History of the Dutch TT

Assen is the only ve𝓡nue that has hosted a motorcycle grand prix every year since the ൩World Championship started in 1949.

Below is a sel൩ection of highlights and milestones from the 61 Dutch TT events that have taken place, since it became part of the world championship series.

The 2010 race 𓂃(the 80th Dutch TT counting pre-world championship events) takes place on Saturday:

1949 - Held on the original 16.5 km long circuit. History was made by Nello Pagani, who won both the 500cc and 125cc races to become the first rider to win tw🏅o races at a Granꩲd Prix event.

Edwards crashes within sight of victory, Hayden rejoins, Dutch MotoGP, 2006
Edwards crashes within sight of victory, Hayden rejoins, Dutch MotoGP, 2006
© Gold and Goose

Assen is the only venue that has hꦍosted a motorcycle grand pr♚ix every year since the World Championship started in 1949.

Below is a selection of highlights and milestones from the 61 Dutch TT events that have taken place, since it 𒁏became part of the world championship series.

The 2010 race (the 80th Dutch TT counting pre-world championship eve♍nts) takes place on Saturday:

1949 - Held on the original 16.5 km long circuit. History was made by Nello ಌPagani, who won both the 500cc and 125cc races to become the first rider to win two races at a Grand Prix event.

1955 - This year saw a major revision of the circuit, which was reduced in length to 7.7km. There was a riders' protest during the 350cc 🎐race when more than a dozen riders pulled into the pits at the end of the first lap in protest at the lack of financial rewards for taking part in Grand Prix racing. As a result 13 riders were suspended from racing for six months.

1964 - Jim Redman became the fi൲rst rider to win three Grand Prix races on the same day when he took the victories in the 125cc, 250𒊎cc and 350cc classes on his Honda.

1967 - Mike Hailwood (Honda) matched the feat of Redman by winning three GP races on the same day; this time in the 250cc, 350cc and 50༒0cc classes.

1968 -Paul Lodewijkx, riding the Dutch built Jamathi, won the 50cc race to become the first Dutch rider to stand on꧋ the top step of the podium at his ♑home Grand Prix.

1974 - Ameri𒐪can Kenny Roberts (Yamaha)🉐 made his grand prix debut in the 250cc race. He qualified on pole before finishing third in the race.

1975 - Barry Sheene (Suzuki) took his first victory in the 500cc class from Giacomo Agostini. The two riders were so close a🍌cross the line that they were credited with the same time - the only occasion this has occurred in the𝓡 premier-class.

1976 - Giacomo Agostini gꦛave MV Agusta the last of their 76 victories in the 350cc class🏅.

1977 - At his home Grand Prix, Wil Hartog riding a Suzuki became the first Dutch rider to win a 500cc 🌄Grand Prix.

1980 -Jack Middleburg, on his privateer Yamaha, took his first GP victor🍬y at his home grand prix. This was the last win in the class for a bike using an in-line 4-cylinder arrangement.

1985 - Randy Mamola won the wet ꦦ500cc race riding the three-cylinder NS500 Honda. This was the last time that a premier-class race has been won by a machine with less than four-cylinders.

1988 - Ch⛦ristian Sarron (Yamaha) started from pole in the 500cc race to complete a unique family double with his brother Dominique (Honda) starting from pole in the 250cc class.

1991 - Kevin Schwantz (Suz🙈uki🌸) set a new lap record, on his way to winning the 500cc race that was never bettered in the ten years up to 2001 when significant alterations were made to the circuit.

1992 - Championship leader Mick Doohan crashed in qualifying and missed the race due to injuries. Al𒀰ex 🎶Criville (Honda) became the first Spanish rider to win a 500cc Grand Prix.

1998 - Valentino Rossi (Aprilia) won for the first time in the 250cc class and Marco Melandri (A💜prilia) won the 125cc race to become the first 15 year old rider to win a Grand Prix ra𓆏ce.

2001 - Jeremy McWilliams (Aprilia) became the first British rider to win a 250cc GP since ♈1983📖.

2002 - Dani Pedrosa (Honda) ಞtook his first Gran🌃d Prix victory in the 125cc class to become the youngest Spanish rider to win a GP at that time.

2006 - Nicky Hay꧂den's dramatic last turn victory over Colin Edwards in the MotoGP race (pictured) was the 200th victory in the premier-class for Honda.

2007 - Valentino Rossi gives Yamaha their 150th grand prix vi🌱ctory in the p𒐪remier-class.

2009🍰 - Valentino Rossi claims 𝓀his 100th grand prix victory.

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