In a run of two races in less than seven days, MotoGP arrives in Assen for the traditional event on the last Saturday in June - the latest edition of the ever-present TT race for the World Championship.

Casey Stoner heads to the Netherlands direct from Donington, the scene of his fifth victory of the season. The Australian has a superb record thus far in 2007, with his lowest position being a highly respectable fifth, and he is currently sitting pretty 26 points ahead at the top of the MotoGP World Championship standings. Whatever happens at Assen this Saturday, Stoner will maintain his control of the classification at the midway point of the season. Last year the 21-year old finished fourth onboard a Honda in his rookie appearance at the ‘Cathedral of Motorcycle Racing’.

Five-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi will be riding at one of his favourite tracks, hopefully in better condition than last year. The Italian has won at Assen five times in all classes, but was prevented from mounting a serious challenge for a sixth victory in 2006 by hand and foot injuries suffered in practice. Currently lying second in the championship, Rossi lost out on the chance to close the gap between himself and Stoner at Donington, and is already taking the young starlet’s title challenge very seriously indeed.

Third in the championship hunt, Dani Pedrosa has now gone 16 races without a victory, as the top two begin to distance themselves from the 2006 Rookie of the Year. Honda are yet to triumph with an 800cc bike, but took victory at Assen last year courtesy of World Champion Nicky Hayden for the factory team.

A second podium of the season at Donington takes Chris Vermeulen up to fourth in the classification, ahead of Suzuki team-mate John Hopkins and Honda satellite rider Marco Melandri in a group separated by just seven points.

Colin Edwards returns to Assen with some demons to avenge. ‘The Texas Tornado’ was on course for victory at last season’s race, battling with Nicky Hayden for the win until losing control of his Yamaha M1 on the final corner. One smashed dashboard and a mixed season later, Edwards returns to the Netherlands with morale at a high, following on from a great pole and second place at Donington.

Alex Barros, Loris Capirossi and Toni Elias complete the top ten.