Rea on Assen front row

Jonathan Rea will start tomorrow’s two third-round World Superbike championship races from the front row of the grid after setting the second-fastest time in this afternoon’s Superpole sessions at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands.

The Pata Honda rider had felt confident of challenging fellow British rider Tom Sykes for pole position, but a front-end slide early on in his fastest lap in Superpole 3 persuaded Rea, 26, that a front row start was good enough.

With team-mate Leon Haslam absent from Assen through injury, Rea will be the only Pata Honda World Superbike rider in tomorrow’s two 22-lap races – the home event for his Dutch team which is based just 60km south of Assen.

Jonathan Rea – P2, 1m35.639s

First of all, I’m just excited to be back in a front row press conference - the last time was the end of last season. I’m looking forward to the races, though; my guys have done some work and I’m feeling very, very comfortable on the bike but we’ve had minimal time so far to put distance on a race tyre. I think we have two options we can have a look at but a lot will depend on the temperature tomorrow. I thought I could go with Tom [Sykes] this weekend and really push, but I had a big front slide in turn three and put my heart rate through the roof, so I nursed it home. Superpole’s not really my thing, but I felt really confident at the start of Superpole 3 and went out first on a race tyre. Anyway, it’s great to be on the front row for the team’s home race and I just want to send a ‘get well soon’ message to my team-mate, Leon [Haslam], who had a big crash on Friday.

Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator

We have only Jonathan riding here now but, of course, we are very happy to take second place on the grid after Superpole today. With Leon’s crash, yesterday was a really miserable day, so this is a great boost for the whole team. Every time we go out, we find something and Jonathan finds more confidence. We still have something to improve for tomorrow and I think we can run for podiums, so well done to the team and to Jonathan.

2013 World Superbike championship, round three – TT Circuit Assen, The Netherlands

Final qualifying results and first two rows:

1. Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki 1m35.043s

2. Jonathan Rea (GBR) Pata Honda 1m35.639s

3. Eugene Laverty (IRL) Aprilia 1m35.814s

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4. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Aprilia 1m35.973s

5. Loris Baz (FRA) Kawasaki 1m36.166s

6. Davide Guigliano (ITA) Aprilia 1m36.326s