At the halfway point of the championship and before the summer break, he extends his lead in the standings over his compatriot Zarco, who is also today’s best Ducati rider. Also on the podium is the other official Yamaha of Vinales, who, according to reports, will move to Aprilia next year, and the Suzuki of the reigning champion, Mir. Bagnaia was the protagonist of a great start and a beautiful race, but a long lap penalty cost him dearly: the Piedmontese finished 6th.
Beautiful victory for world leader Fabio Quartararo ahead of his teammate Maverick Vinales. Joan Mir also climbs onto the podium. The Frenchman from Yamaha dominated Assen and strengthened his global leadership, now leading by 34 points over Zarco, who finished fourth.
Except for the first laps battling with the great Pecco Bagnaia, Quartararo dictated the race, achieving his fourth win of the season: a triumphant race for Yamaha, with a double victory completed by poleman Maverick Vinales, second ahead of 2020 world champion Joan Mir on the Suzuki. Fifth was Miguel Oliveira on KTM.
Bagnaia’s start had been masterful, stuck to Quartararo – the favorite – with a very competitive pace, even overtaking him before the initial lap was finished: Ducati’s strategy seemed clear, not letting a Yamaha, which had been superior in all trials, dictate the pace.
But by the 7th lap, Quartararo had decided it was time to rebel: fast lap, first under 1’33”, overtaking, and a breakaway attempt over Bagnaia, soon widening the gap to over two seconds.
Quartararo visibly slowed at the end, but the lead was sufficient: he finished with 2 seconds and 7 tenths over his teammate, Maverick Vinales.
At the finish line, he embraced Mir. It looked like a passing of the torch between world champions.
Marc Marquez, who reconnected with victory in Germany after almost two years and the ordeal with his right arm, bravely interpreted the Assen GP: a painful race, consistently in the top 10, but the eight-time Honda champion in Germany had been clear in saying that “it’s the track more than the bike that helps me at the Sachsenring, it will be different in the Netherlands”. For him, a satisfying seventh place.
