The long wait is over and this morning the Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team was out at the TT Circuit Assen, making its season debut in the Superbike World Championship with young British rider Bradley Ray, the 2022 BSB champion.
Cool and windy conditions did not deter the team’s technicians who set to work on Ray’s YZF R1, adapting it to the fast Dutch track.
In the morning’s first session, Bradley stopped the clock on 1’36”731 to place eighteenth. The second session played out in the afternoon and the Englishman made good use of the work completed in FP1, improving on his best lap by a second and rounding out the day in seventeenth position.
Tomorrow morning will see Ray back on track for the third and final practice, while the afternoon brings the Superpole and the first race of this third championship round.
TT Assen Circuit – The Netherlands – Superbike World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Bautista (Ducati) – 2) Lowes (Kawasaki) – 3) Rea (Kawasaki) - 4) Aegerter (Yamaha) – 5) Gardner (Yamaha) ……. 17) Ray (Yamaha)
Sandro Carusi - Team Principal
“I’m really pleased with this first day of practice. The fact we’re only 1.5 seconds from the front leaves me feeling confident. I believe that Bradley has good potential and I’m sure that as soon as he gains greater confidence with the bike, he’ll be able to express it, perhaps already in this weekend’s races.”
Bradley Ray #28
“I’m really happy with how these first two practices of the season have gone. I immediately found good feeling with the bike and was able to improve my lap time. What would have been my fastest lap was unfortunately interrupted by the red flag, so I know we have room to improve. Now we need to look at the data so that we’re ready for tomorrow’s practice and first race.”
