MotoGP returns for crown jewel Assen race: 'Faster than Monaco - and a lot less stuck up'

The TT Assen is called ‘The Cathedral’ of motorcycle racing - and MotoGP is preparing for another pilgrimage to the holy land this weekend for the next round of the 2022 world championship.

Only missing in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the TT Assen has been an iconic mainstay of motorcycle Grand Prix racing since the world’s first motorsport World Championship began in 1949. It has become one of the biggest annual sporting occasions in the Netherlands, with thousands of fans travelling from across Europe to create an electric atmosphere.

The venue has gone from a long street circuit to a shorter but no less incredible track over the seven decades since, creating some of the greatest racing in the world every time racing returns to its home. After a stunning German Grand Prix, fans and riders alike are ready to see what drama Assen whips up on its latest showing.

The circuit was resurfaced in 2020, and while this led to some uncertainty over how the tyres would hold up due to a lack of pre-race testing, all lap records were broken during the weekend – all-time circuit lap, race lap and race duration. Even with the layout changes over the years, the historic track remains one of the most adored circuits in the world and traditionally hosts exciting contests littered with close racing thanks to the.

Neil Hodgson, who admitted Assen has a special place in his heart after he won the Superbike World Championship in 2003, revealed he is excited about this weekend’s event. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Sport , Hodgson said: “There’s always fantastic racing at Assen so it should be a good one.

“It’s one of those places where you arrive at the track and you can feel the history around it. Racing has been coming here