MotoGP: One classic in the first back-to-back is done and now another lies ahead – Assen, welcoming MotoGP since 1949.
Out with the renaissance, in with the tulips. From the euphoria of Mugello we head for the history of Assen as the Netherlands welcomes us for Round 10. There’s a snapshot of history at every turn, where battles have been a staple in this part of the world for a century and MotoGP has raced since our very first season in 1949. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) leads the charge to Assen – another one of his teammate Francesco Bagnaia’s happy hunting grounds. Will they repeat their showdown from Mugello?
THE TOP THREE: the gloves are off
Mugello was an opportunity for Bagnaia to assert himself as a contender against Marquez in the Championship but now, more than 100 points back, he needs some answers on the way to Assen as he tries to get one over his teammate. Marc Marquez’s record at Assen isn’t as sparkling as Bagnaia’s, with two wins from 2014 and 2018 against the #63’s three wins on the last three Sunday’s at ‘The Cathedral of Speed’. In between both in the standings, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) was second at Mugello but has never had a top five at Assen – something he corrected on Italian soil a week ago when faced with the same stat. 40 points ahead of his brother, Marc will leave as Championship leader regardless of Dutch results.
ASSEN SPECIALISTS: Bezzecchi, Quartararo seek podiums
The battle behind is intensifying as well, with Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) giving away points over the course of last weekend at Mugello to teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio. It could be more of the same at Assen, with ‘Diggia’ securing a double top five last year whilst two P9s were what Morbidelli brought home.For Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), Assen has special memories with pole, a Sprint win and P2 on Sunday in 2023 and Aprilia are also competitive there, so they’ll hope for a podium charge after a solid Mugello. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) hopes to rekindle some magic after Mugello woes, with Assen being the scene of victory in 2021 and somewhere already earmarked as a venue likely to reward Yamaha. Having looked strong at Mugello but not finishing on Sunday, Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) is another rider who enjoys at Assen and has been the benchmark KTM throughout the majority of our European tour.
TOP 6 CONTENDERS: new names join familiar faces in the top ten
That said, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) remains 23 points ahead of Quartararo in the standings and despite struggling last year, will be optimistic of improvements in 2025. Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) struggled to find the groove at Mugello but Assen was the scene of pole and P2 last year in Moto2™. There’s then the Trackhouse MotoGP Team pairing of Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez, both inside the top ten at Mugello and in good form. Fernandez was seventh last time out whilst Ogura battled to P10 on his comeback ride; don’t sleep on either of them to make waves.
OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES: Assen, a round to bounce back
Johann Zarco remains sixth in the standings but a double DNF at Mugello after a tricky Aragon have left the #5 dropping points across the last two rounds – he took his first MotoGP pole back in 2017 at Assen but is yet to take a podium; a top ten return will likely suffice this weekend for the CASTROL Honda LCR rider. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was a solid P9 on Sunday at Mugello and has been a podium contender in previous years at Assen; in need of a strong qualifying, he’ll hope that he’s further up the order again in the Netherlands. Fellow KTM rider Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) didn’t see the chequered flag on Sunday last weekend and seeks redemption this time out, whereas Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) hopes for a top ten return after an under-the-radar weekend at Mugello.
COMPLETING THE FIELD: stars seek redemption and housekeeping for Round 10
Miguel Oliveira’s (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) best result of the year came last time out; teammate Jack Miller was a retiree but comes to the place of his heroic first MotoGP win in 2016. Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) will race at Assen with Yamaha for the first time having missed last season’s Dutch GP and Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) continues chasing his first points in the class. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) is still out injured and replaced by Aleix Espargaro on this occasion – who has some good Assen form – and Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) is in the saddle for Jorge Martin.
No venue has hosted MotoGP more times than Assen, whatever layout that may well have been. A whole country embracing the most exciting sport on Earth, past, present and future. A legacy venue which has welcomed just about every star this sport has ever seen, the last weekend in June can only mean one thing… we’re ready for another stunning show at the TT Circuit Assen.
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