WSS: Ten Kate: Not good for the heart!

Ten Kate racing have long been the dominant force in Supersport racing and have won many times at Assen over the years, but to get a one-two on your home round is special.

The race itself was possibly one of the best motorcycle races seen in years, a huge gaggle of riders passing and re-passing, lots of diffrent race leaders and superb, clean moves by every rider out there.

Pitt and Rea were at the forefront of this battle throughout, and of the main group of leaders they led the most laps, but again to look at the lap chart only tells half the story. There were 13 lead changes over the line, but certainly a few more during the laps!!

Pitt looked to be slightly stronger on the back straight and certinly better on the brakes into the final chicane, whereas Rea was super quick in the fast sweepers into the last corner, taking the lead at that point on more than one occasion during the race.

The 2001 Supersport champion came through though to win in the end, managing to out drag his peer on the run out of the last bend to win by a wheel. A great result for Pitt as he had not enjoyed the best practice and his team worked very hard to get a good setting for him to race with.

"Jonathan was quicker in some areas and I was better in others so we continually passed each other," said race winner Pitt. "It's great for the team though, we had an awful Valencia weekend and here until today.

"Some of Jonathan's moves were tough but we got through it and it's a great day for the team at their home."

For his part Rea proved that he can cut it at the highest level in Supersport and looked visibly disppointed to lose the race by such a small margin. But it's early days for the 2007 BSB runner up and that win does not look far away on this evidence.

"Firstly I want to congratulate Andrew, he rode great," offered Rea. "the bike was good from the off here and I am learning how to ride at this track that I had never been to before.

"We made a break through with the front tyre and I also was able to go quicker from the start which I wasn't doing in the opening rounds.

"On the last lap I was very late on the brakes into the final bend, that pushed me wide and I got on the wrong line."

Team boss Ronald Ten Kate was overjoyed with the win at his home track but the racing left him a little short of breath as he explains.

"What an amazing race, I think that is the most exciting race we have ever been involved in. But it was not good for the heart I can tell you!"

"Both out riders were up front the whole time and though it was close between them and everyone else, they all rode very fairly."