The Assen Centennial Classic TT was last run in 1998. For the 2010 event, Freddie Spencer was booked to ride and the organisers wanted him on a Rothmans 500 and 250 (to commemorate his double championship in 1985). They were struggling to find a Rothmans 250, I was asked if I'd provide my bike. I did explain my NX5 was several years newer than Freddie's 85 RSW, but they were happy....so Assen 'here we come'! We proceeded to have the bike 're-decaled' slightly. I also took the NXA, couldn't miss the opportunity to ride the Assen Track. See event website www.cctt.nl
The format for each class was a 20 minute practice session and Heat #1 (grid start) on Saturday and Heat #2 (grid start) on Sunday. Saturday morning weather was very cold and very wet. Both my bikes had brand new, unscrubbed, Dunlop Inters. 2nd lap of practice, I arrived at a corner to see my NX5 on the ground and Freddie stood over it, after going over the highside. Luckily he managed to cushion the blow going down on his shoulder and with the bike on top of him!! I then ran the rest of practice wondering how bad the bike was. Front brake M/C piston was ripped out, footpeg bust and rear brake leaver bent, didn't have a spare M/C, so the bike didn't run again for the rest of the weekend, which was a shame. Fairing bodywork was scrubbed and chipped, but overall stood up remarkably well. The airtech bodywork is much thicker than Honda RS bodywork, wow it's very strong!
The 250cc Heat 1 was dry, and I had a good run on the NXA. There was no lap timing or places awarded, its not supposed to be a race but some of the pace was pretty hot! Heat 2 was again very wet, I managed to keep the NXA rubber side down but it was very tricky. Lapped a few bikes and was just glad to be able to travel home with at least one complete bike!
Freddie rode the 500 Triple (same bike as at Mallory) and smoked everyone in both Heats, which were both soaking wet. Sean Emmet tried keeping up with him on a 500cc Suzuki and crashed heavily. Christian Sarron lost the front end of his Sonauto Yamaha 500, and even Agostini had problems, highsiding a works MV Augusta 350, all in the wet!
All in all, an awesome weekend and possibly Freddie to ride my NX5 in Italy & France next year, on the basis I can take my NXA out, which I'm pushing to have finished as a Aoyama / Scot rep by then!
Both 250's will be on display at the October Stafford Bike Show 'Classic Racer Magazine - Race Paddock'. After that I'll be back to Racepaints with some bodywork!
A few pics, more to follow..........
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Rich
MC21 Track Bike / RS250 NF5 'Spencer', NX5 'Cadalora' & NXA 'Aoyama' / RS500 / Two Brothers Racing RC30
Last edited by RichG on Thu Sep 23, 2010 9:33 am; edited 2 times in total