HONDA MEN HIT FORM AS SEASON REACHES HALFWAY After such a spirited performance in last weekend’s British Grand Prix, both Repsol Honda riders are ready to make sure they build on the speed shown at Donington Park and the pair approach Assen buoyed by those recent rides. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) finished eighth and Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V) crashed, pitted and rejoined for a finish at Donington. Dani led in the wet conditions before his tyre choice proved incorrect and Nicky was fighting at the front before he fell. Strange as it may sound, it was an encouraging weekend because these riders were getting back to their best after a difficult start to the season. And Assen is where the revival should really take root. Both riders now have the capability to shine here in Holland and to take the fight to series points leader Casey Stoner (Ducati). Nicky won here last year on his way to the World Championship title and a repeat of that epic win would give him the impetus he needs to re-establish himself as a force this season. Dani currently lies third overall in the World Championship and the young Spaniard knows he can’t afford to let Stoner and second-placed Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) establish themselves as the only two contenders for this year’s title. With nine rounds remaining from 18 races after this one, Assen represents Dani’s chance to claw his way back into the reckoning. Marco Melandri (Gresini Honda RC212V) is having a patchy season so far with his best result so far a second place in France. He finished second here in 2005 and seventh last year. The Italian is conscious that he needs at least a podium here to overhaul the two Suzuki riders who currently sit above him in fourth and fifth in the points table. Melandri’s team-mate Toni Elias (Gresini Honda RC212V) has only enjoyed a single podium finish so far in Turkey. The hard-charging Spanish rider is a race-winner as he proved at the end of the last season and his bustling, all-action style will ensure he is nothing less than spectacular as he muscles his RC2112V around the high-speed curves here. The entire ‘Northern Loop’ section of this classic track was bulldozed in 2005 to make way for a hotel and conference centre complex, reducing the lap distance from 6.027km to 4.555km, but whatever’s people view of the changes made The Circuit Van Drenthe remains an imposing task for riders. One hundred miles north of Amsterdam, Assen is a fearsomely demanding track. A former ‘road’ circuit, with some of the old layout retained, the track is very narrow in Camber, essential for drainage on a highway, gives the track a significant crown and this is one of the features of a tricky track that catches many riders out. The surface 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. Much will depend on how the teams and riders wrestle with getting these 800cc 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 equirement. Carlos Checa (LCR Honda RC212V) finished third here in 2002 and was fourth in 2003. A repeat of those strong finishes would be most welcome for the experienced Spanish rider this weekend. And if Carlos can get his machine dialled in quickly here, he has the pace and deep track knowledge to be among the quick men. Shinya Nakano (Konica Minolta Honda RC212V) has still not quite got the measure of this new generation of 800cc machines but when the Japanese ace and his crew finally get on top of the set-up requirements, Nakano will fly. He finished second to Nicky here last year and a repeat of that result would be a timely boost for him. Kurtis Roberts (Roberts KR212V) will again be the sole rider on the Honda-powered machine and after a gritty ride to 13th in the Donington deluge, the American rider will be aiming to achieve a top ten finish for the machine for the first time this year. Nicky Hayden said: “I’ve got good memories from Assen last year. It was my first MotoGP victory away from home soil and that was a pretty special moment. This is a track I’ve really enjoyed in the past and I’ve had some good results here too. It’s quite a unique circuit, less so now since they made the changes for last year, but it’s still a cool track and has a different feel from most other circuits in the world. There were definitely some positives from last weekend at Donington in spite of the crash in the race, and we just need to build on them.” Dani Pedrosa said: “I’m looking forward to getting to Assen so quickly after Donington so we can keep working towards the kind of result I think we deserve. Donington went well at first. We were fast in the wet and in the dry and I was quite confident, but it didn’t work out for us in the race with the weather, tyres and track conditions. I hope we have dry conditions this weekend but it’s not unknown to have rain at Assen too! The layout of the new shorter circuit is not my favourite, but we come here with the experience from last year so I hope to get to a good pace quickly because it took me some time to work up to speed last year.” Marco Melandri said: “Last year was a really tough race for me. It was only a short time after that horrible crash in Barcelona and I was still suffering. This time the situation is completely different but we are also going through something of a difficult period. The whole squad are working really hard but we still have a lot to do. The Dutch TT has always been one of my favourite races. Unfortunately it has lost some of its magic since they changed the track because they removed the most flowing section of the old