From a press release issued by Ducati Austin:

BOSTROM LOOKING FORWARD TO “TROFEO DUCATI” RACE AT BRAINERD

Eric Bostrom heads to Brainerd International Raceway for the Trofeo Ducati U.S. Superbike AMA Championship, round 7 of the national series to be sponsored by Ducati and Michelin. Fourth overall in the points standings, Eric is hoping to do for Ducati what his brother Ben did in 1999 when the elder Bostrom took his Ducati to the top step of the podium.

The Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team tested June 8th and 9th at the 3.1-mile (4.58 km) highspeed track and gathered crucial data for the upcoming race.

“I think that it should go good for us. We just recently tested there, so that’s a big ace up our sleeve as far as figuring out tires for the race,” said the 27-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada. “Also, it’s not a doubleheader weekend so we’ll go into the race with a couple of days of practice. I think it’ll be a good race pace for that reason, since everybody should have adequate time to set up their bikes.”

Eric is aiming to notch his thirteenth career AMA Superbike win at this special event. “I’d like more than anything to win there, especially since it’s a Ducati and Michelin sponsored event. I think we stand a good chance. It should be an exciting race with the long straightaway and with the drafting equaling everything out – it usually makes for a tight race. At the test, my Michelin tires were really strong and I know that for the race we’re going to be able to finish at the same pace that we start with, which should be good for us.”

Ducati plans to make the BIR event a special destination for Ducati dealers, owners and race fans in general. Ducati owners from throughout the country will be invited to the event and will have special viewing and parking areas. The Ducati Experience will feature live music, bike show, fireworks, bike tours, hospitality, and gear check.

The Circuit
Originally called Donnybrooke Speedway when it opened in 1963, the name was changed to Brainerd International Raceway in 1973. The circuit sits on a 400-acre site in central Minnesota. The flat road course measures 3.1 miles (4.58 km) in length and has ten turns. The highspeed track features one of the fastest right-hand turns on a U.S. road course: the 60-degree turn 1, taken at full-throttle, is extremely hard on tires.

>From 1989 to 1991, Brainerd International Raceway hosted the U.S. round of the World Superbike Championship. In 1991, Doug Polen rode a Ferracci Ducati to a double-victory at Brainerd en route to winning the World Superbike Championship title that same year.


POINTS: 1. Mladin 329; 2. Duhamel 319; 3. Zemke 311;
4. E Bostrom 235; 5. May 220; 6. B Bostrom 184; etc.

From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Walker withdraws from Goodwood ride

Foggy PETRONAS Racing star Chris Walker has been forced to pull out of a planned ride at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend.

The popular Brit had been scheduled to ride the PETRONAS FP1 race bike up the famous Goodwood hill during the three-day festival, along with team boss Carl Fogarty.

But an injury sustained during the team’s last outing in the Superbike World Championship, in which Chris broke three ribs, has resulted in a reluctant withdrawal.

Chris will still be at Goodwood on Saturday and Sunday in a public relations role, but also to watch Foggy in action on the race bike that the seven-times world champion has been instrumental in developing.

Chris said: “I think everyone will understand. The doctors have advised me to rest as much as possible before our next round in America in three weeks time. Those are very important races for me as we are hoping to use the next stage of our engine development. It’s also part of the build-up for the Brands Hatch round and I am desperate to go there feeling I have a chance.

“If I had got on the bike I would have had to have beaten Foggy. He beat me in a kayaking event in France last year and I haven’t recovered from that yet!”

Carl Fogarty will be signing autographs at the FPR merchandise stand in the exhibition area near the Vauxhall Stand from 1-1.30pm on Saturday, with Chris there from 2-2.30pm on Saturday. A joint signing session will be held on Sunday between 12 and 12.30pm.

From press releases issued by Proforma:

MILLENNIUM TECHNOLOGIES SUZUKI HEADS TO THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES

The Millennium Technologies Suzuki team with riders Danny Eslick and Shawn Higbee will be racing this weekend, June 25-27, at round seven of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota. Both riders come to this event hoping to capitalize on strong finishes at the previous round at Road America, where they were able to take advantage of the strong KWS Motorsports-built engines on the circuit’s long straights. Brainerd features a nearly mile-long front straight that puts a premium on horsepower and the ability to use the draft.

