Max Biaggi and Yukio Kagayama ready for Assen

"I am enjoying this Superbike format a lot and I have no problems at all doing two races a day," says Max

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Max Biaggi and team mate Yukio Kagayama are looking forward to Assen for different reasons. For Max it will be another chance to put pressure on current series leader James Toseland in his title challenge.

Although the Roman rider has raced many times at Assen before, this will be his first time on the newly revised circuit, so he will have to start all over from scratch when practice first begins. Yukio rode the revised track last year, failing to finish the first race, which was held in atrocious conditions, but he made up for that by taking a superb fourth in race two.

"I like Assen, but I don't know how it will be for me now because the circuit has changed since the last time I was there," says Max. "Most of the Superbike regulars were there last year, so I will be at a small disadvantage because I will have to relearn the track before I can push hard. But normally I learn tracks pretty quick, so I don't think it'll be a big problem. I am enjoying this Superbike format a lot and I have no problems at all doing two races a day. It gives you two chances to do well, so if you miss out in the first race, there is always the second to do a good job."

For Yukio Kagayama, it will be a chance to end a disappointing run and get back his form and confidence: "Normally I like Assen, but last year's first race was not so good because of the very bad weather. The rain was terrible and there was much standing water on the track and that made it very difficult. The second was much better and I had a good fight with Bayliss for most of the race. This year has been a bit strange for me and I have missed too many races because of injury. My aim for Assen is to have a good qualifying, be right up with the top guys in both races and score some good points. I need two good finishes for sure."