Double points finish for Triple M Honda World Superbike Team at Assen

In its fourth WorldSBK weekend the rookie Triple M Honda World Superbike team secured points in each 21-lap race at Assen, with their American rider PJ Jacobsen once more mixing it on track with many more experienced riders and teams.

Having scored points in one of the two races that constitute a full WorldSBK race weekend at the previous three rounds, Assen was another step forward. Rider and team were able to take away points scores in each race for the first time in one event.

Going 15th in Superpole qualifying, at what was a consistently warm and dry Assen weekend in the Netherlands, PJ was able to once again improve on his grid position in the races, with 14th in race one and 13th in race two.

He had been up as high as 11th in the second race, fighting for a top ten, before tyre wear and its effect on his chassis set-up came into play.

Warm track conditions all weekend at Assen were an unusual characteristic for this circuit in the north of Europe, but a very welcome one for a team that is still learning in its first year at this level of production-derived racing, and needs to make good use of every single track session.

With the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team unable to race at Assen due to injuries suffered by their riders, the Triple M squad was flying solo on their CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 for much of the weekend, which did not help the overall effort to find an ideal set-up.

Now the team will take part in a two-day test at Brno – a returning circuit to the WorldSBK calendar in 2018 – before the next race takes place at the undulating and flowing Imola circuit in Italy. Race days at round five will be on 12th and 13th May.

PJ Jacobsen

PJ Jacobsen 99

It was quite difficult for us this weekend, especially not having the other Honda riders Leon Camier and Jake Gagne here to help get the bike set up. It was not one of our best weekends but hopefully we can go to the test in Brno next week and see where we can improve out on track. We will work with what we have now to get the chassis in a better position for me as I have not been really comfortable in our direction all weekend. Neither the team or me want to be riding around in 13th and 14th, to be honest.

Triple M Honda World Superbike Team

Manuel Cappelletti

Manuel Cappelletti

Team Manager

It seems there were two different races within the same race, both yesterday and today. PJ was quick and comfortable for the first 10-12 laps. Then when the drop in the tyres became dramatic, the bike changed completely and the second part of the race was not so nice. The bike starts to be difficult to handle. This is the area we have to work on more, when the tyre starts to drop. So we have to think about something with the chassis, and especially the electronics and engine to be more constant all race and save the tyres for the second part. We are still working a lot and every track is new for us. I think we made another step because for ten laps we were really in the top ten group. Now we have to make a longer race pace.

Triple M Honda World Superbike Team

Dutch Round

TT Circuit Assen, Netherlands

WorldSBK 2018, Round 4

23

Sunday 22 Apr 2018, 11:40 UTC
  • Air Temp: 23°C
  • Humidity: 46%
  • Ground Temp: 30°C

# Rider Num Nationality Nat. Points Pts. Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Tom Sykes 66 GBR 25 Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 33’36.444
2 Jonathan Rea 65 GBR 20 Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki +5.445
3 Michael van der Mark 60 NDL 16 Pata Yamaha Yamaha +7.507
4 Xavi Fores 12 SPA 13 BARNI Racing Team Ducati +11.316
5 Chaz Davies 7 GBR 11 Aruba.it Racing Ducati +18.953
6 Jordi Torres 81 SPA 10 MV Agusta Reparto Corse MV Agusta +22.414
7 Marco Melandri 33 ITA 9 Aruba.it Racing Ducati +22.515
8 Loris Baz 76 FRA 8 Althea BMW Racing Team BMW +23.997
9 Toprak Razgatlioglu 54 TUR 7 Grillini Racing Team Kawasaki +24.245
10 Lorenzo Savadori 32 ITA 6 Milwaukee Aprilia Aprilia +24.653
11 Davide Giugliano 34 ITA 5 Milwaukee Aprilia Aprilia +41.807
12 Michael Rinaldi ITA 4 Aruba.it Racing Ducati +41.846
13 PJ Jacobsen 99 USA 3 Triple M Honda World Superbike Team Honda +47.516
14 Alex Lowes 22 GBR 2 Pata Yamaha Yamaha +53.355
15 Ondrej Jezek 37 CZE 1 Grillini Racing Team Kawasaki +54.065
16 Yonny Hernandez 68 COL 0 Team Pedercini Kawasaki +57.758
NC Leandro Mercado 36 ARG 0 IodaRacing Team Aprilia DNF
NC Román Ramos 40 SPA 0 Team Go Eleven Kawasaki DNF
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