Dutch MotoGP, Assen
Date: 26-27 June
Friday 26 June: Qualifying: 1200-1500, BBC Red Button/online Saturday 27 July: 125cc and 250cc races: 0950-1205, BBC Red Button/online. Race live: 1240-1400, BBC Two/online
By Matt Roberts BBC Sport at Assen |
 Simoncelli is finding it hard to stay on his bike |
Marco Simoncelli celebrated his new MotoGP contract with Honda Gresini by crashing out of 250cc free practice at high speed on Thursday, in a session dominated by current series leader Alvaro Bautista, who is certain to follow the Italian into the premier class next year.
Seeing Simoncelli's gangly frame skating across the tarmac is something we've become used to during a fraught defence of his title so far.
He has crashed eight times already - and it is a habit he will need to kick if he is going to make a successful step up.
However, as Mick Doohan said about Casey Stoner, you can teach a fast guy to stop crashing but you can't teach a slow guy to go fast.
Testament to that mantra is Randy de Puniet, who hit the deck no fewer than 22 times last season but has only had to pick gravel out of his underpants once so far in 2009.
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Playboy-sponsored Randy set out like a scalded bunny, setting the fastest time in free practice ahead of the 'big three' of Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo.
However, expect the cream to rise to the top on Friday, in particular Stoner, who was held up by traffic on three of his quick laps and ran wide on a final effort that would have otherwise put him on top of the pile.
Britain's James Toseland also made a decent start to the weekend at a circuit where he took victory in each of his World Superbike title-winning seasons.
James instantly felt the benefits of a radically revised set-up on his YZR-M1, following lengthy consultations with Fiat Yamaha team director Masahiko Nakajima after the last race in Catalunya.
With Nakajima in his garage for the entire session, the Yorkshireman ran a softer rear shock spring and revised footpeg, handlebar and seat positions.
The improvement was instantly visible as he chased Rossi and Dani Pedrosa at the top of the time sheets during the first 20 minutes of the session.
He comfortably lapped within the top six after that before slipping to ninth in a typically frantic conclusion - only 0.537 seconds off De Puniet's pacesetting time.
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