Assen has Frankie smiling again.

It has not been an entirely happy 2001 World Superbike season for Pierfrancesco Chili and the Alstare Corona Suzuki team but if any circuit could bring the familiar smile back onto the face of WSB's elder statesman it was Assen and sure enough the classic Dutch circuit saw Frankie back on form and fighting tooth and nail for podium finishes

Team Suzuki Alstare rider Pierfrancesco Chili took a superb pair of fourth places in the penultimate round of the 2001 Superbike World Championship at Assen on Sunday, in front of over 68,000 weather beaten fans.

It has not been an entirely happy 2001 World Superbike season for Pierfrancesco Chili and the Alstare Corona Suzuki team but if any circuit could bring the familiar smile back onto the face of WSB's elder statesman it was Assen and sure enough the classic Dutch circuit saw Frankie back on form and fighting tooth and nail for podium finishes

Team Suzuki Alstare rider Pierfrancesco Chili took a superb pair of fourth places in the penultimate round of the 2001 Superbike World Championship at Assen on Sunday, in front of over 68,000 weather beaten fans.

Despite strong winds and the occasional rain-shower, Chili showed why Assen is one of his favourite circuits as he chased a podium place in both races.

His team Stephane Chambon was affected by the wind, but took 13th in the first race and then 12th in the second after a terrific battle with Colin Edwards, Tadayuki Okada and Ben Bostrom.

The variable weather conditions that plagued the circuit throughout the weekend continued on race morning, but the first race started in the dry. Troy Bayliss and fellow Ducati rider Ruben Xaus dominated the race, with Chili chasing Edwards for third. The race was red-flagged three laps from the end due to a rain shower, leaving Bayliss the victor ahead of Xaus. Third was Edwards with Chili fourth.

Despite the threat of more rain, the second race ran the full distance and once again it was a battle between Bayliss and Xaus for the top spot. And once again it was Bayliss who took the chequered flag and with it the 2001 Superbike World Championship title. Chili fought Aprilia's Troy Corser all the way for third, but lost out by the narrowest of margins.

"It's been not such a bad day - considering the conditions we've had this weekend," said Chili. "I'm satisfied that I have ridden as hard as I could today. Before the races I believed that I was going to get a podium for sure. My best chance was in the second race when I had a big fight with Troy (Corser). Right at the end, he got past me and then blocked me as I tried to get past him. I tried three times on the last lap, but each time he closed the door and I had to brake to avoid hitting him and taking both of us down. In the first race, the rear tyre faded about halfway through and I couldn't push harder than I did. The wind was very strong today and I had to be careful not to lose the bike sometimes."

Chambon was less pleased with his days work despite his spirited race two battle, "It's been a strange weekend and it's been hard - with all the changes of conditions," commented the pint-sized Frenchman. "Today I also found the wind a problem and in the second race I used a heavier front axle and that helped a bit. I made an OK start in the first race, but the bike felt hard to turn and I don't think I got completely comfortable, so couldn't go any faster without a problem. In race two, with the heavier front axle, the bike felt a bit better and I had a really good fight with Edwards, Bostrom, Okada and Lavilla. All in all, I suppose I'm happy, but not happy."

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