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.

From a press release issued by California Superbike School:

CALIFORNIA SUPERBIKE SCHOOL DOES BRAZIL!

Keith Code’s California Superbike School ran in Brazil the week of June 14. Code hopes to open up the twelfth country for his schools.

Running at the Nelson Piquet circuit just weeks before the MotoGP to be held there in Rio De Janiero, the school hopes to get a feel for the Brazilian riders and their needs.

Code says.”We’ve always gone into countries that have read the “A Twist of the Wrist” books but we don’t have it in Portugese yet. It is one of the 7 translations we are currently working on. In the meantime, we are checking out Brazil to have a look at the situation there and see if we can add a new continent to our schedule.”

The California Superbike School currently runs all across America, England, Ireland, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Greece, South Africa, The Phillipines, Australia and Malaysia on franchise agreements using the school’s rider training technology and format.

Keith Code has instructed champions and more than 125,000 motorcyclists of all skill levels in “the soft science” of motorcycle riding and his textbooks and videos are widely utilized resources for motorcyclists worldwide. The school’s website is: www.superbikeschool.com

From a press release issued by Ducati North America:

DUCATI ANNOUNCES THEIR MOST COMPREHENSIVE FINANCING PROGRAM EVER FEATURING 2.99% APR* FINANCING ON SELECT MODELS AND 6.99% APR OR LOWER* ON ALL OTHER MODELS

Ducati launches its most comprehensive financing program in history with excellent financing on every Ducati model.

June 2004 – Ducati North America announced a new summer financing program called the “You Deserve a Ducati” deal. The program was inspired when Ducati staff overheard Eric Bostrom saying to a fan, “Don’t you think you deserve a Ducati too?” Now that dream can be reality with excellent financing on all Ducati models. It is the company’s most wide-ranging financing effort and comes during the peak of the riding season.

The program begins June 1st, 2004 and will continue through August 31st, 2004. Interest rates are as low as 2.99% APR for 36 months on all new 2003 and prior models. For lower payments, customers can choose the 4.99% APR for 60 months option. The 2004 models are also eligible for 3.99% APR for 36 months or 5.99% APR for 60 months (except 749R, 999R, Monster S4R, and 749 Dark).*

Finally, for models not listed above, Tier 1+ applicants can receive 6.99% APR on the STANDARD Ducati – E*Trade Consumer Finance Corporation (“ETCFC”) Program.

Riders have no more excuses about not being able to afford the Ducati they deserve. With every Ducati model included in this offer, customers can ride the bike they want at an affordable price.

In addition, up to $2,000 of popular Ducati Performance accessories and apparel (covering the entire range of Ducati motorcycles) can be financed with the purchase of any new Ducati. Visit www.ducatiusa.com or call 1-888-DUCATI 2 to locate the nearest Ducati dealer.

*Financing subject to Tier I credit approval through E*TRADE Consumer Finance Corporation; not all applicants will qualify. Financing rates and terms may vary based on credit qualifications and are subject to change without notice. Payment examples: 2.99% APR for 36 monthly payments of $29.08 per $1,000 borrowed; 4.99% APR for 60 monthly payments of $18.87 per $1,000 borrowed; 3.99% APR for 36 monthly payments of $29.52 per $1,000 borrowed; 5.99% APR for 60 monthly payments of $19.33 per $1,000 borrowed. 10% down payment is standard for all programs. May not be combined with any other offer; void where prohibited. Offer may be discontinued or extended without prior notice. See participating U.S. Ducati dealers for details (available in U.S. only, not available in Puerto Rico).

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Aaron Clark is recovering from injuries suffered in a crash during practice at New Hampshire International Raceway last Friday, June 18.

Clark highsided in turn seven but hung onto the bike, eventually hitting a tire wall past where Airfence is deployed. Clark told Roadracingworld.com that he broke the T8, T10, T12 and L2 vertebrae in his lower back, but has no nerve damage or loss of function.

He is resting at home in a back brace and will be out of action for about three months.

