MotoGP bosses have this afternoon announced the traditional Saturday Assen race will switch to Sunday from 2016 but remain as the last weekend of June.
The Dutch TT has always been run on a Saturday due to the Circuit Van Drenthe’s location in an historically religious area of the country but the circuit management has been lengthy discussions with various interested parties and have decided to bring the race in line with the rest of the calendar.
A Sunday race will mean more exposure in terms of media and television time, and it should boost attendances as fans expect to go to events on a Sunday, instead of a Saturday, when at least some people get to have a day off.
"By changing to Sunday from 2016, it is expected that larger numbers of spectators will visit the track. In the current Dutch leisure pattern a top sporting event on a Sunday is more attractive than on a Saturday,” said a Dorna spokesman.
“On Sundays there is also more media exposure for these top sporting events, which is something the TT Assen will definitely benefit from. This has also proven to increase visitor numbers. By moving the training days to Friday and Saturday, the TT Assen becomes more attractive for a multi-day visit and therefore also for the purchase of all-in tickets.
“The decision to move the race to Sunday was made out of sheer necessity. The number of motorcycle Grands Prix around the world is limited, and often there is more capital available elsewhere to obtain a MotoGP license. In this competitive environment, the TT Assen can only hold its own by increasing the number of visitors.
“With an increase in the number of visitors, the Board expects the turnover of the TT to increase by 5-10% in the medium-to-long term. This extra revenue will be used to continue to cover the increasing operational costs of the event and to secure the license in the long term, and to be able to guarantee financial cover for new investments in public facilities.
“Moving the TT to Sunday is a better fit with the pattern of other events in motor and motorcycle racing and with the spirit of the times. Nearly all top sporting events around the world take place on a Sunday. They will be maintaining the tradition of the last weekend in June, so the move from the Saturday to the Sunday could be seen as an old tradition with a modern twist.”
