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HONDA RACING INFORMATION
ZitatAlles anzeigen2013 FIM Roadracing World Championship Grand Prix Round 7 of 18, Dutch TT, Assen
27-29 June 2013
Preview: MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3HONDA LEADS THE CHASE TO THE DUTCH ‘CATHEDRAL’
Team Repsol Honda RC213V rider Dani Pedrosa leads the way to the classic Dutch TT at Assen this weekend. The experienced Spaniard heads the World Championship after two race wins and a series of strong finishes; while young rookie sensation team-mate Marc Marquez is third overall.
The Dutch TT is round seven of 18 in what is shaping up to be a titanic struggle for overall honours. The event is steeped in tradition and history, the on-track battle is as electrifying as it has ever been in more than 90 years of motorcycle racing at the venue in the north of The Netherlands.
The factory Honda riders are as ever playing a leading role in the drama. Both Pedrosa and Marquez are fresh from another podium finish apiece, followed by a special test session where they were able to try out prototype versions of next year’s machine.
Pedrosa has been in charge of the championship ever since round five in France, where he scored his second successive win. Since then the 27-year-old has held his lead with a pair of canny second places. In his strongest title challenge yet, the seasoned Repsol Honda trooper knows the way to success is through consistent strength.
Pedrosa scored his first ever GP win at Assen, on a 125 Honda in 2002, and has finished on the rostrum four out of seven times in the MotoGP class. But his best hope of victory was dashed last year having qualified on pole, he crashed out on the first lap, an innocent victim of another rider’s mistake. He will be hoping that the other riders will be paying more attention in the crowded first corners of the modern version of the historic track.
Marquez won the Moto2 title last year, and moved up to the senior class in a blaze of glory, claiming pole and victory on only his second MotoGP race. He has finished on the rostrum at every race bar one – he crashed out at Mugello while lying second with three laps to go.
Marc has a strong record at Assen: winning for the last two years in the Moto2 class, as well as in 2010 on a 125. The young rider is anxious to avoid over-ambitious expectations in only his first MotoGP season. At the same time his points score means he is still well in touch with the leaders.
The Honda pair are facing a strong rival, in defending champion Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha), a rider known for consistent strength. The battle between men and machines has the fans eager for more; this year’s race is poised to add another chapter to the long and glorious history of the Dutch TT.
German former Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl’s season has regained momentum with a fourth and a fifth at the last two races; and the LCR Honda RC213V rider has gained ground also in the championship. More than a change of luck, he credits finding better machine settings, and aims to continue the improvement at Assen.
Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini RC213V rider Alvaro Bautista has had the opposite experience. The Spanish rider has suffered two first-lap crashes at the last two rounds, and will be playing special attention to the tricky tight early corners of the modern version of the historic circuit.
Australian grand prix first-timer Bryan Staring scored his first points for 13th at the last round in Catalunya. The GO&FUN Honda Gresini FTR Honda rider is hungry for more, as he gains experience on the CBR1000RR-powered CRT bike.
Assen is one of a handful of MotoGP circuits where he has previous experience.The balance of power is at a critical stage also in the all-Honda-powered Moto2 class. British star Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex) surged into a strong points lead with two consecutive wins in rounds four and five in France and Italy. At the last round in Catalunya earlier race winners Pol Espargaro and Esteve Rabat (both Tuenti HP 40 Pons Kalex) finished first and second to start their fight back; while Redding lost ground with fourth place.
Assen provides the next chance for the rival Spaniards to close up again; and likewise a chance for Redding to re-open the gap – currently
35 points. Last year the Briton was third; he will be aiming to go two better than that in the absence of the two riders who finished ahead of him … both gone to the MotoGP class.Moto2 machines come in a variety of prototype chassis, but all are powered by race-prepared Honda CBR600 engines supplied by the organisers.
This guarantees close and reliable racing:
Assen’s famous race-deciding final chicane is likely to play the same role in 2013.Honda is up against rival factory machines in Moto3, with 250cc Honda engines in either factory or independent frames. In its second year, the new four-stroke class is thriving with eager young talent, with close racing for every championship point.
Six races in, South African Brad Binder is still leading the Honda troops in a very close eighth overall. The Ambrogio Racing Suter Honda rider is in his second Moto3 season.
Experienced French rider Alexis Masbou
(Ongetta-Rivacold FTR Honda) is closing up fast, just two points adrift after a near-perfect run of top ten finishes over the last five races.Tenth overall and only six points behind Masbou is the spirited young Australian Jack Miller (Caretta Technology – RTG FTR Honda), who leapt forward with a typically forceful seventh in Catalunya, one place lower than his best result so far.
Assen was first used for motorcycle racing in 1925, in the form of a long public-roads circuit.
