Dutch Grand Prix TT Assen MotoGP Race: Viñales wins, Márquez manages, Quartararo on the podium

At the age of 20 years and 70 days, Fabio Quartararo became the youngest driver to score two poles in a row. Marc Márquez had until then acted as a reference with 20 years and 210 days, when he had won these poles at Silverstone and Misano. Incidentally, Fabio Quartararo is the second Frenchman to accomplish such a feat in the premier category after Christian Sarron, who managed to achieve five in 1988.

Beyond having taken pole in the Netherlands, the Niçois says he is confident about his pace, even if a packed race seems to be looming.

Is Fabio's first victory, especially on a satellite motorcycle, possible? Before answering this question, here is the table which recalls the facts.

Assen MotoGP™	2018	2019
FP1	1'34.227 Marc Márquez (see here)	1'33.909 Fabio Quartararo (see here)
FP2	1'33.378 Maverick Viñales (see here)	1'32.638 Maverick Viñales (see here)
FP3	1'33.341 Marc Márquez (see here)	1'32.471 Fabio Quartararo (see here)
FP4	1'33.954 Marc Márquez (see here)	1'32.952 Fabio Quartararo (see here)
QP1	1'33.578 Johann Zarco (see here)	1'32.710 Alex Rins (see here)
QP2	1'32.791 Marc Márquez (see here)	1'32.017 Fabio Quartararo (see here)
Warm Up	1'33.939 Marc Márquez (see here)
Course	Márquez, Rins, Vinales (see here)
All time lap record	1'32.627 Valentino Rossi (2015)	1'32.017 Fabio Quartararo

Since 2011, Honda and Yamaha have alternately shared success. Last year, the honors went to Marc Márquez. Maverick Vinales, ranked second on Saturday afternoon, had never appeared so well on the grid since the 2019 Argentine Grand Prix. This is, incidentally, the third time this season that he has been on the front row.

Alex Rins, forced to compete in Q1, completes the first row, which constitutes his best performance since Valencia 2018. In total, the Spaniard will have only reached the Top 3 twice in qualifying since his rise to MotoGP. He will make his 39th start.

Marc Márquez will lead the second row, this is the first time he will start from so 'far' this year. Since the start of this season, he had never left the front row.

Joan mir, the Suzuki official who is competing in his first season, signs his best result in qualifying with this fifth place. Andrea Dovizioso, currently second in the Championship, failed to reach the Top 10 for the second time this year after Austin and will start eleventh.

Despite an injured wrist, Pol Espargaro, already promoted six times in Q2, will occupy 12th place on the grid with his KTM. Valentino Rossi  will start from the middle of the fifth line. The last time he qualified so poorly at Assen was in 2006 when he was 18th on the grid.

24° in the air and 41° on the track are the conditions offered to drivers for 26 laps of the race. The question that always bothers us is the choice of tires. The two leading Yamahas are in medium hard like the official Ducati and Kidneys in hard Soft. Márquez is in medium soft.

Kidneys lead the way Mir et Quarterly which then goes through Casa Particular in Viñales at the limit and almost catching it. Márquez is fifth. Dovizioso the following. The latter gained five places from the start.

Kidneys lead the way, Mir holds the two Yamahas in the middle of a battle but Quarterly resists Casa Particular in Viñales very aggressive. But Márquez takes care of his case.

Kidneys crash on the second lap at turn 9. Mir leads a moment before Quarterly goes to the front. Vinales, Marquez et Dovizioso Suzuki's rookie also passes. Casa Particular in Viñales wants to Fabio et Márquez take the opportunity to pass it. zarco starting 18th is 12th. Behind Rossi.

The Doctor falls after 5 rounds. Nakagami is also down at turn 8. The two men clashed violently. The Japanese seems to be in pain.

Devant Quarterly stands up to Márquez with a Yamaha that steers a lot.

After 6 laps, the Frenchman from the Petronas team is still in control. Dovizioso is fourth behind Casa Particular in Viñales. zarco is tenth. And first KTM. Iannone is 13th and first Aprilia.

Casa Particular in Viñales wants to pass Márquez and gets agitated a lot. So much so that he makes mistakes and falls into the clutches of Dovizioso. After 9 rounds, Quarterly et Márquez get a little head start. Márquez passes after ten laps thanks to strong handling of the Yamaha Fabio. Casa Particular in Viñales returns to contact…

A lap later, Fabio passes again because Marquez made a drop of water at turn 1. Casa Particular in Viñales is in contact. The Yamaha Petronas moves a lot. zarco slips fourteenth behind Syahrin et Pol Espargaro.

At the halfway point, Dovizioso let go. The leading trio can concentrate on their battle. Casa Particular in Viñales pass Márquez in the chicane. Petrucci pass Dovizioso.

11 laps from the goal, this is the moment chosen by Casa Particular in Viñales to take the lead. Márquez also tries to pass Fabio, but the Frenchman resists. A turn later, he nevertheless had to put down his weapons.

9 laps from the goal, Casa Particular in Viñales et Márquez go to a duel. Fabio is unhooked. But he has enough lead to finish third. zarco abandoned.

Casa Particular in Viñales made a drop of water at turn 1. Marquez didn't ask for so much... But Casa Particular in Viñales returns to contact. And he comes back! Mir pass Dovi in agony. Mir is fourth and Dovi also passes Petrucci.

Abraham crash at turn 3. Five laps remain. victory seems promised to Casa Particular in Viñales before Márquez et Quarterly. Fourth place is coveted by the two official Ducatis and Mir.

Morbidely joins the party for fourth position. But under the checkered flag, she will return to Dovizioso before Morbidely et Petrucci. Casa Particular in Viñales brings victory to Yamaha, in front of a Márquez who is still doing well in the title race and Quarterly takes his second consecutive podium. Iannone is tenth ahead Pol Espargaro. Aprilia therefore beats KTM. Mir is eighth behind Crutchlow and in front Miller.

Quarterly ends physically in agony while holding the operated forearm…

Dutch Grand Prix TT Assen MotoGP Race: classification