Race Weekend - Assen

The 79^e Alice TT Assen was one of the Grand Prix’ to forget. Both DeGraaf Grand Prix riders did not finished the race. British rider Danny Webb was taken out by another rider in the first lap and Swiss rider Randy Krummenacher crashed in the second lap.

The warm-up session was a bad one for Danny Webb. Sergio Gadea took Webb out in the out lap and the bike was too much damaged to ride the session. Randy Krummenacher had a good pace in this session but finished on a 14th position.    

The race was short for DeGraaf Grand Prix rider Danny Webb. In the first lap Webb was t-boned by another rider and injured his left foot. Randy Krummenacher had a reasonable start and tried to connect to the second group. In the second lap Krummenacher pushed a bit too hard and crashed also. The home race for the DeGraaf Grand Prix Team was ended soon.

 Danny Webb (DNF):

“Today is a day to forget. In the morning session I was hit by another rider in the first lap out of the pit lane. Because of this crash I couldn’t ride the warm up session. In the race I got off a good start but lost nearly the front in the first turn. In the Strubben my team mate Randy passed me and than Beaubier hit me from behind and the race was over. I’m really sad for the team’s home race especially because Randy and I didn’t finish the race. I hope the next race in Germany will be better than this.”

The good start of the weekend for the DeGraaf Grand Prix Team during the 79th Alice TT Assen couldn’t be continued in the qualification session. Danny Webb and Randy Krummenacher qualified at the fourth row with a 13^th and 14^th position.

The Friday morning session went very good for British rider Danny Webb. During nearly the whole session Webb was able to ride lap times in the top 5. In the last minutes of the session Webb dropped back to a 7^th position and was only half a second slower than the fastest rider Sergio Gadea. Randy Krummenacher still worked in this session to get a better set-up and could improve his lap times every lap in the last part of the session. Krummenacher ended the session on a 14^th position.  

The qualification session started good for the British rider Danny Webb. In the first ten minutes Webb was the quickest rider. Halfway the session Webb dropped back to a 7^th position and came in for a set of new tires. In the last ten minutes Webb was really pushing but every lap he was held up by slower riders or riders who are waiting for fast riders. Webb has to be satisfied with a 13^th position on the fourth row, which he is really not.

Danny Webb (13^th, 1:46,278):

“I’m very disappointed about this session. I had a good pace and was able to run in the top 5. When I had a free lap I was able to ride fast laps. Unfortunaly there were to many riders who a waiting for a group or fast rider. Those riders hold me up in the last part of the session and I couldn’t improve my lap time which I rode in the beginning of the session. I have a good race pace and I will be up there tomorrow. I’m not worried yet!”

The Alice TT Assen race was a short one for Danny Webb. In the first lap Danny was taken out by the American Cameron Beaubier. Beaubier crashed before he hit Webb in the slow corner named De Strubben. Webb doesn’t blame Beaubier about the crash and also Beaubier came by to say sorry.

After the crash Webb went to Doctor Costa because Webb had injured his left foot and his right little finger again. Luckily his foot is not broken and goes better at the moment with his foot. This will not be a problem for the next race in Germany at the Sachsenring.   Webb injured his right little finger during the Grand Prix at Catalunya. Webb needed a couple of stitches and lost his nail. It went better for the next race last weekend at Assen.

Unfortunately in the race Webb injured his little finger again and went for a check-up with Doctor Costa. Doctor Costa cleaned his finger and put some bandage on the finger.  On Sunday, when Webb arrived back in England, the finger was still bleeding and went to a local hospital nearby his village. The doctors at the hospital noticed that the finger got infected and let Webb stay for a night in the hospital and gave him antibiotics.

Luckily Webb was on time at the hospital because it was close that the infection could course an amputation of the finger. Webb arrived today back home and still have to take the antibiotics but will be 100% fit for the next race at Sachsenring on 19 July.

James Toseland placed sixth at today’s Alice TT Assen in the Netherlands, his best result of the year to date and on a par with his goal for the latest MotoGP World Championship round.

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider held off Randy de Puniet, Toni Elías and Nicky Hayden for a place in the top six, all four coming home within half a second of each other. Valentino Rossi won the race itself.

Bradley Smith crossed the line fourth in the 125cc Alice TT Assen, but was awarded a podium position after the race following a penalisation for Nico Terol.

Smith started from the second row of the grid and the Oxfordshire teenager ran off track when battling with Andrea Iannone, passing along the asphalted run-off area. He kept up the chase on his Italian rival and bested him on the last lap. He remains in second place in the World Championship standings.

Kent youngster Danny Webb was the first retiree of the 125cc race, an unwilling participant in a crash for rookie Cameron Beaubier. His luck was shared by Blusens Aprilia’s Scott Redding, whose race was also brought to an early end –in his case through mechanical problems with his RSA.

The race was won by Sergio Gadea, with Julián Simón second.

Briton Toby Markham retired from the 250cc race after just ten laps in his latest wildcard appearance in the quarter-litre class.

