This weekend's World Superbike event at Assen may be pivotal in the series championship.

Assen is a bikes-only circuit that many call the best circuit in the world. It's also one of the oldest in Europe. It differs from the normal Euro-circuit in that the surface at Assen is crowned to allow water to dissipate from the surface quickly, which can make set-up tricky. 500-man Mick Doohan hated the place for his entire career, specifically because of the crowned, street-like circuit. "I'm surprised they don't have a pub on every corner," he said, emphasizing that it was too much like riding on the street.

One rider who didn't get on very well with Assen last season was fellow Australian Troy Bayliss. Bayliss was drafted into the Corse squad and thrown neck-deep into the pool as well. He tried to go fast at Assen but crashed in qualifying, and in each race. Now he leads the world championship. That record does not bode well for him this year, although Assen's races were soggy affairs last year.

The gap between championship leader Bayliss and suddenly on the gas challenger Colin Edwards II is a scant 24 points.

Edwards, from Texas, has some history at Assen of course, being a series regular since the mid 1990s. He qualified on the pole and won there last season, thus his record is a bit better than Bayliss'.

Strategy differs for them. Reigning world champion and former AMA 250 GP champion Edwards needs to win races and hope for a mistake from Bayliss. Bayliss needs to stay upright, and finish in front of Edwards. Bayliss and Ducati have the advantage now, with the 24 point gap, but Edwards has the momentum.

The Assen circuit is long, fast and challenging. If a rider makes a mistake it is doubtful he can make up for it later in his lap; worse, if it's a big mistake and may end up in the grass and on his back.

With two rounds and four races remaining, and 24 points separating the two title challengers, at this point a race crash or other type of DNF will be devastating to either Edwards or Bayliss, and might end their title hopes.

Last man upright at this point wins.

It'll be interesting to watch this contest between Ducati and Honda, Edwards and Bayliss, unfold.