De Angelis Quickest 125cc Rider Thursday At Dutch TT

De Angelis Quickest 125cc Rider Thursday At Dutch TT

© 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Thursday 125cc Grand Prix Practice Qualifying Times:



125cc Grand Prix:

1. Alex De Angelis, Aprilia, 2:11.398
2. Casey Stoner, Aprilia, 2:11.632
3. Youichi Ui, Aprilia, 2:11.700
4. Hector Barbera, Aprilia, 2:11.741
5. Jorge Lorenzo, Derbi, 2:11.903
6. Mika Kallio, Honda, 2:11.957
7. Steve Jenkner, Aprilia, 2:12.134
8. Gino Borsoi, Aprilia, 2:12.203
9. Marco Simoncelli, Aprilia, 2:12.267
10. Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, 2:12.398


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

Dani Pedrosa Chasing Assen Double

Spanish teenager Daniel Pedrosa arrives at Assen for thee Dutch Grand Prix determined to repeat his stunning performance of 2002 when he scored his maiden GP victory. The 17-year old from Sabadell, close to the Catalunya race circuit, is the leading light among the new breed of 125cc riders that are forging names for them selves in the championship.

Racing alongside Pedrosa at Assen will be Thomas Luthi, Casey Stoner, Alex de Angelis, Jorge Lorenzo, and Hector Barbera, all teenagers and all very fast. Seasoned campaigners Lucio Cecchinello, Youichi Ui, Steve Jenkner and Stefano Perugini, all regular podium finishers, have been forced to up their pace by the influx of ebullient young chargers.

Pedrosa is a graduate of the MoviStar Honda Activa Joven Cup series, the inspirational brainchild of former GP rider Alberto Puig, now team manager of Pedrosa’s Telefonica MoviStar Honda Jnr Team, to unearth raw young talent. Toni Elias, Joan Olive and Pedrosa graduated from the first intake of ‘Students.

Elias now has five GP wins to his credit and holds second place in the 250cc championship, while Olive is beginning to find his feet in the same category, scoring points at all but one race this season.

The precocious young Spaniard has the looks of a choirboy and the heart of a Lion. He made his grand prix debut at 15-years of age and displayed quiet confidence from day one, albeit on occasions a little over enthusiastic. In his debut season his hard charging style delivered 11 points scoring rides and eighth in the championship.

Pedrosa moved up a gear in 2002, he was faster, smoother and more calculating than in his debut season. His fast developing race craft carried him to three victories and six other podium places and the reward of a third place finish in the championship.

Racing at Assen has an additional positive factor for Pedrosa. Catalunya apart, he feels more at home at the 6,027km Drenthe circuit than any other on the calendar as his Mother was educated in The Netherlands.

“My first thought about Assen? It’s a nice track, one of my favourite circuits. For me Assen is really special because I won my first GP there (in 2002). But not only that, my Mother was at school in the Netherlands, she has many friends there, I now know many of them and they always make me feel comfortable when I’m in Holland.”

Still just 17-years old Pedrosa has a very wise head on his young shoulders. His race skills and tactical awareness have become more than apparent this season.

He rarely makes the same mistake twice, Mugello this year a perfect example. At Jerez Pedrosa was in the lead group of five racing for the win but with three laps to go he was badly blocked-passed by Perugini who was ready to accept fourth place. The two men lost touch with the leading trio who went on to claim the podium places. Pedrosa was furious with his rival robbing him of potentially vital championship points and vowed he would not allow it to happen again.

At Mugello Pedrosa transferred his thoughts to deeds, making certain he was perfectly positioned at all times during the seven-man battle for the win. He kept a watching brief at the back of the group, until halfway round the penultimate when he began his attack scything through his rivals to pass all but Cecchinelo at the flag.

The expected huge crowd at Assen can look forward to watching Pedrosa at his best. He feels the circuit is a second home. The track, the atmosphere and having close friends at hand all come together to breed confidence and he races as if on home ground.

“I love the atmosphere on Friday and race day that’s really impressive. I have never been to the ‘Night of Assen’ but I heard that is something special. I was too young to go into town on Friday night then race the next morning, I was just 15 years old on my first visit!” Said Pedrosa. “We arrive in Holland, go to the hotel then the track to work. Our Dutch friends come to meet us there. The 125cc race is always the first of the day so I have to get to bed early the night before.”

“The track itself is so grippy, 75% of the circuit asphalt has good grip in both wet and dry. There is not so much braking at Assen, only one really hard braking point, and with the corners flowing together so well it’s a great track to race on. There is only one negative point about Assen – the weather is unpredictable. Sometimes it rains and spoils the racing.” Commented the young Spaniard.

“To race at Assen you need a machine with good power and good stability and the rider has to have a good head! If you have somebody in front of you it’s one thing, but if you are alone you have to concentrate at 100% maximum to go fast. It’s that kind of track.” He said. “To win at Assen is very special.”

“The Honda been very good at most races this year but sometimes we have been off the pace a little. At the moment it’s a little difficult but we have made progress and at Montmelo I could run as fast as anybody could. I hope the bike is good for Assen, I just love racing there.” Concluded Pedrosa.

There is no doubt that the youngster is totally dedicated to racing career, he is one of the most focused riders in the paddock. Pedrosa exudes a steely ‘Cool Dude’ persona while working at his racing but off the bike he is a well balanced laid back teenager who spends his free time ‘Hanging out’ with his close friends in his hometown.

Pedrosa goes into Saturdays race holding a 25-point in the 125cc World Championship and current form and his love of the circuit suggest he will leave Assen with an additional points cushion over his rivals.


More, from a press release issued by KTM:

Revised KTM-Red Bull bike for Arnaud Vincent at Dutch TT

Fine and sunny conditions welcomed riders to the six kilometre Assen road course for first qualifying for the Dutch TT, the classic event on the European GP calendar. In a highly competitive session KTM-Red Bull riders Arnaud Vincent and and Roberto Locatelli qualified 16th and 27th respectively.

For this GP Vincent is using a new frame with the changes including a revised fuel tank, seat and handlebar position. Following last week’s test at Barcelona new cylinder heads and reed valves have also been fitted for Assen. Locatelli is continuing with the same bike he has used in recent races with the latest chassis update only available to Vincent.


# 1 Arnaud Vincent
16th/2:13.168

I have to adapt to the new riding position with the new frame and that cost me some time today. There is more weight on the front end which is giving a different feeling but I’m sure we can make the bike more comfortable for the race. I think I could have gone faster on my final lap except I was behind Casey Stoner, perhaps in the top ten.


#10 Roberto Locatelli
27th /2:14.621

At the moment Arnaud is a step in front of me so it’s OK that he gets first use of the new frame. I started with my Barcelona settings here but the balance of the bike wasn’t so good, there was not a good feeling on corner entry so we need to change the geometry for final qualifying and the race.


Harald Bartol
Team Manager

At the Barcelona test we worked on chassis and engine settings but unfortunately one day is not enough to check all the options. The problem at Assen is that this track is very different from Barcelona and the set-up is completely changed with all the banked corners. We are still down on top speed and that is something we have to fix and perhaps that will come for Donington.

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