Another sprint around the continent in this intense 2008 season. This time hardly anybody has had time to catch their breath or to regain their strength before returning to the action. After the action-packed races seen at Donington last Sunday the teams` trucks the paddock with a roar that very afternoon, bound for Holland.
Just six days later, next Saturday the race day in Holland for as long as anybody can remember, the 2008 World Championship reaches the halfway mark in Assen. This will be the ninth date of the 18 that make up the calendar this year.This weekend`s race is a very important one for the Repsol Honda Team riders. It is important for Dani Pedrosa, because the end of the intensive run of races can be glimpsed in Holland; a run that began with the race in Italy and which ends in Laguna Seca, USA. Starting the summer vacations being up with the classification leaders is the objective, because that will let him face the second and definitive half of the championship with a real chance of fighting for the title. And that is obviously Dani Pedrosa´s main and the Repsol Honda Team`s objective. For his teammate Nicky Hayden, Assen will mean his second ride on the Honda RC212V with the new engine that uses pneumatic valves.
After the positive weekend in Britain, the American and his team are dying to take advantage of all the information collected last weekend, and so take another step forward in Holland next SaturdayAfter the good sensations experienced in Britain, in spite of not being able to confirm them with a good result in the race, Julian Simón faces the Dutch GP knowing that it is the moment to take a step forward in this category. The Repsol rider was consistently among the fastest during practice at Donington Park, and considering the characteristics of the Assen circuit, he is confident that he can catch the leading riders in this category. In 125cc, Marc Márquez, with the sweet memory of the podium he won at Donington Park still in his mind, is aware that in Holland he will be called on to concentrate and go back to learning step by step again, completing the same routines that he has for each new race.
The Repsol rider, thanks to his excellent race in Britain, has gone down in the annals of Spanish motorcycling history as the youngest rider to finish on the podium in the World Championship, a little over 15 years old. From now on he will be fighting to find a niche among the best riders in the category and to continue learning at each circuit. His teammate Esteve Rabat, in spite of taking another step forward as far as riding and times set, did not finish with the result that he hoped for. Nevertheless, he is optimistic and aware that his work little by little is bringing better results, and with a little more effort he will be fighting to get used to the Dutch circuit as rapidly as possible, and then in the fight to be with the leaders in this category.
Dani Pedrosa
“We got some useful points at Donington last week but at Assen we want a better result. First of all, I hope the weather stays dry because that way everyone can prepare better for the race. It will be a tough event because the level in MotoGP at the moment is just incredibly high. Assen used to be a beautiful circuit but the big changes they made two years ago have spoiled some of its character. The track surface is quite smooth, which is good, but it’s not as grippy as some other tracks. My favourite section is the final chicane, which is a legendary corner, the site of many great battles. Getting the set-up right at Assen is difficult, even though the new track layout doesn’t require such special settings as the old circuit. You need to prepare the bike so that it is agile and provides good grip. Assen requires medium-hard tyres. As far as riding style goes you need to be a bit aggressive because you have to use a lot of strength when changing direction at high-speed. The atmosphere at Assen is very much a motorcycling atmosphere, with a lot of life in the town, in the restaurants, everywhere. The atmosphere is the most classic left in the World Championship”.
Nicky Hayden
“I’m feeling pretty positive going into Assen. We learned a lot about the new engine last weekend – fuel consumption, tyre life and so on – that we hope we will be able to put to good use at Assen. I love the track. Sure it’s changed a bit over the years but it’s still pretty good. I really like the last section, the fast bit coming back towards the pits, the fifth-gear change of direction at Hogeheide. That’s one of my best corners, you’ve definitely got to be physical with the bike through there. Changing direction fast at any speed is hard but in fifth gear it’s even harder. Assen has caught some flack for changing the first part of the track but the place is still plenty safe with good runoff. I’ve had some good results there in the past. It’s certainly been one of my better tracks and it’s always been a good Michelin track. You need a little bit of everything from the bike there, but the one thing that stands out is all the banked corners”.
Julián Simón >> Audio
“Assen is a quite a good track for us. It is a short circuit, with points where you can accelerate, and I thlnk that this suits my motorbike. The weather is also going to be an important factor here, since normally it rains a lot. We will see what happens, but we are dying to race. We learned a lot in the race in Britain last weekend; let`s see if we can apply ihe information we got in Assen and so be able to get a good result”.
Esteve Rabat >> Audio
“I like the circuit of Assen. It is a twisty track and one that I think suits my motorbike. I am dying to race and very motivated, wanting to take another step forward, to try to get a little more confidence. We will see how things go, but the objective will be to follow the same plan as at Donington. We will try to set a good time on the first day, and from there try to improve gradually. Moreover, I also want to go fast without looking to follow another rider`s wheel”.
Marc Márquez >> Audio
“I will go to Assen very motivated after finishing on the podium at Donington, but aware that it is a new circuit for me and so I will have to take things calmly, since still I do not know how I can. The question is that I will give my all once again and I will try to continue progressing and learning everything I can. The plan will be as it always is, to start calmly, taking things step by step. Getting to know the circuit first and then afterwards to try and find the limits and set the motorbike up”.
