It is the case to say “Between two parties, the third gains”. At Assen Toprak and Rea think well of complicating their lives, eliminating each other and serving Alvaro Bautista on a silver tray, thanks also to a bit of luck.
The Spaniard smiles and with him also Iker Lecuona, on the first podium with Honda in Superbike. An all-Spanish party with our Andrea Locatelli giving a touch of tricolor with his Yamaha. Too bad that at the TT this festive atmosphere seems to exclude some, who have remained as spectators with their ambitions extinguished in the bud.
THE BEAUTIFUL – There was a nice cream cake waiting for Rea in the parc fermé after the Superpole Race, since a milestone like the 100 wins with Kawasaki deserves to be celebrated. Too bad the classic icing is missing after what we saw in Race 2. He thought about taking it Alvaro Bautista, who thanked for the gift by toasting with a success that allows him to escape to +19 on the Cannibal in the world rankings.
THE UGLY – Among the big names he is the only one who has not yet won a single race. Aragon and Assen were certainly not favorable tracks for Yamaha and Toprak Razgatlioglu was forced to run on the defensive. The World Championship is only at the beginning, there is plenty of time to recover, even if 45 points to recover from Bautista are no small thing.
THE BAD – This time the bad luck has put its hand in it. Out of the games on Saturday afternoon, same speech on Sunday morning. Kawasaki has seen fit to leave Alex Lowes in the lurch at the best, but he certainly did not despair. In credit with luck, fourth place in Race 2 can be half consolation.
CONFIRMATION – Iker Lecuona is sewing Honda more and more tailor-made and we can only applaud him for his commitment and talent. On Friday he took a hard hit in free practice, but despite the inconvenience he returned to the saddle of the CBR more aggressive than ever. The podium of Race 2, thanks to the Rea-Toprak contact, pays him back for what he is doing in this second life called Superbike. The road seems to have been traced, so all that remains is to follow it.
THE DELUSION – Assen is a weekend to leave behind as soon as possible. Michael Rinaldi had arrived at the TT with very different ambitions, but instead he found himself fighting with his Ducati V4 all weekend. First the bike that goes up in smoke in FP3, then the problem in qualifying, finally the crashes. In Estoril the goal is to repair the damage.
THE ERROR – Race accident, so they decided on the upper floors. The fact is that Toprak pointed the finger at Johnny and the latter did the same with his rival. Everyone defends their position: we leave the arduous sentence to you!
THE SURPRISE – It’s still early to say if Scott Redding and BMW are out of the tunnel or not. Seen how it went two weeks ago in Aragon, fifth place on Sunday afternoon is a real godsend. Let us remember, however, that a swallow does not make spring. In Estoril we will understand something more.
OVERTAKING – You are spoiled for choice. However, we want to reward Rea’s on Bautista in Race 1. A masterful maneuver that of the Cannibal, all outside in response to the previous one of the Spaniard, decisive in delivering the victory to him.
THE CURIOSITY’ – “No panic”. Toprak Razgatlioglu has not yet won a race in the first two rounds. A photocopy start with that of 2021, where between Assen and Estoril he always remained down from the top step of the podium. We then know how it ended.
I TOLD YOU SO – Rinaldi after Race 1: “I’m here to attack, not to finish fifth or sixth“. Sunday was even worse!
