Another former 250cc star looking to get back on track will be Australian
Casey Stoner who has crashed out of the last two
MotoGP races while challenging for the lead on the LCR Honda. The 20-year-old Australian has dropped to sixth place in the Champion just five points in front of American
Colin Edwards who has plenty of experience round the 'old' Assen both in MotoGP and World Superbike races.
The Oxfordshire-based KR team go into the Assen race full of confidence following a great result in Barcelona.
Kenny Roberts finished a superb third behind Rossi and Hayden on their Honda powered machine after a tremendous battle with his former team-mate Anglo/American
John Hopkins.
In a great day for the Rizla Suzuki team Hopkins eventually finished fourth with team-mate, Australian
Chris Vermeulen sixth. Vermeulen relishes the Assen challenge after competing at the Dutch circuit previously in the World Superbike Championship.
Kawasaki will be looking for a better time than Barcelona where
Shinya Nakano was black flagged after failing to complete a ride through penalty and Randy De Puniet crashed twice.
The Assen circuit is regarded by most people as the Cathedral of grand prix racing because it's staged a round of the World Championship since the title chases started in 1949.
Part of the success of the circuit and organisation is their ability to keep abreast with the times with both the facilities and the old road-based circuit which are constantly being modified. This year the track has been changed dramatically and reduced in length to 2.830 miles.
The major change is the first corner which has altered from a fast right hander to a series of tight right hand bends, taking out a complete section of the old circuit. The rest of the track remains the same including the awesome Veenslang and Ramshoek corners and the race winning chicane leading onto the short start and finish straight.
There will be extra practice sessions on Thursday morning for riders to adjust to the new part of the circuit while the three World Championship races will by tradition be held on Saturday.
