Starting from pole position in Assen, Fabio Quartararo was unable to fulfill his hopes. The Frenchman finished tenth in a complicated Grand Prix, marked by a loss of grip and several incidents. Johann Zarco, on the other hand, settled for twelfth place.
The 2025 Dutch Grand Prix MotoGP, held this Sunday at the TT Assen circuit, was meant to be a special day for Yamaha. To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the manufacturer, the riders of the Japanese brand sported a special livery. Fabio Quartararo, in pole position, hoped to make a lasting impression.
But right from the start, the Nice-born rider lost ground. Fifth at the end of the first lap, he then dropped in the rankings. Marco Bezzecchi, Pedro Acosta, and then Franco Morbidelli successively passed him. The beginning of the race was tough.
On the fifth lap, a spectacular crash involving Fermín Aldeguer and Joan Mir forced Fabio Quartararo to widen his trajectory to avoid a collision. He dropped back to 14th place. “I found myself stuck behind a group of riders. I think my pace was three or four tenths faster,” he explained at the finish of the Grand Prix.
The Yamaha rider climbed a few positions in the second half of the race. He crossed the line in tenth position. A result below his expectations. On Saturday, he had already crashed during the sprint race.
The overall performance of the Yamaha team remains subdued. None of its riders managed to finish in the top places. A disappointing observation for a weekend the team hoped would be symbolic. “We are just as much struggling in the first laps with grip, where we are… pff we are terrible,” admitted El Diablo, frustrated, on Canal+.
Johann Zarco struggles but stays behind
Johann Zarco, riding the Honda LCR, had shown an aggressive side on Saturday during the sprint race. Starting 10th on the grid, he gained several positions in the first corners. Despite this good start, he finished 11th. “I’m happy, the start was good, it’s positive,” he noted on Saturday evening.
This Sunday, the rider from Cannes briefly rose in the rankings, even reaching 9th place. He ultimately finished 12th. “I gave my best, but the top 10 was hard to reach.”
Johann Zarco continues to face the limits of his machine, especially in the fast sections of the Dutch circuit. However, he remains confident for the future. “With the medium rear tire and more laps, I can have an advantage,” he estimates.
The two riders from the Alpes-Maritimes leave Assen without a notable result. They will need to bounce back in 15 days in Germany at the winding Sachsenring circuit.
