Rob Guiver leads the Ducati TriOptions Cup championship once more while Sean Neary gets that elusive first win
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- Guiver overtakes and extends championship lead over Morris
- Neary claims his first victory after a series of 2nd place finishes
- First double podium for the Boast Plumbing team
Race 1
Rob Guiver (Hyside Motorcycles) started race 1 at TT Circuit Assen from pole, having qualified half a second ahead of the field. But it was the current championship leader Leon Morris (Carl Cox Motorsport/P&H Motorcycles) that got the holeshot from 3rd on the grid to temporarily take the lead into the first corner ahead of Guiver and Sean Neary (Zoek Racing Team).
As the race went on Guiver and Neary were pulling away from the rest of the field and by half race distance had a gap of more than 2 seconds over Robbie Brown (Boast Plumbing) who was now in 3rd place and coming under pressure from his teammate Jonathan Railton.
By the final lap Guiver and Neary had extended their lead to 4 seconds. Despite his best efforts Neary was unable to make a pass for the lead and finished in 2nd place with Guiver taking the chequered flag and his 8th win of the season, overtaking Morris in the championship standings. Jonathan Railton (Boast Plumbing) took the final podium position, his first for 2 years.
Rob Guiver - Hyside Motorcycles
“I thought it was Leon behind me the whole race, because it was Leon who had the holeshot and I passed him. I just saw +0, +0, +0 on my board. Whenever I get in that situation I just try and stay calm and see where they attack me really. And obviously Sean never had a go. So on the last lap I thought if anyone was going to pass it would be into that final chicane. So I really set myself up for a good half a last lap and as soon as I went into the chicane I knew I’d got it. So it’s fantastic. And with Leon to finish in 5th makes it even better for me really.”
Race 2
After setting the fastest lap in Race 1 it was Railton who lined up in pole, but championship leader Guiver made the most of his front row start in 2nd to take the lead going into the first corner before being passed later on the opening lap by Neary.
Following a brief safety car period the race restarted on Lap 3 with Neary immediately making good progress and going on to take a 1 second lead. By half race distance Neary led with Railton, Morris, Louis Dawson (Wolverhampton Ducati) and Guiver making up the rest of the top 5.
Railton was starting to chase down Neary down and was able to make a pass but Neary never let him out of his sight, retaking the lead on the penultimate lap and going on to win his first ever Ducati TriOptions Cup race.
Railton took second, with his Boast Plumbing teammate Brown taking the last podium position. Guiver finished just in front of Morris in 4th to extend his new championship lead by another 2 points. He now sits at the top of the standings with 262 points.
Sean Neary – Zoek Racing
“The front tyre was absolutely finished by the end. But I would rather not finish than finish 2nd again. I really wanted that win. I’m so happy for the Zoek Racing team and all the boys, Ducati Coventry, all the people who’ve stood by me and backed me. It’s a great present for them. Just need to get more of them now.”
The Ducati TriOptions Cup heads to Brands Hatch in 2 weeks round for the final round. Rob Guiver holds an 8 point lead over nearest rival Leon Morris.
Championship points:
- Rob Guiver 262
- Leon Morris 254
- Sean Neary 239
