Alex wants a hand in Assen success.

Reigning GP500 world champion Alex Criville is determined to get his title defence back on track this weekend, even though it will mean conquering the track that almost finished his career.

The Spaniard returns to Assen tomorrow still with the painful memories of the 1997 accident which left him requiring skin and bone grafts to his hand. Although he has raced in Holland since, and did so last year en route to the title, Criville knows that he has to get back to winning ways at Assen if he is to prevent his crown being passed on.

''Despite my accident, I really like the circuit,'' he said, trying to boost his own confidence, ''I have had some very successful races there, and an aiming for another one this weekend.

''Things haven't been going as well as we expected this season and, although I had hoped to get back on the right track at Catalunya, luck was again not on my side.''

The Spaniard's Repsol Honda team-mate Tadayuki Okada won the 1999 race at Assen but, like Criville, has struggled to find any semblance of form in 2000. This is in stark contrast to series leader Kenny Roberts Jr, who has managed to grab some points at every round so far to head the standings by 25 points over Carlos Checa. Criville is currently seventh with just 59 points to Roberts' 125.