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TT Circuit Assen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Location | Assen, the Netherlands |
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| Time Zone | GMT +1 |
| Major events | Superbikes, MotoGP, Champ Car |
| Circuit length | 4.555 kilometres (2.830 miles) |
| Turns | 10 right, 5 left |
| Lap record | 1'58"758 (Valentino Rossi, Camel Yamaha Team, 2004) |
The TT Circuit Assen is a motorsport race track built in 1955 and located in Assen, Netherlands. Host of the Dutch TT race, it is considered "The Cathedral" of motorcycling by the fans. It has a capacity of 100,000 spectators, including 60,000 seats.
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The first Assen track was firstly used for the 1925 Dutch TT race, held on country side roads through the villages of Borger, Schoonloo and Grolloo, and organized by the Motorclub Assen en Omstreken. The brick-paved track had a length of 17.75mi/28.4 km. The winner was Piet van Wijngaarden on a 500 cc Norton with an average speed of 91.4 km/h.
The years afterwards the Dutch TT was held on a road circuit through de Haar, Barteldbocht (near Assen), Oude Tol, Hooghalen, Laaghalen and Laaghalerveen.
In 1951 the Italian Umberto Masetti took the record on a 500 cc Gilera with an average speed of 100.88mph/161.4 km/h. In 1954, Geoff Duke of Great Britain reached 106.06mph/169.7 km/h. The circuit remained unchanged until 1955, when a whole new circuit was built close to the site of the original, but less than a third of the length - and much more like a modern road racing circuit.
The circuit was fundamentaly redesigned again in 2006 - the so called A-Style Assen TT Circuit.
The current Assen race track was built in 1955, and initially had a length of 7,705 meters. The current track has a length of 4,555 meters. The longest straight is 970 meters. The curves in Assen were traditionally banked and the surface is extremely grippy, so the riders were able to drive much faster on the course than other circuits. Today these sloped or curved bends have been modified due to safety issues.
On July 6 2004 the organization announced plans for an amusements park on the northwards of the track. In 2006 the northern loop was removed and the length was shortened to 4,555 m. The new centre is scheduled to be visited by 300,000 people. The total investment is circa € 85 million.
- It is the only venue still held at the same location since beginning of the series in 1949.
- Dutch TT is always held on last Saturday of June.
- It is the only roadracing circuit in the series specifically designed for motorcycle racing. However, Champ Car will make its Dutch debut in 2007 at Assen.
- The track layout makes it a very technical, twisty circuit with little room for error, although track alterations carried out over the years paradoxically make it a 'safe' circuit. Further alterations are planned in 2007 for Champ Car.
- The curves are banked and the surface is extremely grippy, even in wet conditions.
- The track is the only one that also plays host to the World Superbike championship and a World Endurance Race.
- Trackpedia's guide to racing and tracking at Assen
- TT Circuit Assen homesite
- Satellite picture by Google Maps
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