[954Stealth]

Driver quotes:

Alvaro Bautista
“We are coming to Holland highly motivated thanks to the nice result in Barcelona. We are still a bit disappointed because we could have completed the Spanish trip with some good post-race tests, but the poor weather kept us from doing the work we had scheduled. So we'll bring the material to Assen that we weren't able to evaluate during the tests: we won't have much time to do it, but we'll give it our best shot. The track has a lot of quick direction changes which is an area where we need to improve, so from the first free practice sessions we'll be looking for the best setup to improve our bike's performance in that area. In any case the whole garage is very enthusiastic and we're ready to get down to business.”

Marco Melandri
“We are going to Assen with a bit of concrete optimism. In the Barcelona tests the team provided me with a much longer swingarm that gave me a better feeling. I only took two laps because then it began to rain but I noticed that the sensation was good. I like this track and I'm confident that we'll be taking some steps forward. Alvaro's result gave the team a strong signal of reliability. I see the glass as half full.”

Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team #29) – 3rd (94 points)
“I hope the Desmosedici GP15 will go better around Assen than at Barcelona, because it was a difficult weekend for me and for my team in Catalunya and for sure I want to improve on my result in the Netherlands. I’ve won before in Moto2 in 2010 at the Dutch track and I like it a lot, but I also know that in the past Assen has been a bit tough for Ducati. However this year we have a new bike, which still has a lot of untapped potential, and I am sure the GP15 will allow me to fight for the leading positions.”

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 4° (83 points)
“I was very disappointed about my crash at Barcelona, because we could have scored some good points for the championship, but I also know we are working well and this gives me the opportunity to fight for the podium at every round. At Assen it is important for us to come back to the podium and confirm our speed. The Dutch track is unique because of its particular layout, but also because of the weather conditions we usually encounter during the race weekend. In any case, we have to look at the positive things: we have a very fast bike and for sure we will be competitive at Assen.”

Marc Marquez
"Obviously I’m disappointed to have crashed out of my home race in Catalunya, but we’ve put that behind us now as we head to Assen. It’s a shame we couldn’t make the most out of the post-race test on Monday, but it’s the same for everyone. Assen is a track I like - even if it doesn’t necessarily suit our bike the best. As always we will have to work hard from Friday morning and hope to make a step with the bike settings. The weather is always unpredictable and this usually plays a part in the weekend, so we will have to keep an eye on it!"

Dani Pedrosa
"I was really happy to step back on the podium in Barcelona, it’s just a shame we couldn’t do much on the Monday during the test, due to the bad weather. The arm is feeling better and better each time I ride and now we need to work on the bike to improve our feeling. As we all know, the weather in Assen is usually a critical point so we must be sure to make the most of any dry track time! I like the track but it’s important to find a good setting and feeling with the tyres as there are a few very fast corners."

Nicky Hayden:
"Assen is a great circuit that always provides great races and I hope this can be a good weekend for us. We have stepped up our pace in qualifying over the past couple of rounds but now we need to back it up on race day, when it really counts. At Mugello I had a crash that wasn't my fault and then I had another at Barcelona that was. It is a shame to have missed out on the points for two straight races so the plan is to get back on the right track at Assen. Usually the grip there is good and the track has some fast and fun corners. The test after the GP in Barcelona wasn't too productive but at least we were able to confirm a couple of things with the electronics, which should be useful at Assen because it does tend to rain there. Hopefully we can pick up a good result for the team this weekend."

Eugene Laverty:
"Following three unfamiliar circuits I'm excited to return to a track that I know well. I've won races at Assen in both the World Supersport and Superbike championships so I'll be gunning for a top finish there in MotoGP. We found our way again at the previous round in Barcelona and I'm feeling full of confidence again. The team continue to support me 100% plus Honda have stepped in to help us move forward which I'm extremely grateful for. Everything's really starting to come together now".