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AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands - The Assen round of the MotoGP championship is to break with tradition by switching from Saturday to Sunday for 2016.
Race organisers says the change was "a financial necessity".
The Tourist Trophy (TT) at Assen is the only round of the championship raced on a Saturday. It was first held in 1925 so is the oldest on the calendar - though racing was halted during the Second World War.
MORE MEDIA EXPOSURE NEEDED
The TT Board said in a MotoGP statement on Thursday (June 25) that the change would bring more spectators to the event and increase media exposure.
"The decision to move the race to Sunday was made out of sheer necessity," it said. "The number of motorcycle grands prix around the world is limited and often there is more capital available elsewhere to obtain a MotoGP licence.
"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 five to 10% in the medium to long-term."
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