Ray Leads the Way as BSB Showdown Begins in Assen

Spread the love

The British Superbike Championship headed across the Channel for a change of scenery, with the paddock setting up shop in the Netherlands as Assen hosted the opening round of the 2025 Showdown. It was a return to familiar territory for some but brand-new ground for many, given that the iconic TT Circuit Assen had not featured on the BSB calendar since 2019. On the opening day, it was Bradley Ray who seized the headlines, treating both sessions with the same meticulous approach and timing his charge to perfection.

Riding for Raceways Yamaha, Ray put in steady laps throughout both free practice sessions, carefully working on setup before retreating to the pits. In the closing ten minutes of FP2 he came back out with renewed pace, stringing together a series of faster laps that culminated in a 1m36.186s effort, posted in the dying seconds of the session. That was good enough to put him clear of the field, locking him into an automatic Q2 spot and establishing him as the benchmark for the rest of the weekend.

Scott Redding, riding the Hager PBM Ducati, was again Ray’s closest challenger, just as he had been in FP1. The former WorldSBK champion finished only 0.099s off the Yamaha man’s best lap. Both Redding and Ray arrived at Assen with the advantage of more recent experience from other international championships, and that knowledge showed as they immediately looked comfortable at a track that can take some time to master.

Further down the order, Max Cook showed early promise on his Kawasaki but was shuffled back to 11th as times tumbled. Glenn Irwin rescued his day with a late surge that pushed him into 12th — just enough to grab the final automatic Q2 place. Irwin spent much of the session shadowing different riders, studying lines in an effort to unlock speed around the 4.5km Dutch circuit.

Not everyone was so fortunate. DAO Racing Honda’s Josh Brookes ended up 13th, agonisingly missing the Q2 cut by a single place and instead consigned to battling through Q1. He will be joined there by Storm Stacey, who placed 14th on the Bathams AJN BMW, the highest-placed rider from the Bavarian marque.

Settling In at a Familiar Stranger

For many on the grid, FP1 was less about pushing for lap time and more about getting reacquainted with Assen or learning it from scratch. The track’s sweeping layout and fast changes of direction demand precision and commitment, making it a difficult circuit to come to cold. Riders with fresher memories from other series — like Redding, Ray, and John McPhee — were able to adapt more quickly.

Ray’s late flyer in FP1 was enough to snatch the session lead from Redding, who still carries fond memories of Assen after taking pole and winning both races when BSB last visited in 2019. Tommy Bridewell kept him honest in third, setting the tone for a competitive weekend.

Danny Kent provided a positive story in fourth place. The former Moto3 world champion had been nursing hand and wrist injuries following his Donington crash in the Foggy Esses, but he put fitness doubts to rest with a strong showing. Leon Haslam, another rider with deep Assen experience, opened with P5, just ahead of current championship leader Kyle Ryde.

Drama and Determination in the Middle Order

There were stories up and down the order. Lee Jackson, back in action with DAO Honda, had to put a nightmare build-up behind him. Just days before Assen, his racing caravan and equipment were stolen, leaving his preparations in tatters. Despite that setback, he managed to climb from 18th in FP1 to 15th in FP2, narrowly missing a Q2 berth but proving his resilience.

For the local crowd, TAG Honda’s Jaimie van Sikkelerus flew the Dutch flag. Although 19th in both sessions, his presence as the home favourite added an extra layer of interest. Another Dutch rider, Wayne Tessels, also joined the entry list with Druijff Racing Kawasaki. Unfortunately, bike issues limited him to a single out-lap in FP1, but he regrouped to finish the day in 22nd after a more productive FP2.

Not everyone ended their day upright. Jamie Davis suffered a crash in FP2 that left him 24th overall, while Andrew Irwin was absent altogether, still recovering from arm surgery following his Donington accident. That left Bridewell as Honda Racing UK’s sole representative for the weekend.

Late Surges Shape the Top Ten

The second session produced further reshuffling at the sharp end. Kent once again impressed for McAMS Yamaha, ending the afternoon third fastest and underlining his recovery. Bridewell placed fourth, carrying the Honda flag strongly, while Haslam slotted into fifth for Moto Rapido Ducati.

Christian Iddon wrestled with a machine that didn’t give him the feedback he wanted, but a determined final push moved him up to sixth for AJN Steelstock Kawasaki. Charlie Nesbitt also made strides, taking seventh for MasterMac Honda. Championship leader Ryde endured a more difficult day, his lack of prior superbike mileage at Assen showing as he could only manage eighth on the Nitrous Competitions Yamaha despite late improvements.

Rory Skinner rode on the ragged edge throughout, visibly wrestling his Cheshire Mouldings Ducati as he fought to secure a Q2 place. With ten minutes to go, he jumped from outside the top ten to as high as fifth before eventually settling in ninth. McPhee, meanwhile, was the model of consistency, clocking near-identical times to his FP1 effort. His ability to latch onto faster riders like Bridewell helped him extract the maximum from his Yamaha, and he rounded out the top ten.

In short: Day one at Assen belonged to Bradley Ray, who timed his attack perfectly to grab the top spot. Behind him, familiar names like Redding, Kent, Bridewell, and Haslam showed their class, while stories of resilience, recovery, and local pride filled the midfield. With Q2 places now decided, the stage is set for an intense weekend as the Showdown roars into life on Dutch soil.