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.

From a press release issued by VIR:

Virginia Festival of Speed Returns to VIR

Alton, Va. (June 22)–Two-wheeled thunder returns to the challenging and picturesque VIRginia International Raceway over the weekend of June 25-27 with the fourth annual Virginia Festival of Speed, featuring Formula USA and the 21st season of the Championship Cup Series.

The Virginia Festival of Speed will provide a combination of the best sportsman and professional motorcycle road racers going handlebar-to-handlebar at up to 160mph over the 2.25-mile VIR North Course for their share of more than $100,000 in purse and prizes. Friday and Saturday will feature Sportsman action and on Sunday the professionals take to the track in Sportbike, Superbike, Thunderbike and the no-holds-barred Unlimited GP classes.

“Our competitors always look forward to racing at VIR,” said Ken Abbott, the director of marketing and promotions for Formula USA. “It’s such a beautiful environment, the camping facilities are great and the track is very challenging to ride. We feel that VIR provides a great value for the dollar to spectators, and we’re looking forward to a great turnout this weekend.”

Tickets for the Virginia Festival of Speed will be available at the gate, priced at $35 for a three-day ticket, $25 for a two-day (Saturday and Sunday) ticket and $15 for a single-day (Sunday) ticket. Children under 12 are admitted free with a paying adult. Ticket prices include onsite parking and pedestrian paddock access. Camping fees are $25 for the weekend.

VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit (designed to be operated as two autonomous, full-service courses), VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park; the VIR Gallery, which is a showroom for high-end collector and racing cars; the VIR Safety and Security Institute, which provides specialized training for U.S. Government and military groups; and the VIR Euro Rally and Corporate Motorsport Experience, which features four rally stages plus a kart track, motocross track, ATV and SUV training grounds. Future plans include The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room hotel overlooking the track, and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse.

VIR made history from 1957 to 1974 and is doing so again. The renovated original circuit has 17 challenging turns and 130 feet of elevation change. In addition to spectator events, the track is also available to rent for testing, driving schools and club days.

For more information on VIR, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or contact VIR toll-free at 888-RACE099. For more information on Formula USA and CCS, visit their website at
www.formulausa.com.

From a press release issued by Triumph:

TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES (AMERICA) LTD. 2004 SALES UP

Triumph’s U.S. New Unit Sales Increases 104% in May

NEWNAN, Georgia – Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd., announced today that the company’s U.S. new unit sales jumped 104% during May – with an overall year-to-date increase of 34.5% — when compared to the same time period (January-May) in 2003. Triumph’s U.S. sales growth continues to exceed the U.S. industry year-to-year new unit sales growth of 8 %.

Strong interest in the new Thruxton 900 café-racer inspired version of the classic Bonneville, the ground-breaking Rocket III power cruiser, and the updated Tiger dual-sport styled motorcycle has helped to fuel recent sales growth and drive more consumers to Triumph dealers. Consumers have also reacted positively to the firm’s strong finance programs. “Motorcyclist’s interest in the Triumph brand has never been stronger,” said Todd Andersen, Marketing Vice President, Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd. “We are very pleased to report that our existing models account for almost all of the 2004 sales increase as Thruxtons just began arriving in dealerships in May, and our Rocket III is arriving in showrooms at the end of June.”

Last week, Triumph hosted the Rocket III global press ride in Sonoma, California and media’s reaction was exceptionally positive to the exciting new 2.3 liter power cruiser. “We know enthusiasts will be thrilled when the bikes arrive at our dealers in the next couple of weeks and this – along with all the other rewards from owning a Triumph – should lead to continued strong sales increases,” stated Andersen.

This summer, Triumph will be offering enthusiasts the opportunity to test-ride the new Rocket III and the entire line of Triumph motorcycles at a number of events across the country. For a complete list of events and dates as well as Triumph dealer showrooms, please visit Triumph’s website: WWW.TRIUMPHMOTORCYCLES.COM.

Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triumph Motorcycles, Ltd, manufacturer of Triumph motorcycles and accessories. Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd., is located in Newnan, GA and services the Triumph dealer organization throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The 2004 Bike Week in Laconia, New Hampshire was the largest in the 81-year history of the event, according to local officials.

Charlie St. Clair, executive director of the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association, was quoted in the June 21 edition of The Union Leader, New Hampshire’s statewide newspaper, as calling the 2004 event “the largest Bike Week gathering ever.”

