James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda) scored what could be a very valuable top four placing at Assen after the dry first qualifying session, scoring a best time of 1’40.242 in the process. The new-look Assen was a new challenge to all the Superbike riders, with Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) tenth overall, and well inside Superpole qualifying - should the second qualifying session on Saturday morning prove to be wet.

First qualifying was a largely close affair, with second through to 13th places only separated by a second, as riders learned the fastest way around the 4.555km track. Fastest lap of the day was a 1’39.336 from Troy Bayliss.

Ronald Ten Kate – Team Manager
“A quite good result, considering we still have some issues to resolve. Also, our home circuit has changed a bit and we definitely seem to be struggling a bit on the first part of the track, the new part. So we need to change things a little bit on the set-up for that part, to allow the riders to go fast there. As soon as we can have that resolved I think we can have them both on the front row. It was important for us to be near the front today, so that we ensured we would reach Superpole, because the weather forecast for tomorrow is quite bad. For sure my staff will work hard to get things even better tomorrow, because our aim is a little bit higher than we have achieved now.”

James Toseland – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
(4th Position – Fastest Lap 1’40.242 – 23 Laps)
“A difficult day and I have had to get used to it all again, after being used to nought miles per hour for the last three weeks! Now it’s back up to 160mph. The bike was OK at the start, but we need to put in a little bit of work and for me to just get back into the riding. Both Karl and I have to improve on the first sector, so we maybe just have to do a little bit more work on the bike for that really tight section. On the other sections the bike is really good, so I don’t really want to sacrifice three-quarters of the track just for one quarter. We just need to work a bit more on the bike but our speed is quite consistent.”

Karl Muggeridge – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
(10th Position – Fastest Lap 1’40.746 – 21 Laps)
“The track’s really nice we just need to understand the way the bike’s going to work round here a little bit. We need to work with gearing to get out of corners a bit better, but I’m reasonably happy with the way it’s going now. We can move up from here, and with more laps and more time, we will get there."

Supersport

Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) kicked off the Winston Ten Kate Honda team’s home weekend with a superb performance in the first qualifying session, taking the fastest lap of the new 4.555km circuit at the first time of asking. Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda) did not enjoy such immediate good fortune at the modified Assen circuit, but was still 12th fastest of out of 38 prospective qualifiers.

Charpentier’s lap of 1’41.906 - some 0.421 seconds faster than his nearest challenger - may well prove to be the one that wins pole, if the second and final qualifying session on Saturday proves to be wet. On the opening day track conditions remained dry, but unpredictable weather is forecast for the entire weekend.

Ronald Ten Kate – Team Manager
“With the possibility of changing conditions we knew that we would have to go fast from the start of the weekend. The plan has succeeded for Sebastien, and I am so happy to see him back, as he has had to show a lot of determination in the last couple of months to get himself back on top of the timesheets. He has had to be hard on himself to make such a comeback. Today he made some incredible laps. I hope it stays dry because I think we can still improve the set-up, and therefore the lap time, but I am happy for the moment. Kenan is not on the pace yet, but there are some small issues with the bike that we have to resolve, so he needs to pick up the speed a bit tomorrow. In the past we have seen that he can do that, so I’m sure he will make a good step forward.”

Sebastien Charpentier – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
(Pole Position – Fastest Lap 1’41.906 – 16 Laps)
“Back at the top and that feels good. I’m happy for the team and for myself. It’s not easy and I worked hard in August. The bike made a good improvement today and the Pirellis are working in a good direction, a high level for me. Tomorrow is a new day and it is possible to be quicker, and I will also work for the race. I think there is a good possibility to finish at the top this weekend. The temperature is not too high but we have something like 85% humidity today, so it has not been easy for anyone. Whatever the weather does, it will be the same for everyone. The team is hungry for the pole and I like a little pressure, no problem for me.”

Kenan Sofuoglu – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
(12th Position – Fastest Lap 1’43.611 – 17 Laps)
“We didn’t start well, but there are still two sessions more and I hope it stays dry if I am to improve my time. The bike at the moment feels OK but I still have to improve much more, as in the fastest corners I am riding a little bit stop-start. Tomorrow I will try to shine and put it on the first row. We will see.”