Tom Sykes riding the sole Kawasaki ZX10R at the World Superbike race at Assen has qualified in pole position for the third successive time this season. Tom Sykes and Kawasaki have been going well this season thus far with Sykes finishing in the top four positions in all the races held so far. However, his teammate Joan Lascorz has been not only less impressive but also unfortunate in having crashed during testing and ending up with spinal injuries that seem set to end his racing career. As respect for the injured rider, Kawasaki has decided not to enter a substitute rider at Assen. Sykes now hopes that his pole position and a possible good race will bring a smile to his injured teammate. Jonathan Rea on the Honda will start in second position. The Effenbert Liberty Ducatis of Jakub Smrz and Sylvain Guintoli in 3rd and 4th places and reigning champion Carlos Checa will start from 5th position. John Hopkins who is returning to Superbike racing after fighting injuries and having surgeries qualified his Suzuki in a creditable eighth place considering that the Suzuki is a privateer effort supported by tuning firm Yoshimura. The races should be most interesting.