Danny Eslick
“I can’t wait for Brainerd,” said Danny, the young-gun who currently sits 8th in Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme point standings, even though the decision to run the class was made after the Daytona round. “It’s another track I’ve never been to, but I’ve watched the tapes and I think I’ll do well there. It looks kinda bumpy, but, hey, I’m a dirt tracker, bumps don’t bother me!” Danny also lies 14th in the Pro Honda Oils Supersport point standings, missing points from a DNS at Infineon Raceway from a blown fork seal.

Shawn Higbee
Shawn comes into the Brainerd round 15th in season point standings in the Chevrolet Superbike class. Between not running the Daytona 200, a couple of rare crashes at the Fontana round and a broken battery cable at Infineon Raceway, Higbee only scored one point in the first four rounds. Since then, though, Shawn has earned several top-ten finishes in the class and is climbing in the points. “Our original plan was to just run in Superstock, but there’s too many factory bikes in that class to have a realistic chance at doing well, so we switched over to Superbike,” said Shawn. “We ran a couple of the Superbike races with the Superstock motor, but now Kevin (Hunt, team owner) has given me something closer to last year’s motor, which gives me a little more to work with. It’ll be a big help down the straight at Brainerd. I finished ninth there last year, I want to do better this year.”


HEATH SMALL AT BRAINERD THIS WEEKEND

Rider Heath Small and the HAS/Shogun Racing team will be at Brainerd, Minnesota this weekend, June 25-27 for round seven of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship. Heath comes to the Brainerd International Raceway event after strong finishes at the previous round at Road America in Wisconsin two weeks ago.

“I’m looking forward to Brainerd,” said Small. “I didn’t get to race here last year because I was injured, but I was here in 2002 on the Ducati in Pro Thunder. I got to ride last weekend at a CMRA event at Texas World Speedway, tested a few things and made some improvements to the Supersport bike. And I’ve gotten to ride a fair bit of dirt track lately, so that’s helping me stay fit and have some fun, too.”

From a press release issued by Ducati North America:

DUCATI MULTISTRADA RIDER SETS ASTOUNDING FOUR-DAY RECORD WITH MARATHON TREK FROM ALASKA TO FLORIDA

Gary Eagan Races Against Time and the Elements From Alaska to Key West Braving Artic Snowstorms and Enduring Rough Roads to Set New World Record



CUPERTINO, CA – Four days and five hours may not seem like a long time. However, if you’re planted on a Ducati Multistrada motorcycle, intent on breaking the Iron Butt Association’s record for a north-to-south traverse of North America, it may be the longest 101 hours of your life.

Gary Eagan of Salt Lake City, Utah started his record run of nearly 7,500 miles in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska on Thursday, June 17th. He left two days ahead of schedule because an approaching storm threatened to turn the first 500 miles of the trip – south along the stretch of gravel and clay known as the Haul Road – into an impassable bog.

But it wasn’t the weather that nearly ended his run. Just hours into the trip on the lonely, deep graveled road owned by the Alyeska Pipeline Company, Gary was run off the road by a truck 150 miles south of his starting point. His Ducati Multistrada lost its fuel cell, custom windshield, one mirror and one saddlebag. Gary broke his thumb and sprained his elbow in the encounter, but determined to finish, he pressed on into Fairbanks, Alaska.

From there he headed east toward British Columbia, Canada and then south to Kansas City, arriving early Sunday morning June 20th. There, Jim Koenig and his staff from Letko Competition Cycles helped repair the damage to the Multistrada while Gary slept for three hours. His bike repaired, Eagan then headed southeast, straight for Key West, Florida, arriving Monday evening, June 21st – four days and five hours later breaking the existing record by an amazing 13 hours!

“Without the help I received on Sunday, I just wouldn’t have had a chance at the record,” says Eagan. “I owe those two guys from Letko – Jim and Mario – a great big thank-you. As for the ride, I can say without a doubt it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Would I do it again? No, not ever. I just hope I can hold onto the record for a bit.”

Riding a mechanically stock Ducati Multistrada with 20,000 trouble-free miles on its odometer, Gary broke the year-old record held by Christopher Sakala, set riding a BMW R1150 GS. The only alterations to Eagan’s Ducati included the addition of a six-gallon auxiliary fuel cell, Light Force driving lamps, a one-off windscreen (which was lost in the accident), and a custom seat crafted by Rich’s Custom Saddles in Seattle.

