The World Championship presents a new duel in Holland after hardly any break.
Colombian rider Martín Cárdenas will be the new rider of the Repsol Honda Team and will have his debut on the new layout of the mythic Circuit of Assen.
The intense sprint of the 2006 World Championship before the summer break, continues. After the Grand Prix in Italy and Catalunya, the paddock moves this weekend to Holland, to stage the Dutch Grand Prix Assen TT next Saturday. One week later the riders will be in England to race the British Grand Prix and after a one-week break, the World Championship will visit Germany and the USA before the summer holidays. In the MotoGP class, the Repsol Honda Team experienced a two-sided weekend in Barcelona. Nicky Hayden was the positive side with his second position and the 20 points advantage he got in the overall standings ahead of Loris Capirossi. The less positive side was for Dani Pedrosa, who after crashing after the first start and then again during the race, left Barcelona without a single point and the fifth position in the overall standings.
The riders know that they are going to face a difficult weekend in Holland, where they will have to be well aware of the constantly changing weather conditions and the major changes made to the layout. One year ago, Nicky Hayden finished fourth in the MotoGP race in Assen, while team mate Dani Pedrosa was second in the 250cc. In the quarter-of-a-litre class, the big novelty in the Repsol Honda Team 250cc, is Colombian rider Martín Cárdenas substituting Sebastián Porto. Cárdenas, who is currently twelfth in the overall standings in his second season in the 250cc World Championship, was 8th in the Spanish Grand Prix, 11th in Qatar, 13th in Turkey, China and France, did not finish in Italy and was tenth last weekend in Barcelona. The Colombian, 24-year-old rider born in Medellín, had his debut in the Motorcycling World Championship last year at the Spanish Grand Prix. In his second season, Cárdenas has proven to be a fast rider, able to score regularly some points and to take part always in the fight for the front positions among privateers.
His new team mate, Shuhei Aoyama, already raced in Assen in 2002, as a replacement for a rider in the 125cc class, so this time he will not have to start from cero like other countless times this season. In 2002, Aoyama had the thirty-first position on the starting grid und finished the race twenty-fifth. After the crash during the race at the Catalunya Grand Prix, Aoyama is now looking forward to make up for it on a circuit that has undergone changes in the layout that will even things among all riders of the class. And in the minor class, Bradley Smith almost managed to score his first point in the 125cc class last weekend. Sixteenth after a great race, Smith has his mind focussed on scoring his first points in Assen, not a crazy objective at all, considering the performance of the young rider in Barcelona. The answers will come in four days time at the Assen TT.
Rider´s comments :
Nicky Hayden:
Itll be interesting to get to Assen on Thursday morning and see what the new tracks like. I used to really like the old layout. I mean, I dont want to go back and run on any road courses, but it still had that old-school feel and I always went well there. Im not complaining though – as long as its still a good track Ill be ready to go. Itll be a challenge not only for the riders but also for the teams. The transmission will be different, the bike set-up will be different so its just another curve ball weve got to be ready to hit. The Repsol Honda teams really working hard for me, my crew chief and all my guys are giving me all theyve got and Im having fun right now being up front fighting for this title. Weve got to keep doing what weve been doing try and be strong and consistent every weekend. Thats what got us into this position and that was our plan before the year to start as strong as can and develop the bike a bit further.
Dani Pedrosa:
There two main questions as we go to Assen. First, its a modified track so well have to see how the different it is to ride. And the other thing is the weather which is normally very unstable with a good chance of rain. Of course we hope it stays dry. I got my first 125cc Grand Prix win at Assen but this year they have modified the track a lot, so effectively its going to be a new track to learn. Plus Im going to be riding a MotoGP there for the first time so I think we will be very busy in the practice sessions. In some ways its good that this race comes only a few days after Catalunya because it means theres no time to be disappointed about that race we just have to get on with it and work for a better result here.
Shuhei Aoyama:
I raced in Assen in 2002 replacing an injured rider, so I guess that Ill remember a bit of the layout. However, they have made several changes in many sections of the circuit this winter, and that will be somehow a benefit for us because we will all get onto the track basically under the same conditions. It is positive to be back on the bike to race the next Grand Prix so soon because it will make us forget the crash in Barcelona and focus on this new race. Since I failed in Barcelona I hope to be able to offer the team a good result this weekend in Holland.
Martín Cárdenas:
This is the best chance Ive had in my sports career and the truth is that Im still a bit surprised. Now I have to make good use of this big chance and respond to the trust Repsol, Alberto Puig and the team have put in me. I already raced in Assen last year, so I know the circuit. The layout is very different to those I knew before; its very fast and difficult. The fact that they have made changes to the layout in winter is good for us because that will make things even when it comes to learning the new layout. The only thing I can say is that I’ll do everything I can to achieve a good result and make good use of this big opportunity.
Bradley Smith:
Im looking forward to Assen. Weve had a good position in Catalunya so hopefully we can take it on to Assen. Theyve changed the layout but it won’t make any difference to me because Ive never been there before. Its a fast track. Ive played it a few times on the Playstation. Yes, Im looking forward to it and hope to learn the track pretty quick and set some good lap times.
The venue of the GP:
Assen circuitOver six kilometres in length, the Van Drenthe Circuit in Assen is the longest track of the Motorcycle Grand Prix calendar. It is the only circuit to have hosted a round of the Motorcycle World Championship every year since its creation in 1949.
The Assen circuit was built to host the Dutch Motorcycle Grand Prix (also known as Dutch TT) in 1954. The previous events had been held on public roads implying a risk both for riders and spectators. Grandstands on green banks surround the new track with a capacity of 64,500 seats. The total capacity of the circuit is of over 160,000 spectators. A privileged scenario for the thousands of fans that come out to the circuit every year, attracted by the reputation of the prestigious Dutch event. Assen is well known for its festive and extravagant atmosphere, a special microclimate that riders recognize and enjoy as much as spectators. The circuit underwent modernisation work in 1999, with the building of a new main grandstand, control tower, media centre and several reception halls and the renovation of the pit garages. The modernisation work was recently completed on the track itself and the circuits access roads. The layout is made up by 9 left-hand and 14 right-hand corners. The complete track length is only used for World Championship events.
Official website: http://www.tt-assen.com
