Motorcycle turn by turn guide to the Assen Circuit

From Trackpedia

Contents 1 Track Map 1.1 Turn 1, de Haarbocht 1.2 Turn 2, Madijk 1.3 Turn 3, Ossebroeken 1.4 Turn 4, Strubben 1.5 Back straight, de Veenslang 1.6 Turn 5+6: Ruskenhoek 1.7 Turn 7: Stekkenwal 1.8 Turn 8, de Bult 1.9 Turn 9+10, Mandeveen/Duikersloot 1.10 Turn 11, Meeuwemeer 1.11 Turn 12+13: Hoge Heide 1.12 Turn 14: de Ramshoek 1.13 Turn 15: the GT bocht (chicane)

Track Map

A lap at the Assen track on a Honda Fireblade (lay-out from 2006)

Turn 1, de Haarbocht

Shift to fourth gear after the SF line for the final acceleration to the braking point for “de Haarbocht”, a righthand kink. Shift down to third for a smooth line and crack the throttle at the entry and build up al the way from the apex.

Turn 2, Madijk

Stay under acceleration through this second and faster right-hand kink and accelerate through third gear on the way to Ossebroeken.

Turn 3, Ossebroeken

This is an endless right-hander, tightening at the end. Brake shortly before smoothly leaning the bike into this corner. Take a smooth line about halfway the track. Pick apex at the end where it tightens before flicking the bike “on the brakes” to it’s left side. Shift down to second gear while braking.

Turn 4, Strubben

A good exit speed is of extreme importance with this extremely tight left-hand hairpin. The turn opens and the trick is to open the throttle as early as possible to gain speed you can use at the back straight. In this corner overtaking is possible in two ways. At the entrance, braking late and blocking the inside line, or at the exit by keeping Ossebroeken tight to the right, picking a late apex and opening the throttle earlier and harder.

Back straight, de Veenslang

This is not as long as it used to be before reconstruction of the track, but long enough to reach 5th gear before braking hard and shortly for the right kink at the end. Shift down to third on the brakes.

Turn 5+6: Ruskenhoek

This is a right-hand kink, followed by a left-hand turn. Crack the throttle while flicking in to the right-hander and build up through the apex. Turn the bike smoothly to the left side keeping it settled and open the gas smoothly to build up all the way to the Stekkenwal. Keep the bike tight to the left side of the track for a good approach of Stekkenwal. (or let it run wider and accelerate hard to overtake by blocking the inside line at Stekkenwal)

Turn 7: Stekkenwal

Brake early and flick the bike in “on the throttle" and let it roll through the corner. This right-hander can always be taken faster than you thought. Stekkenwal opens upto a small S-kink. The course of the tarmac puts you in the right side of the track, lining you up perfectly for the following lefthander.

Turn 8, de Bult

Brake briefly and hard. Shift down to 2nd gear for maximum acceleration out of here or to 3rd for a more steady bike and higher entrance speed. Release the brake in time, since this is also a corner which can always be taken faster than you think. Accelerate shortly to the next right and shift your bodyweight smoothly to the right.

Turn 9+10, Mandeveen/Duikersloot

This famous double apex right-hander is the trickiest of the Assen track. These corners have less banking than the rest of the Assen track, making highsiders common here. The trick is to make it one smooth corner to get the best exit speed on the way to Meeuwemeer. After the apex of Mandeveen let the bike run wide (shortshift to 3rd if you were in 2nd) pull back in and keep the inside line through the second apex. Open the throttle as early as possible because of the fast stretch ahead. A steady bike is important here.

Turn 11, Meeuwemeer

This very fast righthand kink for the brave at heart. Shortshift to fourth and lean the bike over early. This makes the revs rise, so be sure your “on the gas”. Accelerate through after the apex shifting up one more time.

Turn 12+13: Hoge Heide

This extremely fast “S” also requires guts. I don’t go full throttle through these but I do keep acceleratin, flicking the bike from right to. (I think it should be possible though).

Turn 14: de Ramshoek

The best corner in the world! In this fast, blind lefthander after Hoge Heide it’s important to keep the bike as steady as possible. Shifting the weight smoothly to the left, smoothly leaning the bike over “on the gas” until the knee hits the tarmac. Smoothly open the throttle to fully open for the last hard acceleration and if necessary overtaking on the way to the final chicane.

Turn 15: the GT bocht (chicane)

This right-left-right chicane has decided a lot of races over the years. The high exit speed out of the Ramshoek makes hard braking necessary while shifting down to second gear. Enter the first (right) in time to take this as a proper corner. Flick over to the left, back to the right and accelerate as early and hard as possible to the SF line, using all the track (and the kerbs, but DO NOT go over the kerbs). The front gets very light here.