MotoGP preview: Rd8, Assen

The MotoGP grid arrive in the Netherlands for the Dutch TT on July 1 in the shadow of one man: Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati).

After two dominant victories (here and here) in which the ‘Spartan’ was uncatchable and unmatchable, he’s now ahead of teammate Andrea Dovizioso in the championship for the first time since he joined the Borgo Panigale factory.

If he wins at Assen, he will become only the second Ducati rider to win three races in a row, after Aussie Casey Stoner. However, the Circuit van Drenthe hasn’t always been kind to the number 99, with Lorenzo having taken only one premier class win at the track, in 2010.

But for every bad memory, such as a broken collarbone sustained at the track in 2013, there’s a counterpoint…such as the Spaniard’s ride through the pain barrier that same weekend, taking a superhuman fifth place.

Dovizioso will want to reverse the swing of momentum within the garage, however. The number 04 doesn’t have the most impressive record at the track, but he may have an ace card if it rains, having always been one of the best in difficult conditions. That’s also often been true of the master of Assen, Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha), who has made the magic happen no less than 10 times. Penciled in as a threat at the Dutch track even before the season begins, the rider from Tavullia will be looking to paint the stands yellow.

In addition, as well as contributing ten wins to the ‘Doctor’’s stunning record, the TT Circuit Assen was also the stage of his most recent victory, taken in 2017. That’s the last time a Yamaha stood on the top step, and the Iwata marque – and Rossi – will be keen to update the season on that stat. With three podiums in a row, the stage is set.

His teammate Maverick Viñales will, like Dovizioso, want to strike back against the other side of the garage. And Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) will want to take his first podium of the season after a run of bad luck. But Assen hasn’t been the best for either – something not true of reigning champion and points leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda).

Will Marquez be racing to win? With a considerable lead in the championship, the number 93 just needs to keep bagging the points. But with Assen ‘Rossi territory’ in a way and already having staged a showdown between the two in 2015, will that be the blueprint? Or will it be 2016, when Marquez rode to a safe second behind a stunning maiden win for Australian Jack Miller?

“We’re coming off a good day of testing in Catalunya, but Assen is a much different track compared to Montmeló, so it will be very interesting to see how we go there,” said Marquez.

“So far we’ve been at a good level more or less everywhere and we’ve managed to get some good results at different circuits, so we’re also feeling positive going to Assen. I like the track, the ‘Cathedral’ of bike racing, and the fans are always very passionate there.

“It’s good to arrive with a little advantage in the Championship, but we’re very early in the season. There are several riders for whom the title is still possible, so we must just keep working and try to get the best result the situation allows.”

Miller (Alma Pramac Ducati) will be hoping for history to repeat itself. After two tougher rounds coming off the back of eight consecutive top 10 finishes, the Queenslander will be pushing hard to get back in the mix. But the race for top Independent Team rider will be hard fought once again – former Assen podium finishers, teammate Danilo Petrucci and LCR Honda Castrol rider Cal Crutchlow, will be tough to beat – as will Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3).

Then, finally, there’s that all-important battle for Rookie of the Year. Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS HOnda) leads as it stands, but Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) is close behind – can he take over at the TT Circuit Assen? Especially if fortunes favours the Malaysian rainmaster with the weather?

Watch magic and myth collide at the ‘Cathedral’ from Friday, June 29, with race day Sunday, July 1.. Gone are the days of racing on a Saturday and gone are the tree-lined lanes that formed the track – but the TT Circuit Assen remains drenched in history.