P1racenews AI automatic summary:
WorldSBK returns to Assen this weekend, where Andrea Locatelli took his first WorldSBK win last year.
The 2025 Dutch WorldSBK was a standout weekend due to Andrea Locatelli’s first victory in the class, following his move up to the class in 2021 after dominating the World Supersport season. Locatelli beat Alvaro Bautista on the second Ducati straight up, eventually finishing fourth in the championship.
In the current 2026 World Superbike season, Locatelli is facing difficulties, sitting 11th in the standings with his best result being fifth in the wet Race 2 in Australia and ninth in a dry race in Portimao.
Despite the challenging start, Locatelli is hopeful to revive his season at the same place where he achieved his first win last year, at Assen, a track he loves for its flowing and fast nature. He aims to rediscover his past speed and results while working hard to maximize his performance.
Locatelli’s teammate for 2026, Xavi Vierge, has had a better start in terms of speed with a sixth-place finish in Race 1, although he is currently in 14th place due to three non-scores and a crash-and-remount in earlier rounds. Vierge is also optimistic about Assen, considering it a strong circuit for Yamaha.
