Honda Racing hits its marks at Assen

Tommy Bridewell

“I was a little bit frustrated that they red-flagged the first stint of the final race, because if I’m honest I felt a little bit better on the bike. But it is what it is: I’m happy enough, we’ve made great progress with the bike and the team’s done a sterling job, really. I’ve enjoyed a really refreshing weekend, and from here we just need to keep up the progress. We had great pace in both races and we’ve got to take the positives and keep building on where we are.”

Jack Kennedy

“I suppose it’s a bit up and down today. I said that we needed to start winning again and we did that this morning, which was really satisfying. But we didn’t do it this afternoon. They were tricky conditions out there, with a small dry line, and then it started raining again and I didn’t have a great feeling. I had to back off more than the other people did and still felt like I was on the limit of what I had. Unfortunately they were able to build a bit of a gap on me. When the rain stopped I really put the hammer down and gave it everything for 12 laps maybe and I got close in the end, but there was just too much of a gap. I’m happy with the effort that I put in, so it was a day of two halves, really, still good points and we’re still in the championship fight but we have to do better at Oulton Park.”

Dean Harrison

“The weather just wasn’t playing ball, was it? I got a reasonable start in the second race, lost the rear two or three times out at the back when it rained, went across the grass and the gravel, and dropped back to about 25th so I just chipped my way forward from there. I’ll be honest, whilst it was raining, I was just holding my place because we were never going to get all the way back to the front and the risk didn’t match the reward. I was struggling for rear feel, but I think it was largely down to the weather conditions and when it dried up my times jumped back up. I can do the times, but I had two or three big moments and just put it to bed. It’s my worst weekend of the year aside from Knockhill, so roll on Oulton Park, hopefully the weather’s better in England!”

Team Principal Neil Fletcher

“Overall, the team can take a lot of positives away at the end of our first trip to Assen in several years. The superbike team, with elements of both regular crews, came together with Tommy at very short notice and immediately played to each other’s strengths. I think that teamwork was a key ingredient in the pace that we showed on the track. Meanwhile, in Supersport, Jack’s victory in the first race was vital to his title hopes and rich reward for the efforts in that garage. They then managed the conditions well to bring both bikes home in Race 2, so we can look ahead to Oulton Park with confidence.”