Whilst it isn’t a terrible record, Troy has never scored a win at Assen. Second places have come in 1996 (race two), and 1999 (both outings). Meanwhile, four of his current rivals have been winners at the venue. Frankie Chili won twice there in 250cc Grands Prix, and once in Superbikes during 1998; Haga won a race in 2000; and last year’s victories went to James Toseland and Chris Vermeulen.

One of this season’s likely contenders would surely have been French rider Régis Laconi, of the works Ducati Xerox team. Unfortunately for him, a crash during qualifying resulted in an arm injury, and he would take no further part in the meeting. Klaffi Honda rider Max Neukirchner also crashed, quite spectacularly during the Superpole session, but was not hurt in the incident, which sent his bike tumbling through the gravel.

Qualifying on pole for the first time was Vermeulen, the first man to secure the top spot with a Honda since Colin Edwards. The 23-year-old led a row of contrast, with four different makes represented. Second went to defending champion Toseland (Ducati 999), with Corser third (Suzuki GSX-R) and Noriyuki Haga fourth, his Yamaha R1 now with a new motor.

The second row also contained four different makes. Karl Muggeridge led the way with the second Ten Kate Honda, then came Andrew Pitt with the second Yamaha Italia machine. Yukio Kagayama had the second Alstare Suzuki in P7, ahead of the Foggy Petronas of Steve Martin. Klaffi rider Chili led row three, while Chris Walker’s Kawasaki led row four. Among the wildcard riders was former GP pole man Jürgen van den Goorbergh, 23rd with the British-based Rizla Suzuki.

Race one started with Haga taking the lead, from Vermeulen, Corser, Pitt, Kagayama, Toseland, Muggeridge and Norick Abe. Toseland was quickly past Kagayama, but compatriot Walker came to grief in a collision with Goorbergh at turn three. The PSG-1 man ended up with a broken right elbow for his trouble, and would not make the start for the second race.

Before long, the first five began to break away from sixth man Kagayama. Haga, Vermeulen and Corser already had a slight margin over Pitt, who was coming under pressure from Toseland. The Yorkshireman has always looked good at Assen, and this year he was the master of passing at the GT corner, which leads into the final chicane. He was soon past Pitt, and then Haga, who had already been demoted by both Corser and Vermeulen.

As Corser led Vermeulen, Haga, Toseland and Pitt, so Muggeridge had got up to sixth, setting fastest lap as he closed on the leaders. Kagayama was now leading Abe, Lorenzo Lanzi, Martin, Ivan Clementi, Neukirchner, Chili, Sébastien Gimbert, Gianluca Vizziello, José Luís Cardoso, Lorenzo Alfonsi and Ben Bostrom. A wide moment for Pitt let Muggeridge catch him, meanwhile Toseland was about to briefly pull ahead of Vermeulen at GT, before James (on the inside) and Corser (on the outside) both passed Chris at the same time in turn one, Haarbocht.

Now the first six were together, although a wobble for Muggeridge would mean a bit of lost ground. Toseland ran wide through a right-hander, allowing Vermeulen and Haga to pass, and the Honda man also got by Corser at GT. He then proceeded to set a new fastest lap as he started to stretch an advantage in the lead. Toseland again passed Haga at GT, and the pair pushed on as they made it a personal battle for second place.

© Raceline Photography

Indeed, James and Noriyuki would swap places through two consecutive left-handers, with the Ducati again emerging in front. As Vermeulen sailed on to an impressive win, these two stuck together until the last lap, when Toseland upped his pace to secure P2. Corser had shaken off Pitt by the flag, with Muggeridge dropping behind Kagayama, Lanzi and Neukirchner to an eventual ninth. The other points went to Chili, Clementi, Gimbert, Garry McCoy, Martin and Giovanni Bussei. Abe was a late race non-finisher.

The start of race two was even better for Yamaha, with Haga and Pitt leading away, from Kagayama, Corser, Vermeulen, Toseland, Muggeridge, Bostrom, Martin, Neukirchner, Lanzi, McCoy, Abe, Clementi and Vizziello. Early moves took Toseland ahead of Vermeulen, with Neukirchner gaining two spots to eighth. Toseland also got by Corser, and dealt with Kagayama at the GT bend. Setting fastest lap, James was soon by Pitt for second. Meanwhile, Vermeulen ran wide and dropped behind his team-mate to seventh.

Again a group broke clear at the front, this time seven strong. The shuffle behind Neukirchner now saw Lanzi heading, Bostrom, Martin, Abe, McCoy, Vizziello, Clementi, Gimbert and van den Goorbergh. Toseland took over ahead of Haga at GT, as these two started to get away, with Vermeulen having already got back ahead of Muggeridge. The race for third switched around when Kagayama seemed to miss a gear, with Pitt and Vermeulen sweeping by as he got in the way of team-mate Corser.

The race now evolved into a tussle between Toseland and Haga for the lead, with the R1 going ahead at Haarbocht; and with the Australian trio disputing third, the sliding Vermeulen ahead of Pitt and Corser. Fastest lap from Haga did not prevent Toseland coming back at him, as they swapped position several times, and by now they had been joined by Vermeulen. A Toseland mistake helped Chris into second, and he soon passed Haga, letting them continue to their tussle as he moved clear.

This time it was Haga to finally get the verdict, and he was then able to chase down Vermeulen, and regain his lead across the start-finish line. He didn’t hold it for long, and the pair of them were together into Haarbocht on the last lap. Chris just took the advantage on the inside line and, despite a counter attacking ride, Noriyuki wound up just second at the flag. Toseland took a solitary third to give the same podium finishers. Corser was closely followed home by Pitt, with Lanzi up to sixth, ahead of Neukirchner, Muggeridge, Abe, Bostrom, Kagayama, McCoy, Gimbert, Chili and Bussei.

The first Honda double of the year meant that Chris Vermeulen had closed slightly on points leader Troy Corser. The 1996 title holder, with two fourths, had recorded his worst results of the year, ending a 16-race streak of podium appearances. However, his consistency is intact, and the margin of 86, down from 110, is still a commanding one. It was also a good day for both Noriyuki Haga and James Toseland, both of whom closed on the absent Régis Laconi and overtook Yukio Kagayama. Meanwhile, a pair of fifths was Andrew Pitt’s best double performance.

Standings after eighteen races: Corser 370; Vermeulen 284; Laconi 214; Haga 203; Toseland 197; Kagayama 187; Walker 130; Chili 119; Pitt 117; Muggeridge 100; Abe 95; Lanzi 85; Neukirchner 80; Bussei 48.

To buy the photographs shown above, visit Raceline Photography

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