Route & statistics for the Dutch TT

The MotoGP is back on the traditional track in Assen. Since the founding of the motorcycle world championship, the Dutch track was the only one that was part of it every year – until the Corona pandemic ended this series in 2020. The Dutch TT has been back in the game since 2021.

The first race in Assen took place in 1925. Since 1955, the race has no longer been held on public roads, but on the TT Circuit Assen. In 2006, the course was shortened from 7.705 kilometers to 4.555 kilometers. The reason for the reconstruction was the urgently needed new parking spaces. The course is driven clockwise, is 14 meters wide and has twelve right and six left turns. The longest straight is 487 meters. The most famous of the mostly slightly banked curves is probably the last chicane before the finish straight, where dramas have often played out on the last lap in the past.

The honor of being the record winner in Assen goes to Valentino Rossi, who triumphed eight times (ten times in total) in the premier class on the traditional circuit. In 2017, the MotoGP legend also took his last victory in the motorcycle world championship there.

The history

Assen has always been a track where triumph and tragedy have been particularly close together. In 1992, Mick Doohan arrived in the Netherlands as the clear world championship leader. He broke his right leg during training. Due to the negligent work of the doctors treating him, the Australian narrowly escaped the threat of amputation. Five years later, Alex Criville’s hand got caught under his Repsol Honda during a training crash. As the bike rasped across the asphalt, the Spaniard was unable to free himself. The damage to his bones and nerves put him out of action for five races.

Jorge Lorenzo also did not have the best memories of the track in the Netherlands. In 2011, he was shot down by Marco Simoncelli on the first lap, and in 2012 Alvaro Bautista repeated the feat. In 2013, Lorenzo crashed in the wet Thursday training and broke his left collarbone. The Yamaha rider flew back to Spain overnight, had an operation there and started the race on Saturday pumped full of painkillers. In tears and unbelievable pain, Lorenzo managed to finish fifth.

The statistics

Assen has been part of the motorcycle world championship calendar since its inaugural season. The course has often been the scene of rain battles and exciting races, as well as some big surprises: Ben Spies celebrated his only MotoGP victory at the cathedral in 2011, and Jack Miller also triumphed completely unexpectedly in 2016. Over the years, Valentino Rossi has won eight times in the MotoGP class at Assen, making him the clear record holder.

MotoGP records Assen