Enjoyable first session for pace setter Lorenzo

The World Championship leader picked up where he left off in the last round by setting the fastest lap time in the opening session at the TIM TT Assen.

Jorge Lorenzo was on top of proceedings as the TIM TT Assen got underway with the opening practice session on Thursday, setting the fastest lap and stating his satisfaction with the level of his Fiat Yamaha M1 machine.

Beating rival Casey Stoner to the top of the timesheet by just 0.011s with a fastest lap of 1’35.169, Lorenzo enjoyed tackling the new Ruskenhoek turn as he took a first high speed look at the modified circuit on his prototype.

"I am happy with today and I feel very good on the bike; the weather is perfect and I love Assen!” said the 23 year-old, who took his 50th career podium with second place in last year’s race and has also tasted victory on three occasions at the Dutch track (twice in 250cc, once in 125cc). “The new corner is very fast and I really like it, it's great fun to ride through the chicane at such speed!”

His opening hour on the circuit left Lorenzo with some areas to concentrate on in Friday morning’s second practice, but the Spaniard is confident the team spirit in his Fiat Yamaha team garage will aid his preparations for an attempt at a fourth win of the season in Saturday’s race.

“We could probably have a bit more traction but we have two more sessions to work on this and then we will try to get the best possible grid position again,” he explained. “The team is working so well and the ambience and atmosphere in our garage is amazing at the moment."

Team Manager Wilco Zeelenberg, who himself scored three podium finishes at his home track in his days as a 250cc rider, believes there is another second of pace to be gained from the track after Lorenzo already shaved almost a second off Valentino Rossi’s pole position time from last year, which of course came before the layout modification.

“We tried both the soft and hard Bridgestone tyres and worked a bit on the front, where Jorge had some issues last year, but it looks good so far,” said the Dutchman. “We think the track will be about two seconds faster in the end so we can definitely find some more pace tomorrow, but we've made a good start here.”