Dutch World Superbikes: Honda double reduces Suzuki lead

Karl Muggeridge, Winston ten kate Honda: Winston Ten Kate Honda rider, Karl Muggeridge was unhappy with his raceday luck, feeling that he could have had better results in different circumstances. Muggeridge went ninth and eighth, experiencing cramps and numbness in his right hand due to his Brands Hatch injury and then a lack of rear traction in race two. “My right hand, the one I broke at Brands Hatch, went numb in race one,” said Muggeridge. “I couldn’t feel the throttle too well, but in race two it was fine. The problem was that the rear traction just dropped off right away and I had no chance to go faster in the race than I did.”

“I felt pretty good for race two and the bike was working well but just lost rear grip from the first lap. I really don’t understand it and it’s pretty frustrating because it’s been getting better all through the weekend and the team deserved some better results today. With the rear gone, it was really only the front tyre that was keeping me in there. I’m happy for Chris but need some solid results myself at Lausitzring next weekend.”

Pierfrancesco Chili, Klaffi Honda: For Pierfrancesco Chili, Assen was forgettable, and he sits eighth in the championship. Struggling with machine set-up, he was once more in comparatively lowly positions on his Klaffi Honda, finishing tenth in race one and only just in the points with 14th in race two. “Even in Brands we had problems and maybe I am way out in getting the setting of this bike right. I cannot ride like this, for no points, for no enjoyment and we are not in a good situation right now. We tried to make some modifications in the second race but it was just the same. The clutch did not start the way I wanted again either, so we are far away from where I want to be."

Andrew Pitt, Yamaha Motor Italia: "It's getting better. We are starting to fight with them now but we've just got to get on that podium! We used the regular engine spec, because we know where the position of the bike has to be now and when you've got the confidence to just grab the brakes and fire it into corners it really helps. At this moment I don't want to change too much on the machine."

Norick Abe, Yamaha Motor France: "In the first race we had a broken engine so we had to change the motors. But I think that the clutch on that engine was already no good. So I could not make a good start. In the race it was very difficult to shift down - so we had some bad luck. Knowing Assen from MotoGP helps a little but when the bike is completely different from the one before, it makes the whole experience very different."

Sebastien Gimbert, Yamaha Motor France: "A good race for me and for my team. I had a little difficulty with the set-up, the balance of the motorcycle, but it was not so bad. The leg is still causing me a little problem but it should be a lot better for next week."

Massimo Meregalli, Team Coordinator, Yamaha Motor Italia: "In Brno we said, 'ok, maybe we are lucky,' but to win also in Brands Hatch and be so close to the wins here means we are close to the best. Noriyuki used the new engine, so we were a little bit worried, took a big risk, but in the race it was ok. I am happy for both our riders because Andrew made a good race today, close to Troy Corser and was always trying to overtake him."

Martial Garcia, Team Manager, Yamaha Motor France; "We lost Abe from the first race because of a stone holing the radiator, so the engine boiled. He did not see the increasing engine temperature, unfortunately. We put in the spare engine and the clutch was too hard, so he lost the start - that's why he stayed in ninth position. Sebastien seems better, took some points and moved up a position. The main thing is that his confidence is coming back."

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