MotoGP facts & figures
>> Valentino Rossi has won at the Dutch TT in all three classes, the 125cc class in 1997, the 250cc in 1998 and the MotoGP in 2002, 2004, 2005 and in 2007 after qualifying down in 11th on the grid. Last year he finished 11th after crashing on the first lap and re-starting at the tail of the field.
>> Jorge Lorenzo has had three wins at Assen in the smaller classes; the 125cc race in 2004 and the 250cc race in 2006 & 2007, both times from pole position. Last year he finished in 6th place while still recovering his confidence from a succession of crashes in the previous few races.
>> Casey Stoner’s victory last year at the Dutch TT was the first ever GP win at the Assen circuit for both himself and Ducati. It was also his biggest win of the year with 11.31 seconds in hand over 2nd place finisher Pedrosa.
>> Andrea Dovizioso’s only podium at Assen came in 2006 when he finished 3rd in the 250cc race. Last year, in his debut at the track on a MotoGP machine, he finished 5th after qualifying down in 11th on the grid.
>> Dani Pedrosa’s only win at Assen was in the 125cc race in 2002, which was also his first ever Grand Prix victory. He has had two podium finishes from three starts in the MotoGP class at the Dutch TT, 3rd in 2006 and 2nd last year.>> Colin Edwards has twice finished on the podium at the Dutch TT; finishing 3rd in both 2005 and last year. He was also leading the race on the final corner in 2006 before dramatically crashing out. Edwards has not stood on the podium since he was 3rd last year at Assen.
>> Marco Melandri finished on the podium in the MotoGP class at Assen in both 2004 and 2005. He also won in both of the smaller classes at the Dutch TT; the 125cc race in 1998, when he became the youngest ever GP winner at the time, and the 250cc race in 2002. Last year he was the slowest qualifier in 17th place on the grid and last rider home in the race in 13th.
>> Loris Capirossi missed the race last year due to a wound to his right forearm sustained in a crash during the second free practice session. Capirossi finished on the podium in the 500cc class at Assen in both 2000 and 2001 but has not had a podium finish on a four-stroke MotoGP machine at the circuit. He had his first ever 250cc GP win at Assen back in 1993 and won again there in the 250cc class in 1999.
>> Randy de Puniet has not had much success in the MotoGP class at the Dutch TT; in 2006 he finished 14th after starting from pit lane on his spare bike after a problem on the warm-up lap with his race bike, in 2007 he crashed out after a collision with Vermeulen and last year he was a victim of Rossi’s first lap mistake.
>> Chris Vermeulen qualified on pole in 2007 at Assen but finished down in 16th place after suffering a collision with Randy de Puniet on lap twelve. Last year he finished 7th after being as high as 4th during the middle of the race.
>> James Toseland won World Superbike races at Assen in each of his world championship winning years.
>> Mika Kallio, riding a KTM, won the 125cc race from pole position at the Dutch TT in 2006.
