BURNS CHASING TOP FOUR AS HE RETURNS TO ASSEN CHRIS Burns will be back in action again this weekend as the ONK Dutch Superbike Championship returns to Assen for its fourth round. Onboard the GS Racing Honda CBR1000RR, the Newcastle rider hopes to build on his sixth place last time out at Spa-Francorchamps as he returns to ‘The Cathedral’ for the third time this season. After almost a month’s break since the last round at the famous Belgian circuit, Burns is looking forward to getting back in action and test several huge changes the team have made to the bike. “The team have worked flat out since we left Spa,” he revealed. “They’ve been working hard on the new engine and suspension, and there is a whole lot of new electronics on there now too. “I think these changes will make a massive difference. We’ve been almost there in our previous races but just a little bit off the pace. I think now we can get a lot closer.” So far this season, Burns has scored two sixth places, one in the opening round at Assen, and the second at Spa. His second visit to Assen over the weekend of the World Superbike Championship round was hampered after he crashed out on oil from another rider’s bike. “I’ve had two sixths so this weekend I’m looking more in the region of top four. The sixth at Spa was a better one for me as a rider because I had to work hard for it. I’m hoping that now we’ve got all the new kit on the bike that we can creep up a bit further. “It’s a hard championship, the guys at the front are fast, but I’m sure we can catch them. I’m having a great time in this series, I’ve gelled well with the team and the bike is great. I’m going out to Assen chasing a top four, but I’d like to think that we could maybe even squeeze a podium on Sunday.” GS Racing Team Manager Gijsbert Spilt added: “The GS team is looking forward to our next round at Assen. We have a lot of new parts which we are going to test on Friday, including a new engine, front forks and exhaust so that Chris can get a good result. “We hope that Chris can finish in the top four this weekend, and I am sure he will give it 100%. The team is very happy with him. He is a very professional rider and a great guy to work with”.