Photo: motogp.com
Repsol Honda’s top rider Marc Marquez keeps on rewriting the history books as he claimed his 8th win in just as many rounds in 2014, being the first fellow to win the first 8 races in a championship since Giacomo Agostini’s 1971 performance.
The Dutch round was a really crazy one, as the weather played a very important role in the whole on-track strategy. Though starting as a wet race under the heavy menacing clouds, the Assen circuit became dry enough to prompt riders to make a pass through the pit lane and swap bikes equipped with slick tires. Rossi seems to have been the big loser in the weather game, as his decisions had him starting from pit lane. He was able to make up for a lot of ground prior to swapping back to slicks.
Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso stepped on the second position of the podium after leading the race for several laps and finally having to let Marquez pass him. Rumors are already brewing about Ducati having instructed Dovizioso to make it look like there was nothing better to be done out there, and avoid winning the race, a thing which would lead to “sanctions” as far as engine development and management is concerned. It’s rather rad to believe that Dovi’s Ducati became that good overnight…
Dani Pedrosa was third after managing to fend off Aleix Espagaro, who had a truly great weekend, with his first-ever pole position and who ended up in the 4th place. Rossi climbed back to claim the 5th position at Assen, while the top ten was rounded up with Andrea Iannone for Ducati, Alvaro Bautista, Bradley Smith, Cal Cruthlow and Stefan Bradl. Good to see Crutchlow not betrayed by his Ducati and managing to finish a race with decent points to his name.
A very pleasant surprise came from Paul Bird Motorsport’s Broc parkes. The Australian rider had a marvelous race and finished in the 11th position, ahead of Scott Redding and Jorge Lorenzo. Pol Espargaro crashed and did not finish the race.
With the max points available to this moment (200), marc Marquez looks like heading for a brighter future. He is followed in the world ranking by Valentino Rossi (128), who has been caught up by Dani Pedrosa. Dovizioso sits in 4th with 91 points, 10 more than Jorge Lorenzo. Alexi Espargaro is still the best-placed Open class rider with 67 points, and if the 2013 runner-up is not picking up the pace, we might just get to see the Forward Yamaha rider all over his rear wheel, so to speak.
One more race until the summer break kicks off, at the Sachsenring circuit in the former East Germany, with action unfolding July 11-13. Contract rumors and deals being intensely negotiated to most likely follow.
Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso stepped on the second position of the podium after leading the race for several laps and finally having to let Marquez pass him. Rumors are already brewing about Ducati having instructed Dovizioso to make it look like there was nothing better to be done out there, and avoid winning the race, a thing which would lead to “sanctions” as far as engine development and management is concerned. It’s rather rad to believe that Dovi’s Ducati became that good overnight…
Dani Pedrosa was third after managing to fend off Aleix Espagaro, who had a truly great weekend, with his first-ever pole position and who ended up in the 4th place. Rossi climbed back to claim the 5th position at Assen, while the top ten was rounded up with Andrea Iannone for Ducati, Alvaro Bautista, Bradley Smith, Cal Cruthlow and Stefan Bradl. Good to see Crutchlow not betrayed by his Ducati and managing to finish a race with decent points to his name.
A very pleasant surprise came from Paul Bird Motorsport’s Broc parkes. The Australian rider had a marvelous race and finished in the 11th position, ahead of Scott Redding and Jorge Lorenzo. Pol Espargaro crashed and did not finish the race.
With the max points available to this moment (200), marc Marquez looks like heading for a brighter future. He is followed in the world ranking by Valentino Rossi (128), who has been caught up by Dani Pedrosa. Dovizioso sits in 4th with 91 points, 10 more than Jorge Lorenzo. Alexi Espargaro is still the best-placed Open class rider with 67 points, and if the 2013 runner-up is not picking up the pace, we might just get to see the Forward Yamaha rider all over his rear wheel, so to speak.
One more race until the summer break kicks off, at the Sachsenring circuit in the former East Germany, with action unfolding July 11-13. Contract rumors and deals being intensely negotiated to most likely follow.
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