Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders Alex Marquez and Joan Mir are aiming high heading to the historic TT Assen Circuit in Holland.

Alex Marquez is optimistic he can bolster his impressive title challenge this weekend when the Moto2 field tackle the famed TT Circuit Assen in round eight of the 2018 World Championship.

Four podium finishes in the opening seven races have put Marquez third in the standings and just 25-points adrift of World Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia.

And the Spanish rider is determined to keep the pressure on this weekend, as he bids to extend an eye-catching record at the TT Circuit Assen. In his five previous visits, Marquez has finished inside the top 10 on each occasion, which included victory in Moto3 during his title-winning campaign in 2014.

Joan Mir arrives in Holland fresh from a hugely productive two-day test at Motorland Aragon last week. And the rookie is determined to bounce back strongly from the first DNF of his outstanding debut season in Moto2 last time out in Barcelona.

Mir missed top three finishes at the TT Circuit Assen in 2016 and 2017 by less than a second, but he is determined to make a rapid return to the podium this weekend to add to his dazzling rides onto the rostrum in Le Mans and Mugello.

Marquez and Mir commence practice on Friday at 1055am and their 24-lap race is scheduled to start at 1220pm on Sunday afternoon.
 

Alex Marquez: 3rd / 94 points

“Assen is a fast and beautiful track. Everyone names it as ‘The Cathedral’, so it’s always great to race there. Last year I a good weekend, even if we had one more crash than expected. I really like the layout, as it demands fast and fluid lines and my riding style fits well on this track, so we’ll try and take advantage of it. The last round in Barcelona was a good weekend, as was the later test in Aragon too, so we’re now feeling very positive and I must keep pushing. We’re just 25-points behind the leader and our goal is to keep working hard to try and reduce that deficit.”

Joan Mir: 6th / 64 points

“I’m really excited to be going to Assen because it is a track that I really like. I’m looking forward to doing a great weekend because I was unlucky with the crash in Barcelona. After that my team and I need a good result to recover some points in the World Championship.”

Characteristics / TT Circuit (Assen, Holland)

Length: 2.82 miles
Width: 45.93 ft.
Corners: 6 (left) + 12 (right)
Longest straight: 1595.77 ft.
Moto2 race: 24 laps (67.7 miles)
Best pole position: Johann Zarco (1:36.346 – 2015)
Circuit record: Tito Rabat (1:37.449 – 2015)
Top speed: Marcel Schrotter (261 km/h – 2013)
2017 race winner: Franco Morbidelli (39'39.120)