No rock-solid attendance numbers were provided, but New Hampshire State police estimated 2004’s attendance to have exceeded 2003’s attendance, which AMA estimated to be 350,000 over the length of Bike Week.

The 2004 Laconia Bike Week, which began June 12 and extended through June 20, Father’s Day, included dirt track racing, hill climbs, USCRA vintage road racing through the streets of Laconia and the 81st Loudon Classic Formula USA event at New Hampshire International Speedway, which had a “pretty good” spectator attendance, according to NHIS spokesman Ron Meade.

From a press release issued by Stuart Carter:

Garrett Carter, a 15-year-old rookie racer from Royal Oak, Michigan, is leaving tomorrow to join former British 125cc Champion Clive Horton’s race team for three weeks of racing in England.

The race schedule includes Pembrey in Wales, Donnington and Brands Hatch. He will race in the MRO series and the BMRC series, racing an ex-Daniel Pedrosa RS125 Honda. His tuner will be Nigel Botsworth who has worked for Kenny Roberts and managed both the British Red Bull team and the Petronas WSB team.

Garrett heads to England after several WERA regional wins and a USGPRU 2nd place after qualifying 31st at Summit Point.

From a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

For immediate release

NEW TYRES AND NEW HOPES FOR PROTON KR AT ASSEN

Proton Team KR line up for the most historic MotoGP race of 2004 with hopes of edging further up into the points, as the development programme of the new 2004 Proton KR V5 prototype racer moves steadily forward.

Two factors lend confidence to riders Nobuatsu Aoki and Kurtis Roberts.

The first is the nature of the machine, well-suited to the Assen circuit’s unique and complex nature. The fine handling of the landmark hewn-from-solid chassis is backed by the increasing consistency and reliability of the latest version of the England-made V5 engine.

The second is the tyres. The team tested the latest developments from their partners Dunlop after the last round at Catalunya, and both riders agreed that the latest developments showed a clear improvement.

One of the Proton pair has finished in the points at every race so far this year except for the opening round. One goal for the Dutch TT, sixth of 16 rounds in the 2004 MotoGP World Championship, is to get both machines in the top 15. Another is to move into the top ten – no easy target in a year when the overall standard has clearly risen, with lap and race records comprehensively smashed at every opportunity so far.

Proton Team KR has the added burden of race-developing new components. The slim-line chassis sets new standards in accuracy and performance, but the team has been kept busy developing the new motor, revised to fit the new frame.

For Assen, the target has been to produce engines with consistent performance and reliability, said team manager Chuck Aksland; while the search for more power continues back at the Banbury base.

With the Rio GP in Brazil the weekend after the Dutch race, this meant a double load: mindful of previous delays with customs Proton Team KR are travelling fully loaded with enough spare engines and other parts for both races. “The guys have worked really hard, and done well. We had to aim for quantity, along with quality,” said Aksland.

The tyre tests had been promising, Aksland added. “That is probably the area with the most potential to help us at Assen. Since our agreement with Dunlop in March, they have been working hard, and the tests showed good progress. As long as we all keep improving, then we’ll reach our goal,” he said.

Assen is the longest and fastest track of the year, but an almost continuous series of curves means it favours good handling and skilled riding as much as sheer horsepower and raw top speed. This is also the northernmost circuit, and unpredictable weather often plays a leading role in the race results.

The Dutch TT was established before World War 2, and was one of the original races on the first World Championship calendar of 1949. The modern Assen circuit evolved from the original public roads, a bypass built in the Nineties finally made it into a racing-only circuit. Major changes two years ago extended the paddock without altering the circuit’s nature.

The TT is traditionally a Saturday race, but there will be little time to enjoy a Sunday off. Teams will be beginning the long journey to Brazil, for the following weekend’s Rio GP.

NOBUATSU AOKI – I AM OPTIMISTIC
After the Barcelona GP we had some tyre tests with Dunlop, and fortunately I found a good front tyre and a good rear tyre. Although I did only a few laps, it was a big difference and a big improvement, and I am really optimistic. I’m not sure how those tyres will work at Assen, but at least our situation is much better compared with one month ago. Also, Assen is not as hard on tyres as Barcelona. The bike is generally improving race by race, so we will wait and see how it goes in Holland.

KURTIS ROBERTS – JUDGEMENT RESERVED
From what I heard, Assen’s a tough track to learn. I can’t make a judgement before I get there. But we’ve had some good news: stuff in the pipeline, and better tyres coming up. My shoulder is feeling strong and good, and I’m hoping for another finish there, and to get in the points again.