“Gary’s record-setting run is a great testament to the hardiness, durability and reliability of the Multistrada,” says Michael Lock, CEO of Ducati North America. “Considering the damage done to the bike in the encounter with the truck, Gary’s achievement in just completing the course thoroughly demonstrated the Multistrada’s quality construction and adaptability. Setting the record under such circumstances was simple brilliant.”

A full report on Gary Eagan’s exploits, complete with photos, is available on the Ducati North America web site at www.ducatiusa.com

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA PRO RACING ON TV THIS WEEK

(All times Eastern)

AMA Chevrolet Motocross Championship (125cc & 250cc), Motocross 338, Southwick, Mass., Saturday, June 26, 12:30-2:30 a.m. ESPN2

AMA Chevrolet Motocross Championship (125cc & 250cc), Budds Creek Motocross Park, Budds Creek, Md., Sunday, June 27, 2-4 p.m. ESPN2

AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei Final, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minn., Sunday, June 27, 3-4 p.m. SPEED
Channel

AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship Final, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minn., Sunday, June 27, 4-5 p.m. LIVE SPEED Channel

All times subject to change. Check local listings

From a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing Team:

NAKANO AND HOFMANN READY FOR ASSEN CLASSIC

The Dutch TT and the Assen road course present a special MotoGP challenge, and one that is eagerly anticipated by Fuchs Kawasaki riders, Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann.

Coming off a successful weekend of racing and testing in Barcelona last week, both riders are in a confident mood going into this Saturday’s sixth round of the MotoGP World Championship.

Nakano’s seventh place in the Catalunya GP was the best result by a Kawasaki rider since the Japanese factory returned to MotoGP at the end of 2002, while Hofmann’s determined ride into eleventh was a reward for the consistency and pace the German rookie, about to start just his 14th MotoGP race, is capable of displaying.

Both Nakano and Hofmann stayed on at Barcelona after the race for a test day as part of Kawasaki’s on-going engine development programme, with fuel injection settings and power delivery for the increasingly competitive Ninja ZX-RR the main focus for the two riders.

But it is the special challenge of the fast flowing Assen circuit – with racing’s fastest lap average speed of 181kph – that faces the Fuchs Kawasaki squad for the Dutch TT’s traditional Saturday race date on June 26th.

The 6.027km track is a personal favourite of Hofmann’s and was the scene of a superb tenth place finish in last year’s rain-lashed race as a Kawasaki wild card entry.

While Nakano appreciates the difficulty of Assen, he is also a fan of the track’s unique character, with its sequence of banked corners born of the TT circuit’s public road origins.

Following further treatment and training Nakano expects to be close to 100% fit for the Dutch TT. The gritty Japanese ace raced in Catalunya still suffering from a bruised back as a result of his horrifying 300 kph crash in the Italian GP at Mugello earlier this month.

The TT circuit continues to undergo improvements that are transforming the classic Assen road course into one of the safest and most modern circuits on the calendar. This year bike spectators will be treated to the addition of 12,000 hard standing parking areas, while on the track MotoGP racers will welcome improved safety measures.

Run-off areas have been increased at the exit of the Ossebroeken and Meeuwenmeer corners, while an extra 550 metres of air-fence has been installed; 350 metres at Madijk and 200 metres at Strubben.

Despite recent changes Assen remains an awesome challenge for riders and a compelling attraction for spectators, with organisers again preparing to cater for a race day attendance well in excess of 100,000 at the world renowned Cathedral of Speed.

Shinya Nakano: No. 56
“Assen is very fast; there a lot of blind corners and it is difficult to see the next turn with the speed and change of direction. But I like the track because the banked corners with high grip levels remind me of many tracks that I once raced in Japan. One thing you have to do each year at Assen is adjust to the speed, the bike feels very, very fast on the first few laps. Corner entry, change of direction and front tyre feel are important and these are the strong points of the new Ninja ZX-RR. My body is much stronger now than for the Barcelona race, which was a pleasant surprise for me, finishing seventh and keeping pace with a lot of the Honda guys.”

Alex Hofmann: No. 66
“Assen is a highlight for me. The track is the fastest roller-coaster in bike racing and there are always a lot of German fans there, so it’s like a second home race; always a lot of fun. Tenth last year in the wet was a great experience for me and since then the 2004 model ZX-RR chassis has made a big step forward in steering and handling, which is critical for all the fast changes of direction at Assen. The Barcelona race was a trouble-free weekend for me, so hopefully, that’s good sign, a change of luck, after some disappointing weekends. So, I’m going to Assen in a positive frame of mind and to try and repeat the job I did there last year.”

