been a very good circuit for me to date and one which I actually get pleasure from. It’s additionally a very completely different circuit, flatter in nature, so it is going to be fascinating to see how the CBR1000RR-R performs there.”
“We have to proceed to work in the identical approach and proceed to construct on the progress we began in Portimao. The aim is to grasp higher, proceed to enhance session by session and proceed to maneuver ahead with the staff.”
