Looking Ahead To The Dutch TT At Assen

The seventh round of the 2013 MotoGP season is set to be one of the
most interesting races yet. Scheduled for June 29 and 30 at the
Assen circuit in the Netherlands, this event could potentially help
some racers separate themselves from their competitors.
With Jorge
Lorenzo sidelined due to a broken collarbone, which required
surgery earlier this week, the field is wide open for someone to
make a move to the front of the pack. The favorite will be
Lorenzo's rival Dani Pedrosa,
but Marc Marquez
shouldn't be overlooked. After topping the timesheet during
testing, the rookie will be one to watch during the event.
Lorenzo's teammate Valentino
Rossi may also challenge for the win. He has been steadily
improving over the course of the season and finished second in the
free practice testing, so if he can put it all together he could
easily land atop the podium.
All riders will have to navigate potentially tricky situations,
using the best motorcycle gear to
gain an advantage whenever possible.
"The Dutch TT at Assen is often an intriguing race, as the circuit
is fast and presents many overtaking opportunities," said Hiroshi
Yamada, manager of the Bridgestone Motorsports
Department. "The weather often plays its part at this event, and in
recent years we have experienced a lot of variability in weather
conditions, ranging from cold and wet to very warm and dry."
After seeing what happened to Jorge Lorenzo on a wet track, riders
will likely be a bit more cautious if rainy conditions come to the
circuit. Lorenzo's crash caused serious damage to his clavicle and
required surgery to repair, but the Yamaha rider will still be on
hand at Assen to watch the race play out, Supersport.com reports.
His return is currently unknown, but if he can battle back quickly
and some events shake out in his favor, he could still challenge
for the championship.