The Yamaha rider ensured three different riders topped the opening three sessions at Assen as he finished just ahead of fellow Italian Bulega at the TT Circuit.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) became the third different rider to top a session at the 2025 Pirelli Dutch Round in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, beating Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) by just 0.007s. ‘Loka’ arrives at the TT Circuit Assen following a podium finish at Portimão and hopes to continue his strong showing from FP3 into the Tissot Superpole later on, having led an all-Italian top three in the final practice session.
On a chilly but sunny morning at Assen, Locatelli was the rider to beat with a late lap in the 20-minute session, utilizing the warmest conditions of FP3 to set a 1’33.539s time, beating Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to the top spot by just 0.007s. Bulega was the last rider to leave the pit lane, emerging with 16 minutes remaining, before claiming a provisional P1 only to be demoted by ‘Loka’. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) completed an all-Italian top three in Saturday morning’s opening session.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had looked set to finish in the top three but fell just short to finish in P4, only two tenths away from his former Yamaha teammate, Locatelli. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was fifth with Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) rounding out the top six as his strong Assen pace continues.
Two-time Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was seventh ahead of rookie Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team). Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) was eighth ahead of the Lowes twins; Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) leading Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) by a tenth with the pair seemingly working together on track during FP3. Rookie Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) showed promise with 12th place, although the #99 had been in the top ten at various points.
