'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It was absolute domination from two World Champions. The Doctor finished the race with surgical precision, and now has his 8th podium of the year of eight races, cementing his lead in the drivers’ standings. The MotoGP at Assen in the Netherlands was really only a contest between Rossi and currently reigning champion Marc Marquez, who put in an absolutely solid show following consecutive crashes at the MotoGPs at Mugello and Catalunya.
Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi’s teammate at Movistar Yamaha MotoGP was fresh off four consecutive wins ahead of the Grand Prix of the Netherlands. He had a slow day at Qualifying yesterday, beginning the race in the third row at 8th spot. He came back very strongly, however, to finish on the podium and maintain his own contention for the World Drivers’ Championships. Teammate Rossi has lengthened his lead, however. Prior to the GP at Assen, Lorenzo was only one point behind the Italian, who is now 10 points ahead.
This race also cements Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s lead in the constructors’ rankings, with the team head and shoulders ahead of all others.
Rossi, who tends to be a slow qualifier but finishes strongly, absolutely blitzed through both this race. With the lead in both Free Practice 1 and 3, Rossi took pole at Qualifying yesterday, although Marquez then had the fastest lap.
It is the 36-year-old’s seventh MotoGP win at the track.
Ducati’s Andrea Iannone, who had his career first pole at Mugello this season, finished with high points in 4th, and is currently third in the drivers’ standings behind Movistar Yamaha’s Lorenzo. Iannone leads reigning Champion Marquez, who is 4th in the standings, by 18 points.
Marquez does not now appear to be in competition for the title, with Movistar Yamaha MotoGP teammates Rossi and Lorenzo the most significant contenders in terms of points.
The closing laps of the race were by far some of the most exciting of MotoGP in a while. Rossi and Marquez, who were the only two in competition for the win, had a half-second gap between them, and shuffled between first and second for the last 12 laps. While it appeared at one point that Rossi had a significant lead, Marquez expertly handled a chicane, maneuvering through it to overtake Rossi.
The Spaniard’s lead was smaller than Rossi’s, however. Although Marquez maintained this lead for a fair number of laps, Rossi, with four laps to go in the race, caught Marquez out on the final chicane, overtaking him and holding firmly onto his lead until the end of the race, when he appeared to bump the younger champion slightly as he turned.
A tense, closely-contested race, all attention at the Assen MotoGP was focussed on the Battle of the Champions.
The MotoGP of Germany will be held next at the Sachsenring in Germany, and will get underway on the 12th of July. That title is currently held by Marquez.
