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Locatelli dreams big and with him Yamaha, Bulega and the Ducati instead find themselves in a nightmare with Toprak saving himself by jumping on the first lifeboat available. All kinds of things happened at Assen.
Take your pick of where to start because we are spoiled for choice. We can start from the Bulega-Ducati nightmare or from Andrea Locatelli's magical triumph with Yamaha or even from the regulations that changed the cards in no small way.
Assen reserved us not a few twists and turns in a weekend where no one would have imagined such an epilogue. An unpredictable start to the Championship to say the least, with two protagonists and an interloper sharing the scene.
THE GOOD - Hats off and lots of applause for Andrea Locatelli, in his first Superbike victory. A success long chased after and finally achieved by the Bergamo rider, the result of work, heart, sweat, perseverance and humility. A guy who has never given up over the years, called among other things to reckon with teammates like Toprak and Rea, but managing to hold his own. What can we say: hats off to Loka!
THE BAD - Assen was his home race, but for Michael van der Mark, the kitty is short. A BMW clearly below expectations the one seen in the Netherlands, required to go on the defensive to contain the attack of the competition. They therefore had to rely on the wet weather to try and salvage what can be saved. Toprak put a patch on things as always, like a true ace, but they couldn't do anything more.
THE UGLY - To see a Ducati stop twice in a row on the same Sunday is more unique than rare. We wouldn't want to be in the shoes of the Borgo Panigale engineers much less Nicolò Bulega, who leave the TT with a more than bitter aftertaste. On the horizon is Cremona, the right opportunity to make up for it.
THE DISAPPOINTMENT - Andrea Iannone arrived at the TT with the aim of turning over a new leaf after Portimao, but instead his weekend was immediately uphill. First a technical problem, then a destroyed Ducati that in fact marked his round which was peppered with crash after crash. To be appreciated his redemption in Race 2 in the hope that that is the way forward at Cremona.
THE CONFIRMATION - If you need lessons on consistency call Stefano Manzi. Indeed, the Ten Kate rider leads the Supersport world championship standings with a linear show of results: either first or second!
THE MISTAKE - He already took care of it by burying his head in ashes after Race 1. Too much frenzy, but it was enough to overwhelm the unfortunate Sam Lowes. That's how Alvaro Bautista's Saturday ended. Fortunately, Sunday allowed him to redeem himself.
THE SURPRISE - First the pole then a podium in the Superpole Race. Lots of applause for Sam Lowes, who after being overwhelmed by Bautista on Saturday rose like a Phoenix from the ashes. He and the Marc VDS team were both smiling, regenerated after a 2024 season apprenticeship.
THE PASS - A year ago he was in the hospital attached to machinery. Danilo Petrucci has sorted things out with his past and the podium in Race 1 is compensation for everything he has had to face. His tuck in on Toprak was decisive!
THE CURIOSITY - Speaking of the past, just a year ago Remy Gardner earned his first and only podium in SBK. Apparently there is a special relationship with Assen, and here he is again with the top three riding his GRT-branded Yamaha R1.
I TOLD YOU SO - Bulega after Race 1: "We have the pace and the confidence I need to repeat the result again on Sunday"... Apparently he hadn't reckoned with his Ducati.
