WSS: Team YZF Yamaha Assen Friday notes

DISCOVERY OF A MYTHICAL TRACK

Doni Tata Pradita used the first free practice session at Assen to discover the track and the settings of the Yamaha R6 in the Supersport class.

When most of the riders knew the circuit already in this category, the young Indonesian rider had to do a lot of learning. He finished 29th of the first free practice session, but will for sure do better on Saturday.

Spaniard Joan Lascorz was the quickest on his Kawasaki, followed by the Yamahas of Cal Crutchlow and Michele Pirro. Eugene Laverty was the fastest of the Honda riders -- in 4th position overall -- in front of the Triumph of Garry McCoy.

Doni Tata Pradita: "I am not happy with the result. It's not really good. I have some problems with the track, in some corners I am very slow. I had the same problems last year in the 250 cc class. In the fast curves at the end of the circuit and in the chicane, I lose about 3 seconds. I wanted to make a good lap time, but every lap was the same. I talked with my coach Steve Martin and I am sure I will do better tomorrow. We need to find also a good suspension setting."

Martial Garcia (team manager): "It has been a hard working session for Doni to discover at the same time the track and the settings in this category."

Le Mans 24 Hours: Congratulations to the Y.A.R.T.

Congratulations to the Yamaha Austria Racing Team managed by Mandy Kaintz for the Le Mans victory of Steve Martin, Gwen Giabbani and Igor Jerman. MG Competition is proud to have contributed to this superb result by providing the engine for the victorious Yamaha R1, and the technical assistance with engineer Ludovic Reigner. Special congratulations to Steve Martin from the whole Yamaha YZF Team, and especially from Doni Tata Pradita of whom Steve is the coach on the world Supersport circuits.

Assen and the Circuit Van Drenthe

It's a very interesting track, which has great flowing corners. It often rains here but grip levels are very high even when it does rain. Circuit Van Drenthe is 2 km away from Assen and 110 km northeast of Amsterdam. Because England is but a short drive away, British fans flock to the circuit each year. The first Dutch TT was held in 1925 and racing has never stopped at the Dutch "cathedral", except during the two world wars. The current track is mainly used for motorcycle racing, with only a handful of car races organised here each year.

This track had good grip and good drainage. That makes it a great track when it rains because it doesn't "hold" water. The layout requires inch-perfect lines and that's why riders often take longer to adapt to Assen than other tracks. Races are often won or lost in the last chicane at Assen. Those willing to be brave on the brakes are hard to beat there but it takes great skill and balance to avoid running off the track and crashing or hitting another rider.

Assen requires a very smooth riding style. The smallest mistake can wreck a whole lap as the rider struggles to make up the time lost on those ultra-quick turns. On a Superbike, it's hard to keep the front wheel on the ground and that only means more problems for riders each time they exit a corner and get on the gas. The last right-left flick before the final chicane is one of the most difficult sections of the track. Riders are going so fast there that they find it very difficult to push the bike into making the change of direction from right to left, especially when it's windy.

-credit: yzf yamaha