Honda HRC Heads into Round 3 at Assen: Resurgent Lecuona and Steady Vierge Set to Battle
The 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) heads into its third round this weekend at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands. Honda HRC is aiming for a strong result at this iconic venue.
Coming less than two weeks after the previous round in Portimão, this weekend marks another quick turnaround for the teams. Iker Lecuona, who missed the opening round in Australia due to injury, made his season debut in Round 2. Despite not being in perfect condition, he showed steady progress throughout the weekend, scoring points in all three races and achieving a best result of 8th in Race 2. Meanwhile, teammate Xavi Vierge has been consistent since the season opener, finishing 5th in Race 1 at Portimão.
The upcoming round at Assen, known as the “Cathedral of Speed,” is a staple on the SBK calendar. In the 2024 event, Honda HRC faced a weekend of mixed fortunes in terms of both weather and results. Vierge managed to finish 10th in both full-length races, while Lecuona was forced to sit out the races after crashing in wet conditions during FP3 and sustaining an injury. Still, Assen holds special significance for Lecuona, as it was the site of his first-ever SBK podium in Race 2 of the 2022 season.
This weekend’s Assen circuit features a technical 4.542 km layout with 18 corners. In use since 1955 in its current format, the track’s origins go back to 1925. The ever-changing weather conditions are also a defining characteristic of this unique circuit.
Xavi Vierge:
“Portimão was a positive weekend overall. Although I crashed in Race 2, I felt we made good progress as a team. That gives me confidence heading into Assen. It’s such a fun circuit to ride, with characteristics that differ from the first two rounds. The weather is unpredictable, but that’s part of what makes it special. We’ll keep working hard, especially on improving the electronics package.”
Iker Lecuona:
“I was really happy to be back racing at Portimão after such a long time away. I’m looking forward to Assen as well. I want to approach the weekend calmly and constructively, steadily building throughout the sessions. I really like the Assen circuit—I’ve even been on the podium here before—but last year was tough. On Friday, I’ll focus on evaluating both my condition and the bike’s performance, without worrying too much about position at that stage. The goal is to work in the right direction so we can achieve the best possible result in the races.”
(Photo courtesy of HRC)