Clark won the 2000 Aprilia Cup Challenge Championship on a Roadracingworld.com RS250.

Clark has been working with Seacoast Sport Cycle, located in Derry, New Hampshire, specializing in building engines, specifically installing Clarkie Monster Motor kits for Aprilia V-Twins.

Clark can be contacted via e-mail, [email protected] or by U.S. mail c/o Seacoast Sport Cycle, 208 Rockingham Road, Derry, NH 03038.

From a press release issued by Buell American Motorcycles:

BEMISDERFER TAKES F-USA THUNDERBIKE POINTS LEAD AT LOUDON

Estok and Bilansky Falter as Bemisderfer Rides Buell to Second-Place Finish

LOUDON, N.H. – Harding Harley-Davidson rider Bryan Bemisderfer took over the season points lead in the Formula USA National Thunderbike championship, placing second aboard a Buell Firebolt while his main rivals failed to score points at the 81st running of the annual Loudon Classic at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Racing on his home track, Jeff Wood rode a Ducati 900SS to victory in the 12-lap Thunderbike event. Wood was also top qualifier. Rick Doucette placed third on a Suzuki, followed by Jerry Wood on a Ducati and Hoban Brothers Racing-Appleton Buell rider Jeff Johnson on a Buell Firebolt.

Harding Harley-Davidson rider and defending Thunderbike national champion Dave Estok had a forgettable weekend, qualifying in 9th position and then retiring with a mechanical problem to score a DNF for the race, his second consecutive race weekend without points.

Hal’s Buell rider Dan Bilansky also had a tough weekend at Loudon, placing 18th on a Buell Firebolt after a crash during qualifying left him starting in 20th position.

Bemisderfer’s steady ride left him with 60 points and a commanding 19-point lead after four of eight events in the Thunderbike National series. Estok, who led the series by a single point coming into Loudon, is now in second place with 41 points. Bilansky and Kosco Buell rider Joe Rozynski, who was 14th at Loudon, are tied for third position with 36 points. The next stop on the Formula USA National Thunderbike Series is June 25-27 at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va.

The Formula USA National Thunderbike series is a horsepower-to-weight ratio restricted class, open to a variety of production-based motorcycles. Buell-mounted riders competing in the eight-event 2004 Thunderbike series are racing for a share of the $70,500 contingency fund posted by Buell Motorcycle Company and Buell Riders Adventure Group (BRAG).

To learn more about Buell Motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style, and performance only found on board a Buell. For the Buell dealer nearest you, pull into www.buell.com.



More, from a press release issued by Speedwerks PR & Advertising:

Kcraget makes it two in a row and sets new 125 lap record at New Hampshire International Speedway

Loudon, NH: Round 3 of the USGPRU series was held this last weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway’s (NHIS) 81st Loudon Classic, and the 125 and 250GP races were combined with USGPRU, Can-Am series, and LRRS series racers. After high-siding his way out of the points in turn 2 last year at Loudon, Brian Kcraget was back with a vengeance.

Friday’s practice brought bike frustrations for Kcraget, but having his tuner, Phil Dodd by his side all weekend proved to be Kcraget’s saving grace. Dodd tirelessly worked after each session to get Kcraget’s bikes set up perfectly so he could get ready for Saturday’s practice and qualifying session, which proved critical because competition this weekend was going to be fierce.

Saturday’s practice was used for testing of both Kcraget’s A- and B-bikes for the 125 race, and after some minor changes, he decided his Nesba.com/Acid Cigar’s B-bike would suit him best for this track. His Nesba.com/Speedwerks.com Honda RS250 was working well and was ready for Saturday’s qualifying session.

The 125GP qualifying session was up first and Kcraget took to the track looking for poll. During the fourth lap, he lost a chain, and wasn’t able to complete any more laps, and still qualified second with a time of 1:17:361 behind Paul Duval with a best time of 1:17.335. Forty 125 riders qualified for the Carrera/Infinity 125GP race to be held on Sunday. The Rising Sun 250GP qualifying session was up next, with 23 riders taking to the grid. Kcraget qualified fourth with a time of 1:17.286, behind USGPRU’s Steve Wenner who qualified third, and Loudon locals Chris Reynolds and Sean Wray.

