Round 1 – Assen Holland 500km

Saturday 26 March 2005
Free Practices
With the first session being run in wet conditions, the ZX-10 was run with a full wet front and intermediate rear. The Team were ecstatic with a brilliant fourth (1:37:644) with Bolliger fractionally ahead in 3rd (1:37:337).

After the riders first experience of the new track layout, James Hutchins commented, “The track is now very different with much more opportunity for overtaking. But there are no runoffs on the new sections just thick, thick mud”.

Second free practice was held in brightening conditions, time for the slicks to come out . Again still getting used to the new circuit layout, Diablo recorded the 15th fastest time (Steve Mizera 1:29:783). Bolliger were lying in 6th (Marcel Kellenberger 1:27:980), three seconds off the pace of Suzuki No. 2.

We would have to wait for official qualifying to see where the squads would finally start on the unique long distance endurance style grid. Unlike at Valencia, where Kevin Falcke had been suffering with bottom end chatter problems, he was now fully recovered and getting back up to speed.

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