Honda LCR rider Casey Stoner was back in fast form at Assen today, despite his dislike of the major track changes undertaken for the 76th Dutch TT. Stoner was the fastest Honda rider in free practice, posting the third fastest time overall of 1’38.416, before being held up on his final, and potentially quickest lap. Stoner was again the fastest rider through the speed trap at 296.6 kph.

Stoner does not like the major changes which have reduced the lap distance to 4.55 km and added a new, almost circular Northern Loop from turn one to the Strubben corner. The average lap speed has now dropped dramatically, down to 167 kph, from 181 kph on the old layout.

Conditions were cool and heavily overcast in the afternoon, with a track temperature of just 22 degrees.

“As a former rider I have great memories of this track but now it has changed a lot and my impression from Casey and the other riders is that no one likes the changes. In any case, Casey was fast and smooth today, especially in the final part of the lap and he completed a lot of productive work for the race set-up.”

“The changes have destroyed what was once a great track, and I don’t think anyone is having any fun out there. Everyone used to love Assen but now it’s too small and tight, and they have taken the banking away from the corners and made it just like an ordinary track. And there are no new passing places. Today was uneventful, and no one is going really fast, or slow. We concentrated on our set-up plan although we went in a bit of a circle. I don’t have a great feeling with the front-end yet, and I would like more rear grip -- same old story, really.”