The World Championship is getting closer to its halfway point on dutch territory.
Seventh round of the season; Assen receives Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa leading their respective categories.
Valentino Rossi gets back to Assen, where he clinched the victory in 2002 on his way to his successful World Championship title. One year later, the Repsol rider returns to Holland leading the Championship already with an advantage of 47 points over the second classified rider, the Spaniard Sete Gibernau. For his team-mate, Nicky Hayden, Assen means another unknown circuit and having to learn fast, although he knows that things will be more difficult than ever on this circuit, with its endless 6,049 metres in length. Fonsi Nieto gave proof in Barcelona that he has found the way back to the level of competitiveness he had already shown in 2002. Second behind De Puniet in Catalunya, Fonsi returns to a circuit where he finished fifth last season, a result that is of no use this time if he wants to keep the chance to fight for the title. Manuel Poggiali, leader of the overall standings has an advantage of seven points over the Repsol riders Fonsi Nieto and Toni Elias. Elias, who lost the chance of an excellent race due to a bad start in Barcelona, will try to repeat the podium finish in the circuit where he managed to step on the rostrum for the first time in the 250cc. Sebastián Porto, who keeps on scoring points with a mechanically inferior bike, will have in Assen a new chance to clinch his first podium finish of the season. For Joan Olivé and Héctor Faubel, the podium is still hard to get this season. Assen will bring good memories to Olivé, because he took his first world championship podium finish last year, with the third place after an exciting race.
In the 125cc, Dani Pedrosa arrives with a bigger advantage in the standings after the excellent performance in Barcelona. Winner last year in Assen, Alberto Puigs young pupil will try to take another victory that will help him increase his advantage in the overall standings. Pablo Nieto and Héctor Barberá, with bad luck in Barcelona, will try to make up in Holland. Pablo will be fighting for his first victory and Barbera for his first podium finish.
