Marco Melandri hold onto sixth place despite a disappointing Donington and the Gresini Honda rider has won 125 and 250cc races at Assen. Veterans Alex Barros and
Loris Capirossi have also tasted Assen success. Brazilian Barros won the 500cc race seven years ago and has made a superb return to
MotoGP this year riding the Pramac d’Antin Ducati while Capirossi crashed the Ducati at Donington but has 125 and 250cc victories in Holland.
Another former Assen winner is Australian
Anthony West who won a wet 250cc race in 2003. He returns for his second appearance alongside Frenchman Randy De Puniet in the Kawasaki team and will be one of the few riders hoping for a repeat of the Donington deluge.
The rain caught out 250cc championship leader and reigning world champion
Jorge Lorenzo when he crashed out at
Donington. His championship lead was slashed to 11 points by the winner
Andrea Dovizioso. Last year Lorenzo dominated proceedings at Assen, winning the race and setting both pole and lap records.
Hector Faubel took the lead in the 125cc championship after finishing third at Donington behind Mattia Pasini and Tomoyoshi Koyama. Previous championship leader Gabor Talmacsi dropped out with mechanical problems.
