TT Assen: Yamaha preview

Lorenzo leads championship to historic Assen for 80th TT

Jorge Lorenzo Having barely had time to catch their collective breath after Jorge Lorenzo's brilliant MotoGP win at Silverstone in the UK yesterday, the Fiat Yamaha Team arrives at Assen in the Netherlands today to set-up for the Dutch TT, which celebrates its 80th Anniversary this weekend. As tradition dictates the race is always held on the last Saturday in June, after which the paddock heads directly to Barcelona for the third race in this punishing triple-header.

Once again the team will be missing Valentino Rossi, with the Italian now entering his third week of recuperation at home in Italy following his accident at Mugello. Lorenzo however is doing a superb job of steering the ship single-handedly and he now holds a 37-point lead in the championship over Andrea Dovizioso. Three wins and two second places from just five races is impressive even when compared to Rossi's soaring standards and the imperious way in which the young Mallorcan won on Sunday is proof that he is running at the top of his game as the season heats up. The 23-year-old finished a strong second to his team-mate at Assen last year and has two 250cc and one 125cc wins there to his name as well, claiming it as one of his favourite tracks.

Assen has long been thought of as a somewhat magical track in the minds of Grand Prix racers and it remains a popular destination today, despite undergoing some drastic alterations a few years ago. It is still one of the most physically demanding circuits on the calendar and, with its constant twists and turns, is also one of the most technical. It was originally based around the public roads and the camber changes in some places still reflect that. These, added to the high-speed chicanes, traditionally favour the nimble Yamaha M1. The 80th Anniversary of TT racing at the track is the 62nd time it has formed a part of the Grand Prix World Championship and it remains the only track on the calendar that has held a race every year since the Championship's inception.

Jorge Lorenzo; "My favorite Track"

"We have started this run of three races in a row as perfectly as we could have wished and Silverstone was a great race and very important for the championship. But now we move on and we just have to try to continue in the same way. Next we arrive at Assen, my favourite track, and once again we're aiming for the podium. The team is working very well together and now we will just concentrate on trying to improve the M1 even more; it's important to keep growing. I've won at Assen in 125 and 250 so I'd really like to try to win in MotoGP!"

Wilco Zeelenberg - Team Manager Jorge Lorenzo; "We cannot relax"

"Jorge likes Assen a lot and he and our whole team are going there feeling very strong. We have no worries with the bike and a comfortable cushion in the championship. That said we cannot relax and Jorge must stay focused at this busy time of the championship, which I am sure he will. Of course the weather is always a question in Assen but we were lucky in Silverstone so hopefully we will find the same in Holland."

-source: yamaha