BRAKING IN DETAIL: Get up to speed with the TT Circuit Assen on the track’s overtaking hotspots
New cutting-edge data from Brembo on the venerated ‘Cathedral of Speed’ gives a unique insight into the circuit’s most critical corners
Perhaps the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s most historic venue, your favourite riders pull into the paddock for the Pirelli Dutch Round at the TT Circuit Assen, kicking off on Friday, April 17th, for what will be their 34th weekend at the circuit. Only Phillip Island has seen more WorldSBK races, and apart from the pandemic-affected 2020 season, the circuit has hosted WorldSBK every year since 2003. Last season, the round featured a pair of disastrous tech issues for Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati), opening the door for Toprak Razgatlioglu to put himself in back into the Championship fight, as well as a historic first win for Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha), Yamaha’s first win since Razgatlioglu’s days in blue back in 2023 at Magny-Cours. This season, with the 2025 Champion’s departure from the paddock and a reshuffled grid, an exciting congregation at the hallowed ‘Cathedral of Speed’ awaits.
FULL THROTTLE: The Dutch circuit is one of the least demanding circuits on the calendar in terms of braking
The 4.542 km long TT Circuit Assen falls into the category of circuits that are not very demanding on brakes. On Brembo’s braking intensity scale from one to five, it has earned a difficulty index of one, even though riders use the brakes 10 times per lap, totalling 26.7 seconds. Only two of these braking actions are classified as high, five as medium, and three as light. That sole corner designated as a five of five is Turn 1, as it is the only corner with a deceleration of over 150 km/h. Using the brakes for 3.6 seconds with a lever load of 4.6 kg, riders manage to reduce their speed from 269 km/h to 113 km/h, experiencing a deceleration of 1.5 g. Meanwhile, the superbikes cover 187 meters while the brake fluid pressure reaches 9.9 bar.
HISTORIC FIRSTS: At Assen, 4 riders achieved their maiden victory in the Superbike World Championship
Assen has a history of riders scoring their maiden wins in dramatic fashion. First was Chris Walker in 2006 on his Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja, followed by Sylvain Guintoli in 2012 on the Ducati 1098R. More recently, Nicholas Spinelli won as a replacement rider for the injured Danilo Petrucci in 2024, and last year, Andrea Locatelli won on his Yamaha R1. All four riders used Brembo brakes, but not content to rest on their laurels, the Italian brake manufacturer has continued to up their game; today's calipers feature cooling fins to reduce thermal stress, enabling quicker and quicker lap times.
KEY SECTOR: Assen’s final sector chicane has seen decades of final-lap drama
The track’s high-speed layout bottles up riders as they get on the brakes into the Mandeven and Duikersloot Turns 10 and 11. They then launch their bikes out of the double right-handers onto a short straight, slightly bending right before the long, left-handed T15 Ramshoek corner. Holding as much speed as possible through the gradual corner, then charging towards the main grandstand, fans hold their breath at the critical T16-17 Geert Timmer chicane, as it’s a famously fruitful opportunity for dramatic overtakes, as just beyond the chicane’s exit is the finish line. Keep an eye on the final chicane, as many a race has seen a decisive move made there.
Catch all the fast-approaching action at Assen this weekend with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