layout.” His team-mate Elias said: “Assen has always been my favourite circuit because it’s technical, fast and flowing. Unfortunately I have never actually raced here in MotoGP and don’t really know the new layout too well because I only completed two laps in free practice last year when I crashed and hurt myself. I missed out completely in 2005 because I broke my hand at Le Mans so it will be virtually a new circuit to me. Hopefully I can have a nice race and pick up a better result than the last couple of races.” “I think I’m probably one of the few riders who actually prefers the ‘new’ Assen circuit to the old one,” said Shinya Nakano. “I’m sure it has something to do with qualifying well in second position last year and then taking second place in the race! Obviously this will be the first time I’m riding at Assen with the new 800cc Honda MotoGP bike and the first time on Michelin tyres, but I think the track itself now really suits my style, so I’m hoping that we can get a good result. We think the weather conditions will be similar to Donington, so we shouldn’t have too many surprises.” Checa said: “This circuit is not so bad. The surface is better in the wet than Donington is when it’s dry. The most important thing is to work on the set-up because we had problems in the wet at Donington and it could be the same here. But the bike is good in the dry. I still have to find the limit in the wet and Assen has good grip.” Kurtis Roberts said: “We should be OK at Assen. I learned a lot about the bike in the wet at Donington. Whatever the weather we just hope it stays the same all weekend. If it does I can ride consistently for the team because I’m getting a good feel for the bike and what I need it to do. I raced a Superbike here last year so I know the new track lay-out.” In the 250cc class Andrea Dovizioso (Scot Honda RS250RW) hopes to put more pressure on series points leader Jorge Lorenzo (Aprilia) who fell last weekend while Dovi won. The two leaders in this class, Lorenzo and Dovi, are now only separated by 11 points while Alex de Angelis (Aprilia) lies only seven points behind Dovizioso. Assen will prove a pivotal race in the fight for the title. These three riders finished on the podium last year, the order was Lorenzo, de Angelis, Dovizioso. If Honda’s rising Italian star could reverse that order on Saturday, he would lead the World Championship at the halfway stage. Julian Simon (Repsol Honda RS25RW) raced to a fine seventh place at the British GP after falling and remounting his RS250RW but goes into the Assen race with no experience of the new track lay-out. Dovi said: “Assen is a particular track and it’s never been easy racing here. Moreover the track has been modified and so we haven’t so many references at the moment. We’ll have to work a lot this weekend, but we’re confident and motivated by the beautiful win at Donington that we’ll hope to repeat here.” His team-mate Yuki Takahashi (Scot Honda RS250RW) said: “This track, like Donington, has never been a favourite of mine, but last year I made a good recovery in the race after running off track and this I think is due to my maturing as a rider. Now I’m able to modify my riding style if it’s necessary. Now after the good result (4th) last weekend I want to be a winner again.” Simon said: “In Assen, just like in England, it will be important to consider the weather conditions. Let’s hope that we won’t have a race like last Sunday because it felt as if it would last forever. I don’t know the new Assen layout since I didn’t race there last year because of my leg injury. I think that it will also adapt to the features of my bike because it’s got nothing to do with the old layout; it is much shorter now. Let’s hope to be able to do a good job. I’m sure that the team will help me a lot to do so and hopefully we’ll have a good race.” Rising rookie Ratthapark Wilairot (Stop And Go Racing Honda RS250RW) said: “On Sunday everything went fine despite the tricky conditions and the result (8th) was a great reward for the team’s hard work, but in Assen we’ll start from scratch again, on a track that could prove more complicated than Donington Park. From what I saw on video, Assen is a very technical track and there’s no room for mistakes. I hope I get used to it quickly so I can make the most of my Honda.” Another capable rookie Eugene Laverty (LCR Honda RS250RW) said: “I’m still annoyed about the Donington crash because I was just getting into a good rhythm when I went down. I just have to put that all behind me and now concentrate on Assen with those fast flowing bends.” In the 125cc class Bradley Smith (Repsol Honda RS125R) will be hoping for better than the seventh place he scored at his ‘home’ round last weekend. The young British rider scored a podium finish in France and another here is by no means beyond the talented youngster. Smith said: “I think we just all hope the rain doesn’t follow us to Holland after all the problems at Donington. I was pleased to score good points and I’m confident of some more at Assen. The flowing track should suit the Repsol Honda and I enjoyed my debut here last year.” Mike di Meglio (Scot Honda RS125R) needs a run of consistent results after a patchy start to the season and the talented French rider is confident he can achieve things here. He said: “Assen is a track I like a lot, after the good result in Donington (6th) I want a repeat here. I’m ready and we have good possibilities here. In practice or in the race I don’t have to follow other riders anymore to stay on the pace. In this way I can get a positive result, like at Donington.”