The last saturday of june is marked in my agenda with the words in capitol Dutch TT.
As far as I know it’s the greatest and best Grand Prix of the world and the races are being held up there since 1925.
With every year a race being held on the Dutch track which began as an roadtrack between a couple of small villages between Assen, Rolde, Borger, Schoonloo,Grolloo and back to Assen it grew into an hypermodern track on the edge of Assen and Hooghalen ( Hooghalen was a part of the original track ) 80 years later it was the start of the 2010 Dutch TT.
The organisation firmly strong had a small blow of the injuries Valentino Rossi sustained at the MotoGP at Mugello a couple of weeks ago.
Rossi who is almost the face of MotoGP at least he has got the most and largest fanbase all over the world of every rider from the past and present and certainly the future.
I’m myself a big fan of Valentino Rossi since 1996.
Even though I’m trying to be impartial when I’m doing my stuff around the track it was almost awkward to have Valentino Rossi not there it was like a concert without the main act.
It almost reminds me of the Dutch TT of 1999 were also one of my favorite riders wasn’t attending because he sustained career ending injuries ( not known at that time ) when he crashed out very hard during qualifying on the Jerez track a couple of weeks before the Dutch TT.
In that periode I had in 125cc,250cc and the 500cc ( what an era that was, I’m still missing it ) a favorite rider ( Melandri, Rossi, Doohan ) and this Dutch TT I almost had the same feeling.
Although I attend that Dutch TT only as an visitor and not as an photographer ( I was 19 years old by then allready taking pictures but from the grandstands and on the many slopes they have )
Since 1999 a lot has changed not only the circuit, also my way of seeing MotoGP which changed more into an profession all be it that the Grand Prix’s that I see on tv or else is more relived as a fan.
For the fans the Dutch TT starts on thursday when the first free practices take place, but for me it’s beginning a little bit earlier.
On wednesday the first outing for the media is taking place. This year’s event was an challenge of the riders with the pressmembers in a rowing boat on a small canal in the center of Assen.
After that the pre press conference took place and that was the first day for me as an photographer.
The good stuff had to begin a day later when the 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP rode their rounds to get used to the new Dutch track who had a small change and got some of the old Assen characteristics back. A high speed straight from the low speed Strubben corner into the banked Stekkenwal which is the begin to the southern loop.
The press/media outing was everything but chilly some of the German commentators of tv channel Sport1 were almost fully wet after doing some kind of competition under the warm and moist Dutch sky.
The day’s after this “first” day were also hot and moist and had almost nothing to do with good sunny summer weather in fact it was bloody hot.
On thursday the first action was set to appear and I was awake very early checking my gear ( didn’t want to miss something which I need ) and for the first time I took my earplugs with me.
A week earlier I was at Gilze-Rijen to see some aerobatics and got almost my eardrums cracked when a Eurofighter almost flew over low altitude with Mach1.
The whole Dutch TT went as a steamtrain passed me too quick, too fast and before you know it it’s saturday evening you’re working your butt’s off to get some pictures to your clients and the only thing that remembers I was attending at the Dutch TT was the credentials, your hot and red face and arms, tons of pictures and a smile from ear to ear.
I love motorsports, but besides very happy faces there was also a big accident.
In the side program Dutch Supersport600 it went terribly wrong for young rider Tristan Lentink ( son of Hennie Lentink people who visited on many ocassions the Dutch track will knew Hennie probably ) at the start of the race Tristan’s motorcycle gave up on him and one rider hit him from behind which saw Tristan fell whilst another rider hit him when he lay on the ground. Tristan stood on the second row and the guy hitting him was on the eleventh row like a rag doll Tristan flew through the air and landed with pretty nasty injuries.
Tristan Lentink get well soon…..
Because I’ve little amounts of spare time this week a very quick update on my website isn’t possible, so it will take longer before I have something up on my website.
Even though I want to be the quickest for the Dutch TT I changed plans slightly.
I have many good pictures and I want to have a big diversity of pictures displayed on my website.
So there will be a 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP gallery 
For everybody who want a small preview bookmark for all your MotoGP/WSBK news MotoMatters
The previews can be found also on the same website for an preview of thursday click here
For the friday click here and for the final day click here
Thank you for all the warm comments about the pictures through MotoMatters and send by email.
It’s very nice to get that kind of comments about the photography that I do.
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