Rossi eager to bounce back in Assen

The Fiat Yamaha rider was unable to repeat his strong past results at the British track on Sunday, finishing off the podium in fourth position as main championship rival Casey Stoner scored his fifth win of the season to increase his lead in the standings.

Following the disappointment of the British race, Rossi is looking to put on a strong performance this weekend at Assen.

"I wasn't happy after the race on Sunday but we had a long meeting afterwards and we know what our problems are - now we need to fix them," said Rossi.

"I'm happy to get the chance to ride again so soon and forget about the race at Donington because I was so disappointed to finish fourth at a circuit I love so much and have always done well at in the past.

"Assen is another of my favourite tracks and after riding injured there last year I want to get back to winning ways. It is a shame they had to change the circuit layout last year because they have removed the most exciting part of the track, which I still cannot understand.

"Anyway, it is like this and Assen is still a legendary place, with a great atmosphere and great fans. Hopefully we can make a good show for them and be competitive like we know we can be once again."

Teammate Colin Edwards, fresh from his second place finish at Donington, is upbeat ahead of the Dutch race after he feels he is over the problems that had blighted his season until the British Grand Prix, where he started from pole.

"I'm taking a lot of confidence from the weekend just gone because we worked really hard and found a setting for the dry and for the wet in a really limited amount of time," he said.

"We think we've fixed the problems we've been having with the bike and from a personal point of view I was delighted to be back on the podium.

"The key now is to keep it going, make up for that disaster at Assen last year and carry some good form through to my home race at Laguna Seca in a few weeks' time."