WorldSBK Assen, Sunday.

Sunday’s race at Assen (Netherlands) was not all plain sailing for the GMT94 riders.

In Supersport, Lucas Mahias, who had an excellent warm-up (P2) in dry conditions, had high hopes of a podium finish on the grid. Even though the weather forecast predicted a few drops of rain on the first few laps, Lucas Mahias and his team decided to start on slicks like all the other riders on the grid. The weather quickly changed the face of the race, with the rain, which was heavier than forecast, arriving as soon as the lights went out. This didn’t stop the French rider from getting off to a good start and finishing 3rd in the opening laps. While a few riders decided to return to the pits to start again on wet tyres, Lucas Mahias and the GMT94 stayed with the strategy of keeping up with the leaders by staying on track. In the end, the 2017 World Supersport Champion was not rewarded, as the rain continued to fall for most of the race. The French rider finished 24th.

In Superbike, Philipp Öttl missed his start and ended up in penultimate position. It then took him four laps to pass former world champion Tito Rabat and former BSB champion Bradley Ray. After setting some very good lap times, he gave it his all to come back and take the two points for fourteenth place.

Christophe Guyot: “I’m really sorry for Lucas. He followed our race instruction, which was to continue in case of rain, because the forecast was for light rain on a track that usually dries very quickly.  It turned out to be a losing bet. We’re all remembering the great race on Saturday and an impressive warm-up. It gives us all motivation and the desire to meet up again at the next race on the Misano circuit (Italy).Philipp Öttl missed out in Race 2, but he went on to post some good times and the door to the top 10 should be open for him very soon.