‘Experiment’ is the first word that comes to mind at the end of the first day at the Grand Prix of the Netherlands. Assen, celebrating a sixtieth year anniversary, has been transformed almost beyond recognition with the placement of a fine and rippling layout of sand across the famous ‘Gertimmer Bocht’ chicane and part of the start straight in order to fully utilise the vast stadium seating section. The paddock layout means MXGP has an easy and ordered work space but the track divided opinion as much as it did part of the historic Dutch facility.
The narrow confines of the straight had many eyebrows raised in terms of safety with next-to-no margin for error and any riders getting the switchback wrong. The course was also swift and short with a sub 1min 30 second lap-time. Riders either liked and coped with the sand that varied between soft areas and sharp, hard bumps or they disliked it intensely; MXGP series leader Romain Febvre was in the latter camp while maiden Pole Position holder in the premier class after a holeshot and runaway performance – Glenn Coldenhoff – was in the former.
“The circuit is pretty short to be honest but for the first time [being organised at Assen] it is really great,” the Latvian GP winner said. “It has been a big effort and everything around has been organised so well. I think they [Assen] can be happy with what they did so far. The track is still not the best but a ‘well done’ in the first year. It is tight but I like the sand, it is like a beach race; it’s cool. Every single lap I passed the stadium I could really hear the fans.”
Public reaction to a historic and traditional stop on the Grand Prix calendar being shoved into a modern and ‘alien’ site for motocross was hard to judge. The circuit felt busy with the crowd packed into the stadium and hoarded mainly in one place. The true test as to whether MX fans are prepared to embrace this kind of layout will come tomorrow and whether the riders can devour the temporary ‘stage’ to create some memorable scenes so often enjoyed here in MotoGP and Superbike. Apparently pre-event ticket sales have been good and no doubt a post-race evaluation will be made on the track designed and built by former Youthstream staff member Greg Atkins after what was a hectic four day and night build.
The sand did bite and the Standing Construct Yamaha crew felt it hardest. Julien Lieber was lucky to escape unscathed from a massive ‘off’ while in the top three of the MX2 qualification heat. Teammate Valentin Guillod was not so blessed and was left nursing a sore right shoulder after a crash on the second lap. The muscle pain for the Swiss means his options for the MX2 title have taken a further bashing in what is his last chance to snare a championship on a 250. Guillod has to enter the gate last tomorrow but comments from the riders seem to indicate that a slot closer to the middle of the line was more beneficial for the start. It was Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna’s Harri Kullas who ran away to Pole in MX2 and did enough to stay clear of Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Max Anstie once the Brit had reached second place. Rockstar Suzuki’s Jeremy Seewer originally tried to chase the Fin (again riding for Estonia at the Nations and the 23 year old confirming that he has to jump into MXGP for 2016 and is considering a ‘European only’ GP deal) but arm-pump meant that he was swamped by Anstie, Red Bull KTM’s Pauls Jonass and an impressive Kemea Yamaha’s Brent Van Doninick. HRC’s Tim Gajser was typically attacking but off the pace in eighth; handing the initiative to Jonass in the championship. MXGP heads to the jumpy hard-pack of Leon, Mexico next and tomorrow represents a great chance for Jonass to build a cushion before Gasjer no doubt fires back on his preferred terrain.
Over in MXGP and although Coldenhoff ramped expectation and kept the depleted Suzuki team happy it was Yamaha’s Jeremy Van Horebeek who set the pace through the day and looked the more lively in the heat race. A ‘moment’ early on for the Belgian resulted in contact with Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM’s Shaun Simpson and snapped part of the factory gear shifter away meaning the Scot had to finish the majority of the Heat sprint stuck in third. HRC’s Gautier Paulin looked more threatening in the sand and was third – battling with Van Horebeek – while teammate Evgeny Bobryshev laboured to sixth behind Simpson. Febvre was annoyed with his start that left him mid-pack but the champion-elect rode well to close to the rear wheel of Paulin. Febvre can afford to lose one point overall to Paulin tomorrow and still be the first rookie champion since 2009 – the same year that Yamaha last won the title in the premier class.
In other news the Yamaha duo helped launched the beginning of a three year multi-team deal with Monster Energy and the renewal of a partnership that ran from 2008 to 2013. Febvre and Van Horebeek will wear Monster livered helmets in Holland, Mexico, USA and the Nations and then the YZ450FMs will turn a shade of black from 2016 and through to 2018. “We always like to look for someone with a deep commitment to winning and Yamaha are probably our single biggest partner,” commented Vice President of Sports Marketing Mitch Covington. Yamaha and Monster obviously link to powerful effect in MotoGP and also blend in BSB and World Endurance.
Kawasaki’s Steven Frossard has been moved back to his home after surgery to fuse a thoracic vertebra and although he has pain in his legs and doubt over the length of the recovery period there was a degree of optimism among the factory team. Frossard had allegedly signed to be a Rockstar Suzuki rider the evening before his accident at Mantova last Sunday and it remains to be seen how the recuperation will eat into his new deal and prep for 2016.
