Bardahl Yamaha’s Federico Caricasulo clawed his way through the pack to snatch WorldSSP victory from team-mate Randy Krummenacher halfway through the final lap of a titanic clash at Assen.
Krummenacher had led from the off while the Italian messed up his start, going from second on the grid to eighth on lap one, and was left with an uphill battle for a podium spot.
After an 18-lap dice which involved nine riders in the early stages, the pack was reduced to six at half distance and then five when Raffaele De Rosa slid off his MV and then it was an all-Yamaha affair aside from the Kawasaki of former champion Lucas Mahias.
It in the end it was Thomas Gradinger (Kallio Racing Yamaha) who took third, for his and Austria’s first podium in WorldSSP.
Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) was in the leading mix then dropped back before working his pace back up to normal and passing the Kawasaki of Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) to take fourth.
Mahias set the fastest lap of the race twice, finishing fifth and just 1.277 seconds from the win, but being outgunned by the R6 riders at times.
Corentin Perolari (GMT94 Yamaha) was sixth, winning a three rider battle that finally had Hikari Okubo (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Isaac Vinales (Kallio Racing Yamaha) behind him.
In ninth place Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Kawasaki) had his best race, with Jules Danilo (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) similarly higher than his usual performances in 2019 so far.
In the championship, Krummenacher has 90 points, Caricasulo is now second with 73, Cluzel is third on 69 and Gradinger fourth on 40.