From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

Dutch TT, Assen, June 24/25/26, 2004

CATHEDRAL SET TO FILL FOR THREE RIDER TITLE RACE

Assen, one of the spiritual homes of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, will be packed to bursting with 100,000 fans from Europe and beyond as the sixth encounter of this gripping 16-round title race unfolds. Spaniard Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) currently heads the points standings with 106, with Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) on 101 and Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V) lying third with 80.

But at this stage of the season, the pattern for the title challenge is by no means set, and three riders knocking on the door of the leaders could come right back into contention with a strong race here. Carlos Checa (Yamaha) currently lies fourth with 49 points while Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V) has 48 points and Colin Edwards (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) 44.

The three top riders in the Championship have all scored points at each race so far, and consistency is proving to be as much of a requirement as ever as this season progresses. Both Checa and Barros have failed to score once each this season and those points dropped have proved enough to make Assen a key race for both riders this weekend.

The men out front will be giving nothing away. Gibernau won here in the rain last year and he won’t care what the conditions are as he seeks to consolidate his points lead here. But as one of the acknowledged rain specialists he is perhaps best suited to the conditions if rain comes into play.

One hundred miles north of Amsterdam, Assen is a former ‘road’ circuit, with some of the old track layout retained. This makes the track narrow in parts and the camber, essential for drainage on a highway, gives the track a significant crown. Camber is one of the elements of this classic track that catches many riders out.

The track can ‘drop away’ owing to negative camber on entries to turns, and perhaps more significantly, many exits are plagued with the same condition. Just as a rider needs maximum drive – the asphalt conspires to deprive him. And this is only one element that makes Assen so challenging.

The turns almost merge into one here and riders are painfully aware that one small mistake can have severe repercussions in terms of overall lap time. Top speeds here are unlikely to mirror the 215mph ceiling seen at Mugello and the 210mph at Barcelona – but average speed is very high here – 111.446mph in 2002 (rain prevented any increase last year).

But the way in which race times have tumbled this year suggests records will fall here. The total race time in Barcelona two weeks ago was 18 seconds faster than in 2003 and it will be no surprise if that figure is mirrored, or bettered, here in Holland on Saturday.

But much will depend on how the teams and riders wrestle with getting these 230bhp machines adapted to the specific demands of the Circuit van Drenthe. A certain amount of stability is vital for the swooping turns, yet quick-steering is essential for the ultra-fast back section where rapid changes of direction at 170mph are the requirement.

As ‘Speedweek’ gets underway this is what MotoGP series leader Gibernau had to say. “This track has a long history and the fans are great here. It’s such a tough track and if you make a small mistake it can really affect the whole lap time. Set-up is absolutely key here and a responsive machine with good stability is what we are all searching for.”

Biaggi is a big fan of Assen and the Roman is overdue a strong result after a ‘rogue’ tyre robbed him of a better finish than eighth in Spain. “I really like Assen,” he said. “In 2002 I had a great race in the rain and got a podium. The layout is great and there’s lots of grip, even in the wet. In Barcelona I had an abnormal result and I know I need to make up ground – I believe we can get our first win of the season here. I want to be celebrating more than just my birthday here on Saturday.”

Alex Barros will want a podium at least here, before he heads home to Brazil to race there next weekend. “Assen has always been one of my favourite tracks,” he said. “We had a really positive test at Barcelona after the race where we worked on the suspension. Assen is fast and flowing and although we’ll be celebrating my 200th Grand Prix start here – I want to be celebrating a good result.”

His team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) needs to get his season going here. The American lies tenth overall in the series after failing to finish the last two races. “I really need a good result,” he said. “Qualifying went well at Mugello and Barcelona and those front row starts really gave the team something to smile about. But the races went wrong and I got no points. I hope Assen will be a turnaround race – I’ve just got to come away from here with some points.”

Colin Edwards lies sixth overall and a really good result here could add new purpose to his season. “I like this track a lot,” said the Texan. “I’ve won here in World Superbike and I don’t really mind whether it’s wet or dry. We had a good test after Barcelona and we’ve got our tyre options nailed down now. I’ve got to learn to ride through chatter problems and go less aggressively to keep the pace up for a whole race distance.”