Sunday morning’s practice brought sunny and windy conditions, but Kcraget was ready to get some final practice in before his races. Kcraget took to the track for the 125 practice on his B-bike and unofficially broke Jason DiSalvo’s track record with a lap time of 1:16.185. Although Kcraget was ecstatic about his lap times, he knew he’d have to make it official by setting a blistering pace during the race.

The rider’s had to set up for pre-grid for both of their races Sunday afternoon, something that hadn’t been done yet this year, so it added an additional level and stress for both riders and their crew. After a fifteen minute pre-grid, Kcraget was off for his warm up lap, along with 39 other riders, whose lap times were all tenths from each other. This race would prove to be a nail biter.

Kcraget got a great start, and came out of turn 12 onto the front stretch in the lead, with Todd Puckett of Team Incomplete close behind. Kcraget was able to build a two second lead over the first few laps but Puckett wasn’t going to let him get away so easily. Puckett closed the gap to one second and the pace for both leaders began to quicken. In Lap 8, Kcraget beat Jason DiSalvo’s lap record by .887, with a time of 1:15.773. Kcraget’s next lap was a 1:15.922 and from there he built his lead to over four seconds. He took the win over Puckett and third place finisher Eric Yoo. Kcraget gathered 50 more points towards his battle for the USGPRU East Coast and National Championship.

The Rising Sun 250GP race proved to be more of a challenge with local Loudon fast guys ready to battle it out with USGPRU riders Steve Wenner and Kcraget, who had qualified third and fourth, respectively. The race proved to be a challenge, with the locals blazing the track ahead of Wenner and Kcraget, but they hung in tight, with Wenner and Kcraget battling it out during the entire race. With Kcraget turning his fastest time on lap 14, he finally found a way past Wenner in turn 9, and hung on for a fourth place finish.

All in all, a great weekend for Kcraget at New Hampshire International Speedway. Kcraget heads to VIR this weekend for Round 4 of the USGPRU East Coast series and National Championship.

From a press release issued by Wurth-Honda BQR:

Report on yesterday’s second round of the Spanish Formula Extreme National Championship held on Sunday, June 20, 2004 at Jarama (Madrid, Spain)

Date: June 21, 2004

Yamahas Take Top Six Places at Jarama in Spanish Formula Extreme

Both Wurth-Honda BQR riders crashed out of round two of the Spanish Formula Extreme National Championship race at Jarama (Madrid), but a strong qualifying performance by reigning FX National Champion José David de Gea and a good come-back from American Kenny Noyes, who battled back from 26th on lap two to 7th on the next to last lap, only to crash out when he lost the front, showed that the Honda Fire Blades are capable of running with Yamaha R1 machines that took the top six places.

Former MotoGP and 500 rider José Luis Cardoso won from his Yamaha Laglisse team mates Ivan Silva and Javier del Amor, all on Michelin-shod Yamahas. This was the first time in the three year history of Spain’s new Formula Extreme class that a single brand has swept the top six finishing positions.

Suzukis took the next three places and a Kawasaki was tenth. The Honda CBR1000RR challenge faded when de Gea, third on the grid, crashed on lap 1 after getting a terrible start. His teammate Noyes also started poorly off the second row, and then had an off-track excursion at the end of the 170 mph home straight which dropped him to 26th on lap 2, but the young Californian charged back through the field only to crash on the penultimate lap just after taking over seventh place.

“I had just gotten past the three Suzukis and had no one else I could catch. I guess I just broke concentration going into the Monza corner and tucked the front while trailing the brakes. It was my mistake and I feel bad because the team needed a finish today,” said Noyes. “Both de Gea and I got awful starts and that probably caused us to make mistakes early in the race trying to take back the places we lost off the line.”

