From a press release issued by the World Superbike Championship Press Office:

TT Circuit Assen Invests 700,000 Euro For Safety measures

“Enjoy, don’t destroy”, motto for the thematic approach public invasion

The TT Circuit Assen is this year forced to make an extra investment of more than 700,000 Euros to ensure the safety of the public and racers. The investment is necessary in order to retrieve the WC permit, as this was withdrawn by the international motorsport confederation FIM after a public invasion during the Dutch TT in 2002. “It is impossible for anyone in the world to imagine that there would be no Gauloises Dutch TT, and we have done everything possible to ensure that such an incident does not recur, so that we can continue a 75 year tradition on the last Saturday in June”‘ reports the TT Chairman Jos Vaessen, during an informal media-gathering. At the 22nd of April FIM Safety Officer Claude Danis will make a trip to Assen for the new homologation check..

More comfort and new stand

The safety measures aim at more comfort and an increase in the number of sit places and stands. 17,000 new bucket seats will be placed before the end of June, so replacing the wooden planks at the Finish and Winterdijk stands with much more comfortable plastic seats. Also, the before the TT new to be built De Bult stand, which with its splendid location directly after the Stekkenwal bend offers a good view of a large part of the Zuidlus (southern loop), will be furnished with 2,000 bucket seats. Further alterations for the existing stands are in the planning for the coming years. With the increase of comfort and the number of sit places in the Zuidlus, the slopes at the Noordlus (northern loop) near Witterdiep, Madijk and Ossebroeken will remain closed to the public.

Lenient checks

During the WC Superbike race in September last year the TT Circuit Assen was obliged to carry out stricter checks, which included the banning of beer and softdrinks. After an extensive evaluation and with the new regulations packet, the TT organisation were able to convince the FIM to take on a more lenient policy. Softdrinks are now allowed in plastic or carton containers, just as a thermosflask of coffee or an icebox containing food and softdrink. But alcohol/beer and containers such as cans and glass are still banned, as well as building materials, party tents and tools etc.

A yearly return of more than 80,000 Euro together with more and bigger check posts and more controllers at the entrances, so that waiting time should be cut shorter. There will also be more security along the track, with a tit for tat policy, by which ringleaders and fence climbers will be directly removed from the premises.

‘Enjoy, don’t destroyEBR>
The TT Circuit Assen will inform the public via a thematic approach with the slogan ”Enjoy, don’t destroy” about the changes and over what is and what is not tolerated. One thing that really stands out since last September and that is that the real motor fans help to maintain public order. After the 2nd Superbike race, when a few fans attempted to climb over the fences near the main stand, the public stood up as one and roared them back on time. “A unique form of self regulation. We would like thousands more of those kind of fans and the ringleaders can stay at home. The council and the police also ensures us that the camping sites around the TT Circuit Assen will be stricter controlled and unacceptable behaviour will be dealt with”, continues Jos Vaessen, and he goes on to say: “For the persistent fence climbers extra control will be put into action, also more than 4 km’s of fencing will be improved and over the top of all the fencing extra barbed wire will be placed.”

Dommelsch makes an exception

World’s Local Brewer Interbrew, with Oranjeboom is a decennial long a steady partner of the TT Circuit Assen, has carried out a switch of beer brand at the TT Circuit and during the TT Night and also in a large section of the inner town of Assen. Oranjeboom will make place for Dommelsch beer which is better geared to the target group. Its new pay-off “For Dommelsch you make an exception” will certainly appeal to the public, knowing that consumption prices have gone down. E 1.50 for a 0.25 lt. beer and E 2,50 for a half litre, and soft drink prices will also be reduced. To give extra power to the thematic approach, on all of the Dommelsch plastic beer beakers will be the logo “Enjoy, don’t destroy”.

Economical significance TT Circuit Assen grows explosively

In 1996 the TT Circuit Assen had the economical significance of the Dutch TT and its other events assessed by DTV Consultants. At that time it was calculated that the Dutch TT alone generated more than 80 million guilders (36 million Euro) on spending per year. On top of this, there was a further 6.5 million guilders (total 39 million Euro) from all other events. Seven years ago this was comparable to an employment force of 566 person work years.

Since 1996 there have been the necessary changes made at the TT Circuit Assen, not only qua accommodation, but also the number of events. New research, which the TT Circuit Assen had done this year, shows that the economical significance for the province of Drenthe and surrounding areas has grown explosively. It is calculated that in the year 2000 all activities at the TT Circuit Assen generated a financial spin-off of 80.8 million Euro, as well as more than 1,500 person employment years, an increase of more than 200%. In 2010 a growth of 122,5 million Euro is expected and more than 2,300 person employment years. An increase compared to 1996 of more than 310%.