Max’s team-mate Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V) riding on Bridgestone tyres is ready for action. “It’s not a favourite track of mine,” said the Japanese. “I’ve only raced here once before and maybe after more laps I’ll get to like it a bit better. I need a podium real soon but the bike is good and we’ve got some new tyres coming too. I can’t predict the weather but I’m really motivated for this race.”

In the 250 category Danny Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) is determined to haul in the eight points that separates him from series leader Randy de Puniet (Aprilia). The young Spanish rider has already achieved two wins so far in his rookie 250 year and knows a victory here will be a significant step towards catching de Puniet.

“This is a great track,” he said. “I won my first Grand Prix here in 2002 and I know how hard you have to concentrate to do well here. You need a fast yet stable bike and I’m sure we can achieve that – the rest is up to me.”

Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) lies sixth in the points standings and the Italian title runner-up last year needs a big result here. ” I love the high corner speeds here,” he said. “It’s my favourite track and I’ve got to be closer to Pedrosa and de Puniet here. Grip is good here and I’ll take things lap by lap.”

Tony Elias (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) is one place higher than Rolfo in the points in fifth and the Spanish charger is all set to shine here. “It’s my favourite track and I love the way all the corners sweep together. When you get a lap of this track right, it’s an amazing feeling – like surfing a pipeline!”

Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) leads the 125cc World Championship with 96 points. Hector Barbera (Aprilia) is chasing the Italian hard with 74. The wily Dovizioso is racing as hard as ever and will seek to press home his lead here.

“I like Assen,” he said. “Picking lines through the fast turns is vital and if you can get them right then you’ll be close to a fast time here. It’s narrow here too so precision is key. You’ve got to have a lot of confidence as well. It’s perhaps the most technical track of them all.”

Simone Corsi (Team Scot Honda RS125R) lies an uncharacteristically lowly 17th in the World Championship standings and will be looking to change that by the time he leaves The Netherlands. “A good lap time here feels great,” he said. “It can be confusing here sometimes and you’ve really got to know the place to do well. I think I have enough experience to do well. I’m confident.”

Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) will not be riding after injuring himself in Barcelona while Makita Jankova, a 17-year-old Czech girl, will ride in place of Mattia Angeloni on the Angaia Racing RS125R.

From a press release issued by HMC Ducati Milwaukee Racing:

HMC DUCATI MILWAUKEE RACING EYES THE BRAINERD PODIUM

HMC Ducati Milwaukee Racing, the Ducati Motor Holding (DMH), factory-backed Formula Xtreme 749R race team, placed third and fourth in the first two races for the team at Pikes Peak and Road America respectively.

Team owner Mitch Hansen commented, “We are still early in our understanding of the Ducati 749R. It looks like our peak horsepower is comparable to Honda; for our next race at Brainerd, MN we need to be looking is how to get off the corner quicker.”

It is known that acceleration improves as average horsepower rises across the rpm range. At most racing circuits top speed happens for only a moment at the end of the straightaway, but acceleration and speed off the corners will often put you on the podium.

Crew chief Gary Medley stated, “For the Brainerd round we put the bikes on a diet and have been focusing on the Magneti Marelli fuel mapping system to get the race bike off the corners faster. In addition, we are making little changes to the motors to improve performance.”

Brainerd has a similar feel as Road America with its progressive 90 degree corners winding right down to the front straightaway. It’s both high speed and technical.

“The most important corner is the high speed turn at the end of the straightaway,” said Medley. “Once you get the bike balanced for that you are in good shape.”

Ducati North America is the title sponsor of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship event at Brainerd International Speedway titled AMA Superbike Trofeo Ducati, which is set for June 25-27 and is Round Seven of the 11-Round Championship.

Look for Doug Chandler signing autographs at the Ducati tent and at the HMC Ducati Milwaukee Racing transporter. Fans can win a Doug Chandler tee shirt by registering at the www.hmcracing.com website.

Ducati Milwaukee, is located in Saukville, WI at 262-284-2725 where the new Doug Chandler derived 749R bikes are now available for the 2005 season for the Ducati racing enthusiasts.

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

ASSEN TEST FOR NEW GSV-R MOTOR

Team Suzuki’s Kenny Roberts will be using the latest upgrade to the powerful 990cc V4 engine for the second time at this Saturday’s Dutch TT at Assen, round six of the MotoGP World Championship.

