TT Assen: Gresini Racing preview

TEAM SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI LOOK TO CONTINUE UPWARD TREND IN HOLLAND

Just six days after the last race in Great Britain, Team San Carlo Honda Gresini will be on track again fighting for glory in the legendary Dutch TT at the historic Assen circuit.

Despite only picking up a solitary point from the last two races, Alex De Angelis remains optimistic that his luck can change, especially considering his excellent recent performances in free practice. The San Marino youngster has already shown his talent and maturity, whilst the team have worked superbly to produce a bike set-up that is perfectly adapted to his riding style.

Following yet another top ten finish at Donington Park, Shinya Nakano is keen to take the next step forward at the Dutch circuit, where he took his best ever premier-class finish with second place in the MotoGP race back in 2006.

#15 ALEX DE ANGELIS

"Last year I had a great ride at Assen on the 250, producing a strong comeback after a bad start and setting some really fast times. Obviously I've never been there on a MotoGP bike before so I'll have to learn it all over again but we're in good form and I feel confident heading to Holland: we've actually been making great progress lately. We've reached a level of competitiveness that allows me to fight consistently amongst the top six and I hope that continues at Assen."

#56 SHINYA NAKANO

"Assen is another very unique circuit layout, which is difficult to grasp, but I like it a lot. I recorded my best ever result in MotoGP there with second place two years ago. The key to being competitive will be to find a setting that allows me to be effective in the fast corners. I think that if we can manage to continue on the same path we were on last weekend at Donington, where I felt comfortable and had fun on the bike, we can definitely have a say."

FAUSTO GRESINI -- TEAM MANAGER

"Alex is growing with every race and I'm convinced he will continue to do so because he is proving himself to be a top level rider -- we never doubted it. Unfortunately he's had some bad luck lately and ended up with results below our expectations but Assen is an immediate opportunity to make up for it and I also think that Nakano will find that little extra bit that he is missing to fight with the very best. The circuit is well suited to our bike and both our riders like it. Obviously we want to continue to grow and we are definitely on the right track thanks to the hard work of the whole team, who have put the riders in a position to get the maximum out of their bikes. It is a positive trend to which HRC, Bridgestone and Nissin have all contributed. Together we're working in the same direction with our eyes set on returning to the top."

RACE FACTS

Assen is the only circuit on the current calendar that has hosted a round of the MotoGP World Championship since its inception back in 1949, although the first running of the Dutch TT took place much earlier, in 1925. Over the years the road circuit was gradually altered, initially reduced some 59 years ago from 16km to 7.7km. In 1984 it was reduced further, to a little over 6km, before more alterations in 2006 saw it adapted to its current configuration, with the removal of the North Loop bringing the total length down to just 4.5km.

-credit: gesiniracing.com