GiBErnau fastest in Assen

World championship leader Sete Gibernau set the pace as rain played havoc with first qualifying for the Dutch TT at Assen yesterday.

Gibernau, riding a Telefonica Movistar Honda, was easily the quickest man on the track throughout the hour-long first session which was made treacherous by continuing rain.

The Spaniard repeatedly lowered his time as his rivals struggled to adapt to the conditions and clocked a best lap of two minutes 12.540 seconds with his last effort.

That was over a second faster than his nearest challenger, Alex Barros on his Repsol Honda.

The slippery conditions allowed some of MotoGP’s lesser lights their chance to shine with Ruben Xaus and Michel Fabrizio producing surprising pace.