Proton sets top speed at Assen.

Proton Team KR riders Jeremy McWilliams and Nobu Aoki qualified on the third and fourth rows of the provisional grid in today's first timed practice for Saturday's Dutch TT, with McWilliams also setting fastest top speed through the traps at the revised Assen, demonstrating the lightweight three cylinder machine's huge ability through the high-speed kinks that characterise this classic circuit.

A top speed of 249.1km/h outranked even the swiftest of the new 990cc four-strokes, Valentino Rossi's V5 Honda, which ran through the traps at 244.2km/h, and also set provisional pole time. This is a novel experience for the Proton crew, usually at a top-speed disadvantage at tracks with long straights instead of the complex kinks and swerves of Assen.

Both riders were using the standard chassis here, rather than the revised version McWilliams tried at the last round in Barcelona - reflecting the different demands of the complex circuit, with fast kinks and camber changes as well as long corners, putting maximum loads on suspension and chassis. The better-developed standard chassis gave less margin for error.

The Assen circuit has been slightly altered, with the back straight section replaced by fast kinks that introduce an element of braking where before there was none. This is another area of performance where the KR3 excels, contributing to McWilliams's high top speed reading.

Possible rain threatens tomorrow's final day of qualifying, putting a premium on the lap times achieved today, for Saturday's race.

"When I saw we'd set the fastest top speed, I thought: that's pretty good," said McWilliams. "I'm using the standard chassis, because we understand it better, and this race-track puts an awful lot of force into the suspension through the fast corners and changes of direction, and we might have been a bit lost with the new chassis. The new section is pretty difficult, but there's not so much of a straight, which is good for us. The grip level is really improved on the sections with new surface, all the way from the hairpin to the start line. I like the new section, but it won't be to everybody's taste. Then again, I've always liked dangerous race tracks, so it gets my vote. So far, the Bridgestones are working well with grip and durability. Maybe this track is kinder to tyres, but I have no complaints."

"I'm still struggling with front grip," said Aoki. "It's better than at Barcelona, but the problem is still there. Bridgestone seem to keep improving the rear tyre. They're working on the front as well, but the grip balance is not so good for me, with the rear becoming too strong. We've been working on front fork settings to try to help, but so far today we couldn't find the right setting. I had a fairly good lap time, but that was really concentrating and working hard. It should be easier, and it should be faster. The new track is better for the KR3 ... because it is really hard to pass. But we need to get in front first!"

"It seems to be going okay - both guys are fairly happy," commented Team Owner Kenny Roberts. "We're at the race-tracks now that should suit us better than Mugello and Barcelona, so I am reasonably confident we can solve the little problems we have now and go for a good race."