Dutch master Rossi takes 100th Grand Prix win at Assen

Valentino Rossi won his 100th Grand Prix, took his second triumph in succession and became the undisputed leader of the MotoGP World Championship with a stellar performance at the Alice TT Assen. The Fiat Yamaha rider had a peerless performance from pole position and, unlike two weeks previous in Barcelona, needed no ‘Hail Mary’ last lap at the Cathedral of Motorcycle Racing.

A vintage Rossi performance was celebrated with his unraveling a backdrop and posing for a classic photo with antiquated cameras, the Italian’s latest post-race show with his faithful fan club.

Teammate Jorge Lorenzo was once again forced to settle for second place, his third on the bounce. The Spaniard got off to a bad start from third on the grid and, although he was able to fight back up to the front, could not provide Rossi with the same challenge that he had done last time out.

Ducati Marlboro’s Casey Stoner completed the podium with a solitary ride chasing Lorenzo. The Australian now trails Rossi and his Spanish rival in the overall standings after the trio had been level on points heading into the Assen race.

Colin Edwards equaled his best result of the year with fourth place, at the head of an enthralling battle between the ‘best of the rest’. Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Vermeulen and Edwards’ Monster Yamaha Tech 3 teammate James Toseland were also in the top six with their best finishes of the season to date.

Race Results

1  Valentino ROSSI ITA YAMAHA 42'14.611
2  Jorge LORENZO SPA YAMAHA 42'19.979
3  Casey STONER AUS DUCATI 42'37.724
4  Colin EDWARDS USA YAMAHA 42'43.725
5  Chris VERMEULEN AUS SUZUKI 42'48.216
6  James TOSELAND GBR YAMAHA 42'53.958

Championship Positions

1 ROSSI Valentino 131 points
2 LORENZO Jorge 126
3 STONER Casey 122
4 DOVIZIOSO Andrea 69
5 PEDROSA Dani 67
6 EDWARDS Colin 67

125 cc Championship Positions

1 SIMON Julian 104 points
2 SMITH Bradley 98.5
3 IANNONE Andrea 84.5

Bradley Smith has mixed memories of Assen as he returns to the famous Van Drenthe circuit for the Alice Dutch TT on Saturday. The 18 year old from Oxford chases his third 125 cc grand prix victory of the season at the 2.830 mile circuit where he had a three second lead before the rain arrived last year.

Smith, who trails Aspar team-mate Julian Simon by just 1.5 points going into the seventh round of the Championship, crashed, the race was stopped and he eventually finished fifth in the hectic five lap race re-run.

Gloucester-based Scott Redding failed to make the re-run just six days after his historic British Grand Prix victory last year. The 16 year Blusens Aprilia rider needs a change of fortune after a series of disappointing results in the last three races. He currently lies 11th in the 125 cc World Championship but is capable of chasing podium finishes.

It’s a massive weekend for Kent teenager Danny Webb as he recovers from a painful finger injury sustained in a practice crash in Barcelona. He had to retire from the race because of the pain but returns to race at the home circuit of his DeGraff Aprilia team and sponsors. Once again Webb has shown he has the pace to run with the top riders but needs to finish some races to boost both his confidence and points tally.

Yorkshireman James Toseland returns to Assen where he’s secured victories in the World Superbike Championship. It’s a tough time for the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider as he fights for his MotoGP future after finishing 13th in Barcelona following a disastrous start from his best qualifying position of the season. Toseland is currently 11th in the Championship and needs a good start on Saturday to start climbing the charts.

QUOTES

Bradley Smith

 “I have good and bad memories of Assen last year. I was leading the race by over three seconds when it started to rain and I crashed. In the five lap re-run I was fifth but despite the problems in Barcelona we go into the race on Saturday with some real confidence. The Championship is only just over one third distance and so it’s important to keep scoring points.”

Danny Webb

“The hand is much better than it was in Barcelona and I will be fit to race on Saturday. I just could not complete the full race in Barcelona because of the pain. I will probably keep the stitches in and I just need a little bit of luck to complete a good result. Assen is a massive race for my team and sponsors which adds to the pressure but my brother and a few friends are coming over to help me.”

Scott Redding

“Hopefully we will have a change of luck in Assen after some problems in Barcelona when I nearly crashed twice in the last two corners. Also I missed out on the short five lap race last year after problems in the first race which was stopped because of the rain.”

James Toseland

“I know Assen well from my World Superbike days but I also know I must make a good start in the race after my starting problems in Barcelona. I got my best qualifying of the year but my chances were killed off when I fluffed the start. You can’t make a start like that to be challenging in MotoGP.”

ROSSI, LORENZO AND STONER CELEBRATE MASS AT THE CATHEDRAL

Assen is the fitting venue for the continuation of one of the most ferocious battles in the 60 year history of grand prix motor cycle racing. World Champion Valentino Rossi, Former World Champion Casey Stoner and former double World 250 cc Champion Jorge Lorenzo arrive at  Assen, aptly named the ‘Cathedral’ of  grand prix racing, for the Alice Dutch TT on Saturday locked on equal points and also equal victories this season. It’s a fight for the crown that will go all the way to the wire.