After two rounds, Yamaha riders, led by Silva and Cardoso, hold the top five places in the Formula Extreme points table. The pace of this race gave fans an opportunity to compare the new generation of large-capacity production machines with the 500s Grand Prix two-strokes of the last decade at Jarama, where, until yesterday, all records were held by 500s of the Rainey-Schwantz generation.

The last time 500cc two strokes howled in anger around the 2.392 mile Jarama circuit, just north of Madrid, the pole went to Kevin Schwantz (Suzuki) in a time of 1:33.940. The fastest lap in the race and the record race average were established by winner Wayne Rainey who lapped in 1:34.814 and averaged 90.021 miles per hour. The last 500 race at Jarama was held in 1991 in substitution of the Yugoslavian Grand Prix at Reijka which was cancelled due to civil war and has not been run since.

Running on the since unaltered Jarama track, Spain’s top racing class, known here as Formula Extreme but actually much more akin to AMA Superstock, broke all the old records. The new absolute motorcycle pole record of 1:33.565 and the race lap record of 1:34.660 were set by Ivan Silva, who was second. Winner Jose Luis Cardoso set a new race average record of 90.188 miles per hour.

Raul Romero, owner of the Wurth Honda BQR team of La Roca del Vallés (Barcelona), believes that the current Yamaha superiority, especially that of the three-rider Laglisse Sol de Imagen team of Madrid, is based upon extensive pre-season work and a helping hand from Yamaha Europe. “We got our bikes way too late and are still learning about them. Already our CBRs are as fast in a straight line as the Yamahas, but we are 15 pounds heavier and we have some clutch-related starting problems yet. We believe we have the riders, the bikes and the tires (Dunlop) to win, but we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us.”

The Wurth Honda team competes in both the World 250cc Championship (with Spain’s Alex Debon and Frenchman Eric Bataille) and the CEV with most of the crew leaving for the Grand Prix of Holland in Assen the day after the race at Jarama.

Noyes will have a one-off ride on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the classic 24 Hours of Catalunya, held at the Circuit of Catalunya near Barcelona. He makes the ride with the permission and blessing of the team. Said Raul Romero, “Honda Spain is not asking us to run the 24 Hours this year and Kenny’s contract with us includes a special clause that lets him ride the 24 Hours of Catalunya with another team if we don’t enter. He had an offer from Folch Endurance Yamaha, but that would have been on Michelin. Our contract with Dunlop stopped that, but then he got an offer from Catalá Suzuki, the team that won the race last year. We wish him luck in this one and meanwhile we’ll be working hard to sort out our starting problems with the Fireblades so that we can win in Albacete.”

Round three of the Spanish Nationals will take place at Albacete on July 11, the weekend after the 24 Hours of Catalunya.

Jarama Formula Extreme results:
1. Jose Luis Cardoso (Yamaha R1)
2. Ivan Silva (Yamaha R1) –4.747 seconds
3. Javier del Amor (Yamaha R1) –12.860
4. José Oriol Fernandez (Yamaha R1) –14.010
5. David Tomás (Yamaha R1) –24.798
6. Daniel Ribalta (Yamaha R1) –34.842
7. Josep Monge (Suzuki GSX-R) –47.271
8. Arnau Sanchez (Suzuki GSX-R) –47.613
9. David Gomez (Suzuki GSX-R) –47.614
10. Salvador Cabana (Kawasaki ZX-10) –47.871



Fastest lap: Silva 1:34.660 (Jarama race lap record)

Pole: Silva 1:33.595 (Jarama pole record)

Race average: Cardoso, 90.188 miles per hour (Jarama race average record)

From a press release issued by Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha:

GAULOISES FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM PREVIEW
Dutch TT
Assen, Netherlands
June 24, 25, 26 2004

ROSSI AND CHECA AIMING TO MAKE THEIR MARK AT HISTORIC ASSEN

With MotoGP race wins at Welkom, Mugello and now Catalunya notched up by Valentino Rossi, and with the podium scaled by his team-mate Carlos Checa at Le Mans, the Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team approaches the unique challenge of Assen with a spring in its step. Assen, which hosts the sixth round of the 16-round MotoGP series, is one of the all-time classic Grand Prix venues, specifically chosen and continually modified for motorcycle use. Much revised throughout its history, it continues to offer a truly individual challenge to any rider, victories being more valued at the Circuit van Drenthe than at almost any other venue. This will hold doubly true this year, as there are record numbers of potential winners jousting
their way across the continents in search of MotoGP glory.

