MotoGP – Preview Assen – Ducati prepares for the fastest stage of the world championship

After spending two warm and rainless weekends in Italy and Spain, next week the MotoGP circus will be in Assen, the northernmost circuit of the entire Championship. Both Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa love the characteristic Dutch circuit, the only one where a World Championship round has always been held, but also, when the rain stays away, the fastest of all those that host the MotoGP.
Both Ducati Marlboro Team riders hope to make up for the difficult weekend in Barcelona on a track, albeit flatter, with characteristics very similar to those of Mugello, where they crossed the finish line in third and fifth place.
The Assen track, like the Tuscan one, is fast and smooth and this should suit the Desmosedici GP5 well.

“In the space of a few days, we went from the fantastic result in Mugello to an uphill race in Barcelona – says Livio Suppo, head of the MotoGP project – We learned a lot on both occasions and now we are analyzing the data collected: we work and this is the only way to continue growing. After the IRTA tests carried out in March, we knew that we would be missing something on the Catalan track. For last Sunday's race Bridgestone brought tires with new specifications but evidently this was not enough to allow us another performance like the one the week before. We are working a lot together with the Japanese technicians and our partnership is becoming increasingly consolidated. We are quite optimistic about Assen: the Ducati has always been strong there and the Bridgestones should also be effective.'

According to the technical director of the Ducati Marlboro Team Corrado Cecchinelli, the Dutch circuit requires: “Handling and stability for quick changes of direction and a good engine, because Assen is a very fast circuit – he explains – But as always the rider's skill remains fundamental. In some respects Assen is very similar to Phillip Island, with its flowing changes of direction at high speed and few major braking events."

Ducati Press