Assen MotoGP preview

VENUE
Assen TT circuit, 190km north-east of Amsterdam

CIRCUIT
4.542km and 18 corners -- six left, 12 right. It’s the only venue to have held a round of the Motorcycle World Championship every year since 1949, which makes it the most prestigious – and extravagant -- event on the Dutch motorsport calendar. The circuit is flat, narrow and fast, which promotes quick-fire changes of direction and hard braking duels. The circuit was once 6km long, but was trimmed down to its current length in 2006 – to the chagrin of some riders who felt it lost some of the full flavour which had made it such a masterpiece.

LAP RECORDS      
MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa (Honda), 1:34.548 (172.9 km/h), 2012
Moto2: Marc Marquez (Suter), 1:38.391 (166.2 km/h), 2012
Moto3: Zulfahmi Khairuddin (KTM), 1:44.004 (157.2 km/h), 2012

MOTOGP
Assen, much like the circuit which preceded it on the 2013 calendar, Mugello, should be one of the ‘must dos’ for any MotoGP devotee – for the carnival atmosphere as much as anything else! The layout of the circuit promotes a real seat-of-the-pants spectacle with riders swinging their bikes from side to side at extremely high speed, and where mistakes such as mixing apexes or braking markers can have dire consequences. The fast, sweeping corners place a heavy burden on front tyres.

The dynamic and fast-paced environment has traditionally been to the liking of Aussie riders, with Mick Doohan winning the Dutch TT every year during his world championship reign (1994-1998), while Casey Stoner was also first past the post in 2008 and again in 2012 – so no chance of a repeat winner in 2013.

Wayne Gardner also greeted the chequered flag in 1986, while cameo man Kevin Magee – then a young upstart from Horsham in country Victoria – announced himself to the world when he qualified second for the Dutch TT in 1987. He was then swallowed up in the race by the championship regulars, but the die was cast: a year later he was a full-time MotoGP rider.

Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo is the man with the runs on the board at the moment, coming off consecutive victories in Italy and Catalunya which has him now just 7pts behind Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa after six of 18 rounds. He’s also a four-time winner at Assen, (his “favourite track ever”) including MotoGP success in 2010.

“I’m quite happy after winning at Mugello and also Montmeló; two important victories for both me and the team for the championship,” said Lorenzo. “We were in a very good shape these last two races and I feel stronger than ever and really hungry to win.

“I love the circuit. It’s historic, quick and very flowing, but also I love the landscape, the ambience and I have always liked the country. I am very motivated to go there and try to keep this line of winning, even more after our good test at Barcelona and Aragon, when we achieved some improvements for the future.”

But here’s the potential spoiler: rain. Lots of it is forecast for Assen on Saturday (it’s the only GP which is held on a Saturday) and in the only other wet race this year, Le Mans, Lorenzo floundered, finishing well back in seventh as Pedrosa splashed his way to victory. Although it may have been an aberration for Mr Reliable, it just may throw some seeds of doubt his way if the heavens do open at Assen. And Lorenzo certainly doesn’t need a repeat of last year’s Assen debacle, when he was taken out by Alvaro Bautista.

Meanwhile, Pedrosa and rookie teammate Marc Marquez have been testing the 2014 Honda MotoGP bike recently (alongside satellite rider Helmut Bradl) and, as impressive as it has been, they’ll be sticking to the 2013 hardware at Assen.

Pedrosa is also purring along beautifully at the moment, but it’s fair to suggest that he could be out of practice when it comes to defending a championship lead, as until this year he had been yet to head the standings since the middle of 2008. Both he and Lorenzo will stress that points will win prizes come the season finale in Valencia, but being ahead by the summer break – which will come after round nine at Laguna Seca -- is undoubtedly a psychological boost.

“After a good race in Catalunya and an important 20 points, I still lead the championship and I am looking forward to Assen," said Pedrosa, who enjoyed his only Assen win -- but the first of his career -- in the 125 class 11 years ago. “I won my first race there and have very special memories.

“The weather can be temperamental so I hope we get some dry track time on Thursday to find a good setting! It is a good track but it's important to have a good feeling with the tyres because there are several fast corners. I hope we can keep the momentum going and complete a good race.”

If Doohan enjoyed some rich pickings at Assen, then what do you say about Valentino Rossi? The nine-time world champion can claim wins in all three classes with 125cc success in 1997, a 250cc victory in 1998 and an incredible five premier class triumphs in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2009. That golden era has now passed, although he’s still pushing hard to return to the front on a regular basis on his factory Yamaha.

“I am very happy about the test in Aragon and I'm looking forward to going to Assen,” said Rossi. “The settings that we tested were positive and now I feel more feeling with the bike, especially when braking. For me it is an important step and I really want to try the new set-up in another track.

“I hope that this improvement will help me also to get a better starting position as it is so important to make the best qualification possible. Assen is a great track, I love it and it brings to mind a lot of good memories. We'll try to leave this good feeling with the track and the bike to improve our results.”

Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Nicky Hayden (Ducati) and Bautista (GO&FUN Honda Gresini) will all be looking for improved fortunes at Assen after crashing out in Catalunya, while Australian CRT rider Bryan Staring (GO&FUN Honda Gresini) finally gets to a track he knows well from his FIM Superstock 1000 days – although he did crash out there in 2012.... He said: “After a positive result in the Catalan Grand Prix, where I scored my first world championship points, I go to Holland with a different approach I feel motivated and confident about this race especially because I finally won't have to spend time learning the track because I already know it.

“I really like Assen and I will be able to start work on the machine straight away. I am desperate to do well this weekend and get the most out of the bike so that I can show my potential.”

MOTO2
Spaniard Pol Espargaro (Tuenti HP40 Kalex) snapped out of a lean streak in emphatic fashion at Catalunya – which was just as well, as red-hot Briton Scott Redding (Marc VDS Kalex) was beginning to turn the season into a one-horse race. The pair has won two grands prix each in 2013, but Redding’s greater level of consistency – six top five results compared to four top fives and two DNFs for his rival – has been the difference, which is why he holds a 35pt lead over Espargaro after six of 17 rounds.

Redding was third at Assen in 2012, while Espargaro crashed out in a race won by eventual world champion, Marquez.

Queenslander Ant West (QMMF Racing Speed Up) is 15th in the standings after three point-scoring aces in 2013.

MOTO3
The title has seemingly already been broken down into a three-horse race between KTM-backed Spanish trio Luis Salom, Maverick Vinales and Alex Rins, with 26pts separating them. Salom heads to Assen on a two-win streak.

As is normal service in Moto3 racing though, a number of other riders have shared time in the limelight, including Townsville’s Jack Miller (Caretta Technology/RTG FTR Honda). Last time out, he was circulating as high as second position in the race before finishing seventh after his bike started to get hot and lose speed -- adding insult to a top end that wasn’t as sharp as the KTMs in the first place.

Adelaide’s Arthur Sissis was 10th on the Red Bull KTM Ajo machine in Catalunya, which was his best result since the season opener in Qatar. And he’s looking forward to making a further splash in the Nenetherlands.

“Assen is one of my favourite tracks on the calendar, because it’s very fast and has many high speed corners. It’s very nice and I enjoy myself a lot on the bike there,” said Sissis. It’s really fun, just like the final sector which is all-out on the gas. The final corner is also really great. In the Red Bull Rookies Cup, in 2011, I did a very good job there, with a win and a second place, so I hope to repeat that kind of performance this week.”