Over 200,000 fans at the Dutch Grand Prix witnessed a considerable shake-up in the MotoGP World Championship as Marc Márquez extended his lead with a win at TT Circuit Assen. Marco Bezzecchi took second, crashing on the cool-down lap, while Francesco Bagnaia took a well-earned third position to boost his confidence and championship points. There were wins and losses for the Márquez family, and we have the full breakdown as the race ran.
Warming Up Before Race Start
The big talk before the race began surrounded the front tyre choice for the race. Most riders were tipped to take the hard front tyre, but could a gamble pay off if someone chose the softer tyre? Enea Bastianini was sent back three places for his disruptive riding in qualifying. All other grid positions were reset after yesterday’s Tissot Sprint results, meaning Fabio Quartararo had another shot at the podium. He was going to race in style with the other Yamaha riders, all sporting a shiny white replica livery from 1999.
While we waited for the race to start, we were treated to an amplified choir cover performance of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” as part of the celebrations for the 100th Anniversary of the TT Circuit Assen. An AC/DC rock concert performance by singer Elske Dewall followed that, who then sang the Dutch national anthem.
Drama to Begin 26 Laps
Quartararo fell back instantly from first to seventh as the Ducati riders, Bagnaia, M.Márquez, and Álex Márquez, got away wicked fast off the line. Miguel Oliveira and Ai Ogura came together in Sector 1, ending a weekend that the Japanese rider will want to forget quickly. Lorenzo Savadori went down in the same sector a few laps later on the Aprilia. Bezzecchi was keeping his upright in third, fending off Pedro Acosta and Á. Márquez as they battled it out. The latter lost that battle as his bike locked up in Sector 2, and he was taken to the medical centre for a left-hand fracture. Very shortly afterwards, his Gresini teammate, Fermín Aldeguer, suffered a violent high-side crash, tangling with Joan Mir around Turns 7 and 8.
The Cathedral of Speed Challenges All
The initial polesitter, Quartararo, continued to fall to the back with his teammate, Álex Rins, with Australian rider Jack Miller becoming the leading Yamaha at the half-distance mark. M. Márquez held onto the first position, followed closely by Bezzecchi and Acosta, but gaps started to form. The other Ducati Lenovo rider, Bagnaia, split the front three runners and the back three of Franco Morbidelli, Maverick Viñales, and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Bagnaia was able to move past Acosta, dragging the KTM along in the slipstream and setting the fastest lap of the race.
The Battle for Points
Bastinini, Brad Binder, Quartararo, and Miller found themselves packed together in a battle for the ninth position. Morbidelli incurred a long lap penalty for taking a shortcut in the chicane as he was battling with his Pertamina Enduro VR46 teammate for sixth. The track infringement warnings started to appear for a handful of riders, including race leader M. Márquez.
Final Lap Ends With Important Points Gained
The only way M.Márquez, Bezzecchi, or Bagnaia were going to change their positions was if they crashed out in the final moments, with the gaps between the three increasing. Luckily, it was smooth sailing for the podium finishers, and it made win sixty-eight for the Spanish Ducati rider. Considering how his Dutch GP began, it is an impressive achievement to set.
The Top Ten Scorers
As we reach the halfway point of the 2025 season, there are two significant points of conversation throughout the MotoGP paddock. The first is which Márquez, the #93 or the #73, will pull ahead to become world champion. The younger one may miss the Sachsenring with that fracture; the German track is a tough one to race even without a fracture injury. The only other contender for the crown is Bagnaia unless a major incident pulls the brothers out for the rest of the season.
The second major news concerns the relationship between Jorge Martín and the Aprilia factory team. Both sides appear to be at opposite ends, with the possibility that the contract may be taken to court to find a resolution. Meanwhile, Honda is waiting patiently to start negotiations. There is no word yet as to when the reigning MotoGP World Champion will make his second return. Could we see a Martín comeback at the Liqui Moly Grand Prix of Germany? Watch this space.