The motor – which has a revised firing order altering the character of the power delivery – was used for the first time at the last round at Catalunya, and though he stopped to change a tyre, he showed his pace when he rejoined a lap behind the leaders and matched them inch for inch to the flag.

Hopkins will be racing again with the standard engine. His Catalunyan race was also highly promising, though not rewarded with the result he expected. In his first race back since suffering a broken thumb at Le Mans, the 21-year-old recorded his best-ever qualifying position in eighth, but was sidelined in the race by a rare mechanical problem.

The last two rounds – the first in a marathon run of six races in eight weekends – took place at circuits with long, fast straights. Assen, the oldest and longest track on the calendar also has the highest average speed – more than 110mph. But unlike the previous pair, there is hardly a straight worth the name and the circuit snakes back and forth constantly.

The high-speed changes of direction take the emphasis away from sheer top speed and hand chances back to the rider. And the classic Dutch circuit is something of a favourite of both Suzuki men.

“It’s a track that has played in our favour in the past,” said team manager Garry Taylor. “We hope it can do so again. The bike has made a marked improvement this season and the modified engine is another step forward.

“The team spirit just keeps getting better and better and we’re all looking forward to this race.

“At the same time, we are under no illusions. We need to keep the impetus of progress and the team, the factory and the riders are all committed to that goal,” he said.

Project leader Masahito Imada, who joined the four-stroke GSV-R project midway through last season, will be attending the GP, reflecting the Suzuki factory’s dedication to moving the GSV-R onwards towards the ultimate goal of a return to World Championship victories.

Last year’s race was hit by bad weather – often a factor at the northernmost track of the year. Roberts missed the race after suffering injuries in a crash at the Italian GP. Hopkins had been seventh the previous year as an Assen rookie and soldiered home to finish in the points in last year’s rain.

JOHN HOPKINS:

“We proved at Barcelona that the bike can be competitive. I think that it can be competitive at Assen too. I like the track and I’ve done well there in the past. My thumb feels a lot better after a weekend off and watching the soccer in Britain. I think it should be a good weekend.”

KENNY ROBERTS:

“The new engine has made the bike easier to ride but at the last race, I had to use a lot of corner speed to stay with my group. When the tyres started to go down, I had to rely on acceleration. That’s one of our weak points at the moment so I hope we can come up with some better power for Assen.”

ABOUT THIS RACE:

The Dutch TT, the most historic race on the World Championship calendar handsomely pre-dates the World Championship series. That started in 1949 with the TT one of the key events. But the first Dutch TT was held in 1925. That was on the public roads around the town of Assen in the flat and windswept northern province of Drenthe and “Speed Week” has continued ever since, interrupted only by World War Two. Held close to mid-summer’s day, the race draws huge crowds, a northern rival to Jerez as the most popular GP. Tradition dictates that the Dutch TT is held on a Saturday – all other GPs take place on Sunday.

ABOUT THIS TRACK:

Th e longest and fastest track on the calendar was redesigned two years ago; the stretch behind the paddock moved backwards to make more space while reproducing the previous layout as far as possible. As a result, Kevin Schwantz’s 1991 lap record, set on a 500cc Suzuki, was never broken. The new version has lost 22 metres and now measures 3.745 miles and the average speed rose by almost one mile an hour, preserving the status as the fastest circuit at more than 110mph. The new version still retains traces of its public-roads origins – it only became a closed circuit in the Nineties, when a new bypass road was completed. It is especially unique in its complexity; each section of the circuit is made up of strings of mainly high-speed corners. A mistake in any one bend costs times throughout the remainder of that section and Assen puts a premium on good machine handling as well as smooth and accurate riding. The “cathedral of motorcycle racing” has earned its status and is a favourite with fans and riders alike.

GP DATA: Assen Circuit
Circuit Length: 3.745 miles / 6.027 km
Lap Record: 2:00.973 – 111.446 mph / 179.355 km/h. Valentino Rossi (Honda) 2002

2002 RESULTS:
Race Winner: Sete Gibernau (Honda).
Race Average: 42.39.006 – 100.100 mph / 161.096 km/h.
Fastest Race Lap: 2:11.805, Gibernau.
Pole Position: Loris Capirossi (Ducati) 1:59.770.
Kenny Roberts: Did Not Start – injured.
John Hopkins: 15th, qualified 16th, 2:01.715.
Fastest Race Lap: 2:17.590.