It was a good day for Jonathan Rea and his Ten Kate Honda team at the World Superbike superpole in Assen. Rea fought his way to his first ever pole position at the WSBK level, and Ten Kate Honda celebrated its first pole position since 2008.
Rea was the only rider to break the 1 minute 35 second barrier around the newly designed Assen track. Jakub Smrz, who was at the top after the first qualifying round, came in second behind Rea.
Troy Corser won the second qualifying session, and continued his impressive turn on top of a BMW to ride into third place. Corser’s third place finish will give BMW its first ever front row start in the WSBK.
The championship leader, Leon Haslam came in fourth to finish off the front row. Haslam might not be in the pole position, but he is well ahead of his nearest tournament competitors. Max Biaggi, who is in second in the overall standings, couldn’t manage a top ten finish at superpole, and finished in 11th. 
But Biaggi wasn’t the only big name to fall in the rankings. Noriyuki Haga, who had reestablished himself as a contender at Valencia with his first win of the season, finished 15th for the day.
Leon Camier had his best qualifying performance yet as he rode into fifth place.
The top five spots at the end of Superpole are represented by five different manufacturers. Rea (Honda) is on top, followed by Smrz (Ducati), Corser (BMW), Haslam (Suzuki), and Camier (Aprilla). Beyond them it was all about Ducati as Carlos Checa, Shane Byrne and Michele Fabrizio claimed spots 6 through 8. Yamaha riders James Toseland and Cal Crutchlow finish off the top ten.
Chris Vermeulen, who returned to Assen after sitting out both rounds at Valencia and Portimao, finished 19th.
1 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'34.944
2 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'35.062
3 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'35.306
4 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'35.330
5 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'35.633
6 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'35.892
7 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'35.909
8 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'36.405
9 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'36.027
10 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'36.061
11 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'36.069
12 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'36.094
13 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'36.327
14 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'36.348
15 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'36.574
16 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 1'36.581
17 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'36.906
18 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'36.989
19 77 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'38.378
20 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.622
21 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'38.471
22 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'38.769
