MotoGP, Marquez super at Assen: Sprint dominated. Bad Bagnaia who finishes 5th

Complicated Friday, less than brilliant qualifying: Marc Marquez's approach to the Assen Sprint was rather troubled. But, when it counts, the Spaniard shows off his best version and the short race becomes yet another triumphal ride for the Ducati rider, increasingly the leader of the MotoGP World Championship. It is his ninth success in 10 world championship rounds on the short distance. Assen does not change the script of the Sprint: behind Marc is his brother Alex, who consolidates his second place in the world standings. Well done Marco Bezzecchi, capable of taking his Aprilia to third place. Only fifth is Francesco Bagnaia.

The 13-lap Sprint opens with a great start by Marc Marquez. The Ducati rider climbs from fourth to second place and then, at the end of the first lap, successfully overtakes Fabio Quartararo, who was leading the race after starting from pole. Alex imitates him with the Ducati Gresini. The Marquez brothers take off. Only Bezzecchi gives the impression of keeping up the pace, even if, in the final, he has to raise the white flag. Alex recovers a lot of ground in the third sector, but Marc flies in the final part of the track and fends off every attack. The world championship leader manages well and signs the ninth Sprint.

The one who doesn't shine is Bagnaia. Pecco struggles from the first lap, dropping from second place on the grid to fifth place. The Ducati rider is unable to overtake Quartararo and halfway through the race he also gets overtaken by Di Giannantonio. The Ducati rider manages to take fifth place by taking advantage of Quartararo's fall, while the Frenchman was dueling for fourth place. Uncertainty in the final laps, when warnings rain down for having exceeded the track limits. Fermin Aldeguer and Pedro Acosta pay the price, penalized with a long lap penalty. The Gresini rider finishes seventh. Instead the KTM rider gets a three-second penalty for not having had the chance to serve the punishment and finishes ninth, the last position useful for the points zone. Franco Morbidelli is in between the two Spaniards, eighth.

The MotoGP Sprint finish order at Assen:

1 M. Marquez (Spa, Ducati) in 20'02”150

2 A. Marquez (Spa, Gresini Ducati) +0.351

3 Bezzecchi (Ita, Aprilia) +1,247

4 By Giannantonio (Ita, VR46 Ducati) +2.269

5 Bagnaia (Ita, Ducati) +2.686

6 Viñales (Spa, Tech3 KTM) +4.074

7 Aldeguer (Spa, Gresini Ducati) +9.064

8 Morbidelli (Ita, VR46 Ducati) +9.159

9 Acosta (Spa, KTM) +11.069

10 Binder (Saf, Ktm) +11.143

11 Zarco (Fra, Lcr Honda) +11.327

12 Oliveira (Por, Pramac Yamaha) +12,147

13 Bastianini (Ita, Tech3 Ktm) +15.290

14 Miller (Aus, Pramac Yamaha) +15,899

15 Rins (Spa, Yamaha) +15.990

16 Savadori (Ita, Aprilia) +16,707

17 Ogura (Japan, Trackhouse Aprilia) +17,554

18 Espargaro (Spa, Honda) +27.287

19 Chantra (Thai, Lcr Honda) +32,441

Retired: Quartararo (Fra, Yamaha), R. Fernandez (Spa, Trackhouse Aprilia), Mir (Spa, Honda)

This is the top 5 of the World Championship after the Sprint at Assen:

1 M. Marquez (Spa, Ducati) 282 points

2 A. Marquez (Spa, Gresini Ducati) 239

3 Bagnaia (Ita, Ducati) 165

4 Morbidelli (Ita, VR46 Ducati) 130

5 By Giannantonio (Ita, VR46 Ducati) 126