Thanks to his three peerless wins, Rossi now sits only five points from the lead in the World Championship standings, despite having only competed in five events on the ever-developing Yamaha YZR-M1. The four-cylinder machine has also helped lift Checa to a second place finish at Le Mans, when the 31-year-old Catalan beat all but race winner and championship leader Sete
Gibernau with no small degree of élan.

Few in MotoGP racing could have predicted just how immediately the union of Rossi and the M1 would bear gilded fruit, but now the partnership has proved itself in impressive fashion, leaving 25-year-old Rossi hungry for more wins and the ultimate prize. Now resident in London, Rossi is a previous Assen TT winner, his lone Dutch triumph in the premier class coming in 2002, when he set the lap record pace.

The 6.027km Assen circuit has offered Checa podium places in the past, including a runner-up performance in 1997. His most recent Assen podium was a third in 2002, in his first season riding the Yamaha YZR-M1.

ROSSI RATES ASSEN AS ONE OF THE ALL-TIME BEST

The fluid nature and historical importance of Assen are appreciated by Rossi, who doffs his cap with respect at the very prospect of riding the horizontal roller coaster that is the Circuit van Drenthe. “Assen is a really good track that all the riders like,” he stated. “It’s such a big emotion to race there because it’s different from all the other courses; it’s historic, very old, and isn’t a ‘computer’ track like all the others. It’s still called a TT and I always feel privileged to be racing in a TT. I have never ridden the M1 there but I think it will go quite well, as the
M1’s handling is so good and Assen is all corners.”

Assen’s location in the North of the Netherlands brings its own challenges, as Rossi describes. “The big problem with Assen is when it will rain, not if! I think we’ve still not overcome some of the problems we have with the
bike in wet conditions. Sete and his bike are obviously very fast in the rain, I’m sure they are faster than us, so I really hope for a dry race if it’s possible, and let’s see what happens. I would always prefer to race in the dry given the choice. Assen holds good memories for me anyway as I had a fantastic race there when competing on a 125 in 1997. It was one of the best of my career, with a brilliant fight between five or six riders. I’m looking forward to racing there again this year.”

CHECA HOME FROM HOME AT ASSEN

Carlos Checa, more of a connoisseur of the sport than most other MotoGP riders, acknowledges that Assen is something extra special, a true challenge to the complete racecraft of any rider. The usual hordes of Dutch and German
fans who flood across the spectator areas and grandstands on raceday will also be joined by some visitors from Checa’s native Spain.

“Assen is a track I like very much; it’s a very historic circuit and there is always a great atmosphere so I am looking forward to it a lot,” said Checa, energised by a great recovery to fourth position from a fourth row start at his home event in Catalunya. “It’s always a very special race and the fans are great. This time many of my best friends from home will come,
maybe 30 of them. Some are coming on bikes, some with motor homes, so it should be great fun. Let’s hope for good weather and a great race.”

The prospect of Checa enjoying a great result at Assen is enhanced by the impressive capabilities of his machine and team, a fact that is not lost on Carlos himself. “The bike is working very well at the moment and hopefully we can find a good set-up. It’s a very twisty circuit and some of the changes we’ve made to the bike this year might make it a little different to ride at Assen. With the wider rear tyre it may be difficult to change direction so quickly. However I think we should have very good grip on the side of the tyre because of the bumps on the circuit; this means I can get more traction and a better lean angle. We may need a much stronger
suspension at Assen than at some other circuits in order to stop the rear smashing down.”