Over the years the length has been cut, although when the Dutch TT took its place as the third of six round on the inaugural World Championship calendar of 1949, it was still 10.3 miles (16.5 km) in length.Bit by bit the lap length was reduced, although still retaining sections of public road, and in
2006 came a radical revamp to the present fully closed circuit of 2.8 miles (4.5 km). The first part comprises a series of tight corners under new grandstands in modern stadium-circuit style, but the second part of the lap is faithful to the characterful old track, so that it can retain its long-standing racing nickname, “The Cathedral”.Uniquely among 2013 GPs, the Dutch TT at Assen has been on the calendar every year since 1949.
Fiercely defended local tradition meant it remained the only Saturday race, until the night GP at Qatar in 2007.
Honda MotoGP rider quotes
Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda:
“After a good race in Catalunya and an important
20 points, I still lead the Championship and I am looking forward to Assen. I won my first ever race there and have very special memories. The weather can be temperamental so I hope we get some dry track time on Friday to find a good setting. It is a good track but it’s important to have a good feeling with the tyres because there are several fast corners. I hope we can keep the momentum going and do a good race.”Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda
“I had a difficult weekend in Catalunya but in the race, riding behind Dani, I was able to learn many things. The Aragon test was useful and we were able to solve some problems we’ve experienced in the last few races, and also get to know the Honda RC213V a lot better! I know the weather in Assen can be unpredictable so it will be important to make the most of the dry track time we have. I like the circuit and I am feeling really good at the moment so it will be interesting to get there on the MotoGP machine for the first time.”Stefan Bradl, LCR Honda MotoGP:
“Hopefully we can have a better result this year in Assen. Last season I took fourth on the grid, but crashed out on lap two in the race. Probably I was a bit too aggressive, but now I am more experienced, and after the last positive results (fourth in Mugello and fifth in Catalunya) I arrive with high motivation. Honestly Assen is not one of my favourite race tracks … especially the first part is not really good for me … but we aim to continue our progression. The testing days in Catalunya and Aragon were pretty productive for us. We could work on the front-end issues and find some good adjustments for the following rounds.”Alvaro Bautista, FUN&GO Honda Gresini
“The first-lap crash at Catalunya left a very bitter taste. Psychologically it was a heavy blow, because before the start I felt we were in good shape. Myself and the team had done a great job to find a setting that allowed me to set a good pace, and in qualifying we could secure an optimum starting position in fourth. Everything was in place for a great race. Unfortunately what happened is part of racing. So disappointing at your home race: for it to happen in front of your own fans was tough to take for me and the team.
Now I want to forget that and focus on the positives we found there and in the Aragon test.
Last year at Assen we were competitive up to the start, then I made a mistake. This year I will be more cautious. It’s a difficult track with a slow first section then some faster corners … it’s not easy to find a compromise. Obviously the weather is usually a factor, with damp sections and dry sections … but that’s Holland! I am really determined to do a good job there, and recover the points lost in the last two rounds.”Bryan Staring, FUN&GO Honda Gresini
“After a positive result in the Catalan Grand Prix, where I scored my first World Championship points, I go to Holland with a different approach. I feel motivated and confident about this race especially because I finally won’t have to spend time learning the track. I already know it! I really like Assen and I will be able to start work on the machine straight away. I am desperate to do well this weekend and get the most out of the bike so that I can show my potential.”
Moto2 Rider Quotes
Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team:
“I’m looking forward to returning to Assen, as it’s definitely one of my favourite tracks.
Fourth in Catalunya, a track that really punishes my size, was a good result in terms of the championship, but it was also a little disappointing to miss out on a fifth podium finish. I was third at Assen last season and I think a podium finish this time around is a realistic goal, but even more important is to try and extend my lead over Pol Espargaro and Tito Rabat in the championship standings. If I can do that and stand on the podium this weekend, I’ll be a happy man.”Pol Espargaro, Tuenti HP40 Pons:
“Last year we were really good in practice at Assen – I work well with the track. I did an incredible lap time but maybe that made me too confident because in the race I made one of my biggest mistakes and crashed. What I want to do this time is finish the race, get a good result and go to the next race with less of a points disadvantage to Scott. That’s the most important thing.”Esteve Rabat, Tuenti HP 40 Pons:
“We need to continue like this, working race by race. And I also want to work at improving my physical condition – that’s my first priority. My riding style is starting to work well with the bike, which I'm happy about, but we will have to see how it goes at Assen.”
Honda Moto3 Rider quotes
Brad Binder, Ambrogio Racing Suter:
“I can’t wait to get to Assen. Twelfth at Catalunya was a disappointment: my bike was on rails and I rode my best, but we got blown away on the long straight. Assen’s very different, really technical and more complicated. I’m really looking forward to it.”Alexis Masbou, Ongetta-Rivacold:
“For sure the engine will be less important at Assen. I think it will be a good track for the Honda, so I hope I can get a better result than at Mugello and Catalunya.”Jack Miller, Caretta Technology – RTG:
“I don’t mind the track, I think it should be all right for us. We just need to keep working and see how we go, just keep getting better, step by step.”