Just a few short days until we get to see how much they've messed up the circuit and of course how nice the new car park is. :?

Good news is, Capirossi will be okay to race, however Gibbers is still out and Alex Hofmann will be stepping up to take his place for the weekend. Not sure about Melandri's situation other than the fact he's 'recovering gradually' and has a long and very unpleasant sounding list of injuries: 'an encephallic injury, in addition to a cervical contusion and a paracervical hematoma'. I'm not a doctor, but that don't sound good.

Still - it's still Assen and there should still be a great atmosphere. Lets hope for a good (and safer!) race on Sunday. :)

Great news that Loris won't be missing the round, but it doesn't sound good about Marco. I'm no doctor either but I have heard that encephallic injuries are something akin to 'whiplash' injuries.

I think the race is on Saturday with free practice starting tomorrow?

Yep you're right, June 24th is race day and that's Saturday. (I hadn't noticed)

Btw the specifics on Gibernau are that he will be out for '3 - 5 weeks', so his championship is effectively over. Poor bloke.

Latest on Melandri:

He was discharged from hospital yesterday and flew from Barcelona to Assen.

Still suffering a painful neck, but remains hopeful of taking part in the Dutch race on Saturday. "thanks to the therapy I've recieved I am feeling a lot better. I am recovering and have started to walk. My neck hurts a lot and this will be the main problem for me. In any case we will make a decision before the practice day starts. I've been able to look at the changes to the track and they have modified the most technical part, and this could be very good for my current physical state."

is he really going to try and race? damn, i think he needs to sit this one out, cuz the next few weeks are going to be brutal.

Yeah I think overall he might be better off giving Assen a miss, but you can imagine how hard it is to persuade any racer that although they (just about) can ride, but maybe shouldn't. I just hope Capirossi and Melandri get through the weekend rubber side down. :?

Man, they're dropping like flies at the moment. :(

TONI ELIAS RETURNS TO BARCELONA

After the fall undergone during the free practice this morning in the Dutch circuit of Assen, the Spanish rider of the Fortuna Honda Team Toni Elías returns to Barcelona where he will be examined in the Institut Universitari Dexeus by Doctor Xavier Mir.

Toni Elias

It's a pity because this accident arrives at the worse moment of the season. I have tried to return on the track but the pain was very strong."

Edit:

Rossi's binned it too. Not sure whether he's taken part in FP2 but it was obviously a fairly nasty crash.

Rossi has hairline fractures to his right hand and left ankle, concusion, chest contusions and a haematoma on his elbow...........

I have the video of the crash but don't know how to post / host

I just watched the tail end of qualifying and it looks as though Rossi and Capirossi are both in real trouble. Valentino put in loads of laps yesterday in FP2 after his accident, but his wrist's swollen up over night and he qualified in last and an absolute mile from the front. I'm not sure where Capirossi ended up atm, but he was leaning forward and resting his chest on his hand which he put on the tank, presumably so he could get some air/get the pressure of his chest. Don't think he's done any even half long runs either, just a few laps here and there.

I'm not sure whether either of them will be able/bother to race tomorrow. Melandri on the other hand did brilliantly and pulled off 7th, somehow. Hopefully he'll be okay for the race too.

Still, well done Hopper for getting his first pole!

Edit: Samster, you should be able to attach files a post by clicking on 'manage attachments' on the posting screen. That should work fine for anything up to 20mb.

Well what an end to the race that was. :eek: I'm dead pleased for Nicky but feel so sorry for Edwards. Quick from FP1 onwards and then leading for basically the whole race, only to end up 13th... that'll sting.

Some gutsy stuff from Melandri and Rossi to get 7th and 8th, too.

just saw the race today at around 6 edt, and damn, what a race it was. i think its the best ive seen so far this season. i dont think hayden earned that one though. toward the end of the race, you could see he was more comfortable than edwards, but there is no excuse for letting edwards repass him and then blow the last chicane (both of them). hayden needs to get his act together, or i dont think he will be the #1 honda man for too much longer.

just saw the race today at around 6 edt, and damn, what a race it was. i think its the best ive seen so far this season. i dont think hayden earned that one though. toward the end of the race, you could see he was more comfortable than edwards, but there is no excuse for letting edwards repass him and then blow the last chicane (both of them). hayden needs to get his act together, or i dont think he will be the #1 honda man for too much longer.

Werd.

I watched the the WSB race last night, and although it was a sleeper, holy crap, I have never seen a bikes for as much sideways, for as long. James Toseland was on his CBR1000RR, there is a three part, long sweeper section that leads onto the back straight away. Dude was sideways the W H O L E time, right up until he stand it up to go down the straight. You're talking about just frying the rear tire at well over 100MPH, knee on the deck.

I couldn't believe my eyes...

Welcome to the boards Matt. :) Toseland's ability to slide his CBR so far and so often never ceases to amaze me. At Monza in particular he was getting it out of shape, very good to watch. That said Haga and Hayden are probably a bit more fun to watch as far as sliding and generally mental riding is concerned.

On the subject of good stuff to watch, it was pretty funny seeing Kenny Roberts Jr sticking his leg out to apologise to someone (I forget who) at Assen whilst mid-corner and with his knee down.

Well what an end to the race that was. :eek: I'm dead pleased for Nicky but feel so sorry for Edwards. Quick from FP1 onwards and then leading for basically the whole race, only to end up 13th... that'll sting.

Yeah, Colin blew it. Me thinks Nicky had him a worried just a bit. I was impressed with how Colin reeled him in after Nicky passed him the first time.