American riders have played a huge part in the success of Michelin in motorcycling’s premier-class World Championship. Six legends from the USA have won a total of ten 500cc/MotoGP crowns with Michelin tyres over the past quarter of a century.
Kurtis Roberts finished in the points for a second successive GP, managing to recoup 15th place after a difficult weekend at the revised Assen circuit for the Dutch TT. Roberts, riding as substitute for his elder brother Kenny Junior, is in only his fourth race, combining the role of test rider developing the all-new 2007 prototype MotoGP racer as well as trying to achieve results for his father's team. It is a tall order. Strictly limited testing time at each race is just one difficulty Kurtis faces.
Kurtis Roberts, riding in only fourth MotoGP event since returning mid-season, moved from 19th on dry practice times to 14th in a wet qualifying session for Saturday's Dutch TT - a position he felt might have been better if he'd had a little more time on the tricky new Assen circuit he was seeing for the first time. Roberts, who is substituting for his older brother Kenny, set the time right at the end of the session, at his very last chance, after losing time in the closing stages when he pitted for a tyre change. It meant he was obliged to try for a time with no second chances, crossing the start-finish line some 30 seconds before the chequered flag signaled the end.