MotoGP – The favorite MotoGP track! –

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MotoGP’s favorite track !

MotoGP - The favorite MotoGP track! -

Assen is a technical and demanding circuit: the successions of very fast curves give pride of place to piloting, risk-taking, friction between fairings and cleverly measured braking on the angle … What more could you ask for ?

In keeping with tradition, the Dutch GP will take place on Saturday, on the only track visited without interruption since the creation of the championship in 1949. This fidelity to the Dutch course is due to the originality of the layout and the the joy of the pilots of racing, for 75 years, on the most atypical track of the Continental Circus…

The cathedral of motorcycle racing

Its nickname "Cathedral of motorcycle racing" is not misused. Once again this year, everything suggests that the pilots will engage in a furious battle on a course that favors well-hung hearts and specialists in trajectories cut with a scalpel. And when it comes to commitment and surgical precision, Rossi is never far away … His Holiness, who considers Assen as "a very special track that is unlike any other", ranks it among his favorite circuits. Four-time winner on these lands, Vale could add a record to his prize list: the most consecutive podiums on a Yamaha! With his five victories and his second place this year, a victory would allow him to continue to tie his best start to the 2002 season on the RCV !

If the pilots reach "only" 310 km / h in top speed, the average speed is no less impressive: 179.9 km / h over the entire race for the winner of the 2004 edition. (Valentino Rossi)! In comparison with the 163 km / h average in Catalunya two weeks ago, we understand why the Assen circuit requires a stable motorcycle at high speed and in sharp angle changes. !

Beware of excess enthusiasm !

The bitumen tape looks more like that of a departmental than an F1 circuit. The track is bulging and offers better drainage in the rain, which is common in the region. The turns are therefore supported as long as the pilot stays inside, but he must be careful of the excess of enthusiasm which leads outside the trajectory! On this second half of the track, the curve becomes treacherous because it is slightly sloping, which significantly increases the angle of the bike. When braking, the front may leak while when accelerating it is the high-side that threatens! Barros has as such a bad memory of the GP of the Netherlands 2004 (read)…

Other drivers enjoy this circuit because it reminds them of good times. Thus, Colin Edwards, teammate of Vale on the M1, remembers his double in Superbike in 2002 and his lap record still unmatched! Troy Bayliss is not left out since he had achieved the same double in 2001! As for Ruben Xaus, he won the second round in 2003 and relies on the rigorous chassis of his Yam to go and play at the forefront. The "Superbikers" are therefore particularly expected !

Young wolves and old men

The old riders of the premier category are also impatiently awaiting this GP: Max Biaggi, who will celebrate his 34th birthday on Sunday (the ideal year to be world champion?), Hopes to return to the podium on a track where he has never finished below fifth place (in 500 then in MotoGP). "I like this circuit because it is technical"explains the Roman Emperor, whose type 250 piloting is particularly suited to the layout.

Alex Barros confirms the words of the Italian: "Assen is one of my favorite tours, for a lot of reasons. I love the technical and physical circuits, and Assen is one of those "par excellence" (in French in the text!) ". The Brazilian, known for his incisive braking on the angle, was second last year before falling and will undoubtedly be in the leading group this year again.

For his part, Sete Gibernau insists that "the pilot must always maintain a high level of concentration, because the least distraction is expensive". Particularly on the defensive, the Catalan also points to a second factor that is as important as it is uncontrollable:"the weather conditions are still uncertain here". Last year, only the last qualifying practice session took place in the dry, making it even more difficult to prepare for the race on a dry track..

Carlos Checa, fan of the Dutch track, knows that the circuit demands "to be perfect in its trajectories". His teammate Loris Capirossi believes this race will be"interesting because this year we are using a modified chassis, more rigid". Capirex has"always loved Assen", but moderates its attraction for the Dutch track:"it was one of the best tracks in the world, but it’s not anymore now because it keeps changing". And it is true that Assen, for safety reasons, is constantly changing. This year, two turns have been slightly modified, shortening the course by 30 m.

Next year, the circuit will be cut off from the entire first loop which nevertheless offered a succession of very fast turns and braking on the angle, conducive to overtaking (inside and outside).

Among young wolves with long teeth, Melandri is obviously one of the favorites. He was third here last year, 9 seconds behind Valentino. For the young transalpine, Assen is "one of the best tracks in the championship, very fast and very tough in MotoGP because there isn’t a single truly straight track". Very consistent since the start of the season, the dolphin of His Holiness can claim the podium again this weekend. But by now to win the race…

Nicky Hayden is also delighted to be returning to the Netherlands: "Assen is one of my favorite tracks in the championship. It is very funny, completely different from all the other circuits around the world that I have ridden on". Will the American finally manage to do better than sixth ?

For Shinya Nakano, the key to the weekend is Bridgestone’s ability to offer him a tire that " will improve the stability of the ZX-RR in fast sections". For the manufacturer, the challenge is important: not one of its motorcycles has risen beyond ninth place during the last GP in Catalonia..

"Super Shinya" teammate Alex Hoffman of Germany explains that he will play in the Netherlands his "second national GP, because the organizers announce that 40% of the spectators are German"If for him, too, the Assen track is one of his favorites of the season, it is one of the few to hope for rain:"our tests in Barcelona took place in the wet and I was able to try the last rain tires which are very good".

Tamada "Batman Begins"

The only one who openly dislikes the Assen circuit, Makoto Tamada wants "battle all the way to the checkered flag this time around". In any case, it will be one of the attractions of the weekend, the Japanese exceptionally endorsing the decoration of Batman on the occasion of the release of the fifth opus" Batman Begins ".

Assen is therefore one of the favorite circuits of the vast majority of MotoGP riders. A unanimous favor that promises a grandiose spectacle, to be followed from Monday in our world famous turn by turn by J. Arsouille! Have a good weekend everyone and don’t forget: the race is Saturday !

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