DAVIDE BRIVIO HOPES FOR TEAM TO IMPRESS IN ASSEN

Davide Brivio knows that the Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team are onto a good thing, and is looking forward to the chance for his riders to shine again this weekend, “Assen is another kind of ‘home’ circuit because our Yamaha European headquarters are based in the Netherlands. Many of our staff will come up to Assen for the race so we hope to give them a good show. We’re
coming from two fantastic races where we were able to win, so now we must continue to try to win as many races as possible.

“We had a good test in Barcelona the day after the race, which might help us for the rest of the season,” Brivio explained. “Each time we test we are continuing to improve the set-up of the bike, working to let Valentino and the M1 get to know each other better every time.

“There is clearly a big improvement in Yamaha’s racing since last year, the Yamaha riders are in the top positions most weekends, and not just
Valentino. It’s a good sign of the great work our engineers have done so far. There is still room for improvement, and we fully expect a reaction from our competitors so we cannot afford to relax.”

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

Part of the perennial success and popularity of the Assen event is its ability to modernise its facilities and layout without losing one iota of
its unique character and appeal, to riders and fans alike. Starting out its racing life as a 28km street circuit it was shortened in 1955 and then again in 1984, when it was also widened somewhat. In many ways Assen is the granddaddy of the contemporary MotoGP circuits and is the longest still in current use, at 6.027km. With 23 distinct corners and many more subtle changes of direction and lean angle in between, it is possibly the most cerebral of challenges for riders and teams.

Despite the rapid, flowing corners and high average lap speed, outright power is not necessarily the determining factor at Assen. A good power output and a linear throttle response are nonetheless essential ingredients to the set-up mix but camber is King at Assen, a circuit that mimics the characteristics of a real road more than any on the current MotoGP calendar.

With a pronounced crown on the ‘road,’ the high speed switchbacks of much of the Assen circuit mean that camber goes from positive to negative to positive again as each corner is dealt with. This unique characteristic of Assen demands not only judicious throttle control from the rider when crossing the cambers but suspension capable of dealing with its ever changing characteristics, not to mention a chassis package with a useable blend of good stability and high speed agility.

To prevent the rear end squatting under the combined forces of positive camber and acceleration, a higher rating of rear spring will be required for Assen, altering the usual front to rear balance of the M1. To handle the
tarmac ripples and bumps, and because there are few places where heavy braking is called for, the front forks can be left on a softer setting than the rear.

One relatively recent piece of track modification has added another complication to the set-up. The double apex corner of Duikersloot, tightened and brought inwards to improve run off in the event of a crash two years ago, now has a largely flat camber, a fact which can catch out riders who forget that they have had the help of a positive camber at most other corners of the circuit.

Tyre performance is another key at Assen. The cambers aid outright grip in most instances and with the tarmac being grippy but not overly abrasive Assen is not the hardest circuit on tyres per se. The front tyre is particularly important, however, such are the frequently encountered fast corner entries. Braking has frequently to be performed right up to the apex
of the turn to attenuate speed, rather than violently reduce it, maintaining valuable momentum and machine balance.

VALENTINO ROSSI: INFORMATION

Age: 25

Lives: London, UK

Bike: Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team YZR-M1

GP victories: 62 (23 x MotoGP, 13 x 500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc)

First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc)

First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc)

GP starts: 129 (37 x MotoGP, 32 x 500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc)

Pole positions: 32

Assen 2003 results (Honda): Grid: 3rd, Race: 3rd


CARLOS CHECA: INFORMATION

Age: 31

Lives: London, UK

Bike: Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team YZR-M1

GP victories: 2 (500cc)

First GP victory: Catalunya, 1996 (500cc)

First GP: Europe, 1993 (125cc)

GP starts: 157 (37 x MotoGP, 92 x 500cc, 27 x 250cc, 1 x 125cc)

Pole positions: 2 (1 x MotoGP, 1 x 500cc)

First pole: Spain, 1998 (500cc)

Assen 2003 results (Yamaha): Grid: 4th, Race: 4th



Assen MotoGP lap record – Valentino Rossi (Honda) 2:00.973 (2002)

Circuit best lap – Loris Capirossi (Ducati): 1:59.770 (2002)