Dutch TT – 90 years of motorsport history

by | Mar 23, 2021 | MotoSocial

Dutch TT – 90 years of motorsport history

The Cathedral of Speed celebrates nine decades of hosting elite-level racing

The 90th Dutch TT will be a memorable one. Delayed by a year due to Covid-19, this anniversary will not be the big party that was planned, but the 90th TT will not pass completely unnoticed. Visible everywhere is the special logo, which was chosen as the winner by TT fans in a logo competition.

A special heraldic coat of arms has been designed for the 90th TT. It shows the strong connections with the municipality of Assen and the province of Drenthe and between the glorious past, the present and the future. And the coat of arms visibly expresses the solidarity of all those who are active on and around the TT circuit.


Rich history
The first Dutch TT was held on Saturday 11 July 1925. In those days there wasn’t any ‘real’ race track; the races were held on the public road. The 28.4 km triangle of roads between Rolde (start/finish), Borger and Schoonloo served as the race track.

The organiser was the ‘Assen & Omstreken’ motorcycle club, established in 1922. The following year the second Dutch TT moved to Assen where, just south of the capital of Drenthe, a new 16.5 km track had been found. This was in use every year up to and including the 24th TT in 1954, with the exception of the 1940-1945 war years.

In 1936 the organisation of the TT was handed over from Motorclub Assen to the specially established Stichting Circuit van Drenthe and the 15th Dutch TT was held in 1939. The Second World War subsequently caused a 6-year interruption in the racing action. In 1946 racing was resumed, albeit only on a national level, but from 1947 the Dutch TT was once again an international event. The TT Circuit Assen is the only race track in the world where World Championships have been held annually since the establishment of the official World Championships in 1949.


For the 25th Dutch TT in 1955, the specially constructed 7.7 km race track was taken into use, and this new track also meant that sidecars could be added to the programme. The track that was built in 1955 underwent a complete renovation in 1984. By shortening the North loop the length was reduced by 1.5 km, to a total of 6.1 km. In 1989 the facilities were completely updated and expanded significantly, and with the addition of 3 metres, the width of the track increased to 10 metres.

In 1992 the current TT Circuit Assen was permanently removed from the public road system for the first time. After the end of the 2003 season, work started on further improvements to the public facilities. A beautiful motorcycle park was also added, where some 12,000 motorbikes could be parked on concrete strips using a jiffy or centre stand.






The magical Cathedral of Speed awaits!

And of course, the safety of the riders was considered. The gravel traps were expanded and enlarged, more air fences were installed and further measures were taken to increase safety. In 2015 the agreement with promotor Dorna for the MotoGP™ was renewed until 2026. This ensures that the TT Circuit Assen will continue to present motorbike racing at the highest level in the world until 2026.

The races in Assen were the only ones on the MotoGP™ calendar held on Saturday, the traditional raceday since 1925. Starting in 2016 the TT race day has been moved from the last Saturday in June to the last Sunday in June.

The Motul TT Assen of 2021, the 90th Dutch TT, will be held from 25 until 27 June 2021 at the TT Circuit in Assen. In the meantime, you can view some of the track's most historic moments here!

Every practice session, qualifying battle and race, exclusive interviews, historic races and so much more fantastic content: this is VideoPass!

Read more here

MotoGP NEWS FEED

Form And Function: Ashley Watson’s Waxed Cotton Jackets for Motorcyclists

From the green hills of the Central Hemisphere comes Ashley Watson. Ashley is a designer who has been itching to update the laminated fabric of traditional motorcycle gear into a more classic, sustainable choice  – and he’s gone and done it with waxed cotton. ...

2021 Honda Gold Wing Tour DCT MC Commute Review

Honda’s Gold Wing is the zenith of motorcycle touring. Whether you’re running to the local convenience store for a Slurpee, or traveling across the American Southwest for a getaway weekend, few streetbikes are as capable as the Gold Wing Tour DCT ($29,300 as...

Dutch TT – 90 years of motorsport history

Dutch TT - 90 years of motorsport history The Cathedral of Speed celebrates nine decades of hosting elite-level racing The 90th Dutch TT will be a memorable one. Delayed by a year due to Covid-19, this anniversary will not be the big party that was planned, but the...

Elf Total Classic Car Engine Oil HTX Collection Multigrade 20W50 5 Litre Tin

HTX collection 20W-50 is a customized solution for old and young vintage vehicles with engines made in original state with or without turbocharger, especially those made since 1950. The excellent viscosity balance permits low-wear starts even after longer...

Ebike Maker Surron Announces First True Electric Dirt Bike

Surron’s first full-size electric dirt bike offering: the Surron Storm Bee F. (Surron/)If you stop and think too long about whether emerging EVs are bikes or motorcycles, you’re missing the fun. English EV maker Surron is a great example of blurring these lines,...

2022 BMW F 900 XR Adventure Sport Review

We go for another ride aboard BMW’s easy-riding F 900 XR. (Joseph Agustin/)The 2022 F 900 XR is a plus-size middleweight adventure sport from BMW Motorrad. When BMW introduced this model for the 2020 model year, we were there for the official press introduction; see...

2021 Royal Enfield Meteor 350

2021 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (Fireball trim) (Royal Enfield/)UpsThe beginner cruiser market gains one more competitorImpressive, well-balanced handlingEngine power may not be jaw-dropping, but its mild-mannered delivery and lack of vibration provides a very relaxed...

2021 Suzuki GSX-R600

2021 Suzuki GSX-R600. (Suzuki/)UpsOne of the best-handling sportbikes everSuperbly balanced performanceLight weightDownsNo real updates since 2011A bit priceyNo quickshifterVerdictThe GSX-R600 may be getting long in the tooth, but the middleweight Suzuki is still one...

The Moto Beach Classic Returns to Bolsa Chica, CA

A purpose build asphalt oval track will host a number of races including the 2021 Super Hooligan National Championship final. The Moto Beach Classic returns to Bolsa Chica on Saturday, October 23rd. Entry is free for a full day of motorcycle racing from the final...

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 World GP 60th Anniversary Preview

The newest member of Yamaha’s sportbike line, the YZF-R7 will come in special World GP 60th Anniversary dress in 2022. (Yamaha/)In celebration of 60 years of World Grand Prix competition, Yamaha is releasing a number of anniversary edition sportbikes for the 2022...