
Fast, physical and inviting: Assen was also green for the fourth year in a row. Kawasaki Racing Team duo Jonathan Rea & Tom Sykes set small milestones with their triumphs on Saturday and Sunday respectively under freakishly hot April sunshine in the northern Netherlands.
World Champion Rea tussled with Chaz Davies and Michael Van Der Mark to own a close chase in the opening affair while Sykes took advantage of the reversed grid on Sunday to sear free of the pack and his distant teammate to grasp his first 25 points since Misano last summer.
Rea matched Carl Fogarty’s record of 12 wins at one track (his 8th straight chequered flag at Assen) and now stands just two victories away from the Brit’s all-time total but it was Sykes’ return from the top step ‘wilderness’ that felt just as emphatic. It was also a remarkable turnaround for the 2013 #1 who could only take fourth place while Rea dropped his Saturday landmark. The 32 year old was vibed and clearly thrilled with his display.