The Assen track is the only venue remaining from the original 1949 calendar although it has changed dramatically from those pioneering days. The up to date 2.830 mile track in the north of Holland is a far cry from the early road circuit but should once again prove an ideal battle ground for the riders.

Italian Rossi arrives brimming with confidence chasing his 100th grand prix victory following his stunning victory over Fiat Yamaha team-mate Lorenzo at the previous round in Barcelona. It promises to be another 26 lap fight also involving last year’s winner Stoner riding the Marlboro Ducati. Those leading three have all tasted success in Assen.

Rossi leads the way with six wins including four in the premier class but will also remember his first lap crash last year. Lorenzo returning from injury was sixth in the same race but has one 125 and two 250 cc wins while Stoner won the MotoGP race last year and should be fully recovered from the stomach bug that dogged him on his brave ride to third in Barcelona.

Italian Andrea Dovizioso moved in front of his Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa into fourth place in the Championship after his fourth place in Barcelona. The former 125 cc World Champion has never won in Assen and knows that Pedrosa will have had more time to recover from his hip injury that prevented him finishing above sixth place in Barcelona.

Americans Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden have very mixed memories of Assen. Edwards, riding the Tech 3 Yamaha was third last year and is in good form this season. The former World Superbike Champion is sixth in the Championship but will always remember three years ago when he crashed at the last bend while leading – that first grand prix victory still eludes the popular Texan but don’t rule him out on Saturday.

Hayden took full advantage to win that race on route to his world title but is having a disastrous season this year after switching from Honda to Ducati. There were signs in Barcelona the nightmare was coming to an end when Hayden finished tenth but a disappointing test the next day furthered the gloom.

Italian Loris Capirossi will not want reminding that his first Assen 250 cc success was 16 years ago because the Italian Rizla Suzuki veteran is in great form. He’s finished fifth at the last two grands prix and just a little bit more promised power from the Suzuki could see him back on the MotoGP podium

The battle should go all the way down through the field with Sete Gibernau, Mika Kallio, Marco Melandri, Toni Elias and Gabor Talmacsi, making just his second MotoGP appearance on the Scot Honda, all previous winners at the ‘Cathedral’.

The 250 cc class is not quite so close with last year’s Assen winner Alvaro Bautista opening up a 12 point lead over Hiroshi Aoyama following his second win of the season in Barcelona. It was the Aspar rider’s first win in Assen and he has a great chance to open up the gap especially over World Champion Marco Simoncelli who crashed out in Barcelona and who is now 47 points adrift.

However, the 125 cc class is not that simple with five separate winners already this season and so check out the likes of former Assen winner Mattia Pasini, Qatar winner Hector Barbara and Jerez winner Aoyama.

Just 1.5 points separate Aspar team-mates Julian Simon and Bradley Smith at the top of the 125 cc standings after drama in Barcelona. Simon was leading with one lap to go but celebrated a lap too early and eventually finished fourth. Smith was eighth in a race won by Italian Andrea Iannone. It was his third win of the season and put him right back in Championship contention and he trails Simon by just 13.5 points.

EVENT TIME SCHEDULE 

Thursday 25 June

12.40 – 13.40              125cc Free Practice 1
13.55 – 14.55              MotoGP Free Practice 1
15.10 – 16.10              250cc Practice 1

Friday 26 June

09.00 – 09.40              125cc Free Practice 2
09.55 – 10.55              MotoGP Free Practice 2
11.10 – 12.10              250cc Free Practice 2
13.00 – 13.40              125cc Qualifying
13.55 – 14.55              MotoGP Qualifying
15.10 – 15.55              250cc Qualifying

Saturday 27 June

08.40 – 09.00              125cc Warm Up
09.10 – 09.30              250cc Warm Up
09.40 – 10.00              MotoGP Warm Up
11.00                           125cc RACE (22 laps)
12.15                           250cc RACE (23 laps)
14.00                           MotoGP RACE (25 laps)

The 79^th Alice TT Assen has started good for the DeGraaf Grand Prix Team. Danny Webb made a strong comeback, after he had injured his right hand during the GP Catalunya, and finished the first free practice on a good 5th position. Also Randy Krummenacher had a strong start of the weekend and ended the session on a 10th position.

With very nice sunny weather and temperatures of 25 degrees DeGraaf Grand Prix Team home race started well. The injured hand of Danny Webb wasn’t a problem for him and started with very competitive lap times during this session. In the last ten minutes of the session Webb moved up to a 3^rd position and tried in the last two laps to improve his time. The English man didn’t succeed in this but still ended the session on a very nice 5th position.

Danny Webb (5^th,1:47,277):

“I’m happy that I don’t have the pain any more which I had in Catalunya. It is a bit sensitive in the wind at the back straight, called Veenslang? We didn’t start the session strong because we were working at the set-up of the bike. We found quickly a good set-up and after we made the decision to change to different type of front and rear tire, it went much better. I have some slight problems with the front in the double right turn but we will solve that for tomorrow. If we have the same session tomorrow during qualifying I will be happy.”