I've been having a big argument with tom about brno being voted the new assen, which obvioulsy I don't agree with. people think that since the track has been changed, everything changed (atmosphere etc), while imo it's completly the opposite. I've been to assen since 2000, so I do know what it was like back when the northern loop was still there. here's what I think:
- first of all, assen <u>had</u> to change the track to go with her time. if they wouldn't have changed it, 2010 would have probably been <u>the last time motogp</u> would come to assen. now with the new TT world building and the new tribunes, it gives people (including riders, audience, press) more what they want. for the audience you see the riders passing a lot more (in 2004 it was 19 times, now it's 24 times), they made better parking facilities behind the main tribune and the paved the walking-paths behind the tribunes so you don't have to walk in mud (which I can assure you is really nice since the chane that it rains in assen is big and I hate having wet feet). it also gives the TT another possibility to use the track in other ways than races: they can have concerts/parties there too.
- the north part wasn't that great imo. as an attender at the track it took ages before you would see the riders again, and <u>no audience</u> was alloud in the northern-loop either. it may have looked great on TV, but it really wasn't the best part of the track imo. the best parts are still here: the new strubben, stekkenwal, de bult, mandeveen, ramshoek (which is awsome to see!) and ofcourse the Geert Timmer corner. the 'verkanting'( no idea what the english word is, I mean the difference in height between the inside and the outside of the track) still excists. that's what rossi complained about, that those differences on the track would be gone, but in fact <u>it's still there</u> (70cm to be exact)
- it's really not true if you think that assen lost her identity of being the cathedral of motorcycle-hystorie. OK, the crowds were a lot bigger in the past. but I don't think that has much to do with the track itself, but more with the riders. back in those days we dutch had some riders up front who could compete for victory too (Will Hartog). assen has a hystorie of more than 75 years, and you still feel that when you're there. in fact, the start and finishline you see now, have been part of the track since 1926.
- the roads the old racers used to go on, are public roads now. you could ride over parts of the old track if you want. don't forget that the first races back in the '20 were raced in Rolde, not Assen, and those parts are still here
http://www.tt-assen.com/cms/Historie-966.html at the top you'll see 4 video's of some races of the past and how it was back then with Will Hartog and Jack Middelburg
who else beside tom still thinks assen lost her unique identity when they changed the track back in 2004/2005??
- first of all, assen <u>had</u> to change the track to go with her time. if they wouldn't have changed it, 2010 would have probably been <u>the last time motogp</u> would come to assen. now with the new TT world building and the new tribunes, it gives people (including riders, audience, press) more what they want. for the audience you see the riders passing a lot more (in 2004 it was 19 times, now it's 24 times), they made better parking facilities behind the main tribune and the paved the walking-paths behind the tribunes so you don't have to walk in mud (which I can assure you is really nice since the chane that it rains in assen is big and I hate having wet feet). it also gives the TT another possibility to use the track in other ways than races: they can have concerts/parties there too.
- the north part wasn't that great imo. as an attender at the track it took ages before you would see the riders again, and <u>no audience</u> was alloud in the northern-loop either. it may have looked great on TV, but it really wasn't the best part of the track imo. the best parts are still here: the new strubben, stekkenwal, de bult, mandeveen, ramshoek (which is awsome to see!) and ofcourse the Geert Timmer corner. the 'verkanting'( no idea what the english word is, I mean the difference in height between the inside and the outside of the track) still excists. that's what rossi complained about, that those differences on the track would be gone, but in fact <u>it's still there</u> (70cm to be exact)
- it's really not true if you think that assen lost her identity of being the cathedral of motorcycle-hystorie. OK, the crowds were a lot bigger in the past. but I don't think that has much to do with the track itself, but more with the riders. back in those days we dutch had some riders up front who could compete for victory too (Will Hartog). assen has a hystorie of more than 75 years, and you still feel that when you're there. in fact, the start and finishline you see now, have been part of the track since 1926.
- the roads the old racers used to go on, are public roads now. you could ride over parts of the old track if you want. don't forget that the first races back in the '20 were raced in Rolde, not Assen, and those parts are still here
http://www.tt-assen.com/cms/Historie-966.html at the top you'll see 4 video's of some races of the past and how it was back then with Will Hartog and Jack Middelburg
who else beside tom still thinks assen lost her unique identity when they changed the track back in 2004/2005??
