The weather had a dramatic effect on Friday afternoon's opening qualifying session for the third round World Superbike championship event at Assen in The Netherlands as rain fell just as riders took to the circuit.

Following a dry free practice in the morning, local radar forecasts predicted rain at 15.30, the scheduled start of first qualifying, with most riders trying to get a ‘banker’ lap in before it arrived.


Honda World Superbike rider Jonathan Rea set the fifth fastest time but his team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama was unable to set a competitive time, ending the session in provisional 21st place as French rider Sylvain Guintoli went fastest.

Rea had spent the morning session continuing the work on the front end feeling from his Honda CBR1000RR, while a technical problem and SBK’s new-for-2012 ‘one-bike’ rule limited Aoyama’s track time.



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