Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will be in Holland this weekend for the Dutch Grand Prix, looking to carry on from last Sunday’s best team result of the season – so far – in Catalunya. John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen finished in fourth and sixth places respectively at Barcelona, and both will be aiming to continue their good form into this Saturday’s race. The famous Assen TT circuit is the only racetrack to have staged a motorcycle Grand Prix since the beginning of the modern World Championship in 1949. It has been newly configured for this season with track length being reduced from 5,997m to 4,555m. This will enable fans the chance to get more action as the race has increased to 26 laps from 21. The circuit has kept its characteristic banked curves and high speed corners and the new additions to the layout are designed to keep Assen as a true riders’ and fans’ favourite. Practice will begin on Thursday and all riders will be given an extra half-hour in the morning session to assist them in learning the new layout. Two more hour long sessions will be held on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, before the all-important qualifying session on Friday afternoon. The Dutch TT is traditionally held on the last Saturday in June and this year is no exception. The flag will drop to signal the start of round eight of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship at 14.00hrs local time (12.00hrs GMT) on Saturday 24th June. Paul Denning Team Manager: “The team and riders did a great job last weekend, but this is a new race and we must begin all over again and build on what we have started. All the riders are coming to Assen without prior knowledge of the new layout so it will give us a good idea of how Chris has come on as a GP racer – as everybody will be learning the circuit from scratch. Assen was traditionally one of the fastest circuits on the calendar, with its many high-speed corners and we hope that the new layout will favour the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R and both riders. John is still searching for that illusive first pole position and podium and I have no doubt that both are within his grasp over the next few races, he knows it is coming it is just a matter of when! Holland is an important market for our title sponsors Rizla, and we will certainly be aiming to put on a good performance for them.”