Officials enthusiastic about new TT Circuit Assen.

IRTA-Riders representative Franco Uncini, FIM's CCR President and Inspector Claude Danis and Dorna's Operations & Event manager Javier Alonso visited the TT Circuit Assen last week, to make a first check of the rebuilding of the track.

Since September 2001 the TT Circuit Assen has been partly rebuilt. To enlarge the paddock-area, the former main-straight Veenslang (from Strubben-corner to Stekkenwal), has moved some 50 metres eastwards. The Veenslang-straight is not a straight anymore, due to some added corners and an S-bend on top of the newly built 60 metre long two-lane tunnel, which connects the paddock with the main entrance-road. Another change in the circuit is made at the far-South part of the track at Mandeveen and Duikersloot. These two corners have moved some 10 metres more inwards, to enlarge the run-off area and gravelbeds for safety reasons.

The reaction of the three representatives was lyrical. Franco Unicini took a lot of photo's to provide the riders and teams with and noted that safety at the track has taken big steps forward. "The TT Circuit Assen did a very good job. The only extra we would like done is a larger gravelbed as planned at the end of the Strubben-corner", said Uncini. The extra wish of the inspectors will be full-filled before the first race at 'new' Assen in April. Due to the changes the length of the GP-track will be some 22 metres less, form 6.029 to approx. 6.027 metres.

Because the circuit will be tarmac, the inspectors also checked out four types of tarmac compounds, for which the TT Circuit Assen temporarily made 4 testing tarmac-strips. There were very little differences in the tarmac-types, but one turned out to be unanimously the best, with less possibility of small stones coming lose from the tarmac.

When most of the changes to the track are finished mid-March, 75 per cent of the track will be resurfaced with the chosen tarmac/asphalt. The only asphalt to be renewed will be at the National Circuit, not the northern part of the track, which is only used for the Gauloises Dutch TT and the World Superbike Round. The official FIM-homologation is scheduled for the end of April.

On Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th of June 2002, directly after the Mugello GP, the TT Circuit Assen has two GP-testing days scheduled at the new 6.027 metre track for those GP-teams who nominated the TT Circuit Assen as one of their test-tracks. Insiders and several riders who visited the TT Circuit Assen lately, say that it is of big importance to attend this test to get acquainted with the new shape, gearbox and suspension set-up and grip of the asphalt.