Francesco Bagnaia storms to fourth win of season ahead of Marco Bezzecchi in Assen with impressive showing

Francesco Bagnaia stormed to victory at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen and heads into the summer break with a 35-points championship advantage.

The Ducati rider took the lead on Lap 3 and gradually extended it to around one second to claim his fourth win of the season.

“It wasn’t easy because the riders behind me were pushing a lot and I tried to open up a gap,” Bagnaia said after the race. “I just managed that in the last laps and I finally allowed myself to breathe because I was on the limit.

“I love this track, I love this crowd and it’s fantastic to be here.”

Pole sitter Marco Bezzechi took the chequered flag in second while Brad Binder lost out on a podium in controversial circumstances. History repeated itself for the South African who crossed the line in third, but, for the second time in 24 hours, was demoted a position due to exceeding track limits. Aleix Espargaro found some great pace late in the race and inherited the spot on the rostrum.

Binder had a magnificent start and took the holeshot into Turn 1. Bagnaia claimed the lead on the third lap, but Binder continued to shadow the Ducati with Bezzecchi close behind him as the top three riders pulled away from the field.

When Bagnaia gradually edged away, Bezzecchi made a move for second stick to try hunt down his compatriot. Although he was unable to close the gap, he completed a very positive weekend in second. “I’m very happy,” the Italian said in parc ferme.

“I had contact with some riders at the start and lost time and when I was behind Brad, he was very strong on the brakes. It took me many laps to pass him and then Pecco was already too far away.

“I’m happy anyway because this weekend we worked in the best way we can and the fans were amazing, I love this place!”

Meanwhile, Espargaro, despite having suffered damage to his Aprilia’s aero in a collision at the start, was running some fantastic pace and closed in on Binder. Behind him, Jorge Martin also got ever faster as the race progressed and was within punching distance in the final stages.

Binder held on to second on the last lap while Espargaro crossed the line less than a hundredth of a second ahead of Martin. This proved crucial when Binder received his penalty and the podium position went to the Aprilia rider.

“In the right corners I had a strange feeling; there was a lot of shaking and it was difficult to stay on the bike,” Espargaro admitted post race. “It was not possible for me to overtake Brad, but I wanted to stay behind him and push him into a mistake.”

Temperatures were at the hottest they had been all weekend and many riders fell victim to the track conditions. Among them were Jack Miller, who crashed out going into Turn 1 on the second lap, and Fabio Quartararo who lost the front at Turn 7 and wiped out his compatriot Johann Zarco.

RIDER OF THE DAY – ALEIX ESPARGARO (APRILIA RACING)

Not many would have tipped the Spaniard for a podium finish today. He might have benefitted from Binder’s penalty to make the rostrum, but Espargaro’s late race pace and tenacity earned him the success.

Starting from sixth, Espargaro made contact with Luca Marini at lights out and suffered some damage to his Aprilia’s aero. Nevertheless, he pushed on, running in fourth throughout the race, and was on the pace in the closing stages.

The 33-year old moved up one position to eighth in the championship standings.

WHERE THE RACE WAS WON AND LOST

LAP 1/26: BINDER LEADS INTO TURN 1 – Binder makes a sensational start and flies past three Ducatis to claim the holeshot. Bagnaia chases the KTM in second with Bezzecchi just behind. Slight contact occurs between Espargaro and Marini with the Spaniard claiming fourth.

LAP 3/26: BAGNAIA TAKES P1 – Bagnaia stalks Binder and pounces when he gets the chance, diving down the inside to take the lead. He can’t shake the KTM off though.

LAP 6/26: TOP THREE BREAK AWAY – The top three riders are setting a hot pace at the front and break away from the rest of the field. The gap to Espargaro in fourth sits on around a second.

LAP 14/26: BREATHING SPACE FOR PECCO – A small error from Binder allows Bagnaia some breathing space and the Ducati rider gradually edges away at the front.

LAP 17/26: BEZ TAKES SECOND – Watching his compatriot disappear in the distance, Bezzecchi makes his move on Binder and fights off the South African’s attempts to retaliate.

LAP 23/26: ESPARGARO CATCHES UP – Espargaro is running excellent late race pace and is closing in on Binder. He has to keep an eye on the rider behind him as well though as Martin is getting ever faster in the late stages.

LAP 26/26: BAGNAIA WINS – No mistake on the final lap from Bagnaia who secures the win. Pole sitter Bezzecchi comes home in second while Binder rides the lap of his life to cross the line in third – he will lose a position due to exceeding track limits though. Espargaro just about manages to take the chequered flag ahead of Martin, inheriting the podium spot.