ASSEN - WORLD ENDURANCE - 12/04/04


I went to Assen with the Phase One Yamaha Team, the 2003 World Champions.  Saturday was practice and Qualifying day, with the weather being cold, just like England.  Qualifying went quite well for the team, with Stephane Mertens, Dean Ellison and Sebastien Scarnato, ending 8th on the grid, and their junior team (Shell Endurance Academy) qualifying 10th.  The other all British Team of James Hutchins, Nick Pilborough and Mike Edwards (Diablo 666 Bolliger) qualified 13th on a Kawasaki.

The race started badly for Phase One, with Mertens unable to start the bike and getting away one but last.  He rode exceptionally well to work his way up to 6th place, then Scarnato took over and got himself into 4th place with 3rd place in his sights, but disaster struck and he had to push the bike back to the pits.  Dean Ellison finally got away for his stint on the bike.  He rode really well and very smoothly, without any incidents, but could not make up any places, with the team finally finishing 25th.  The junior team also had problems and finished 23rd.

The other British Team had much better fortunes finishing in a creditable 7th place.  The race was won by the French Suzuki-Castrol Team.