MotoGP 2015 Motul TT Assen : the Doctor rules Assen

The TT Assen Circuit, more popularly known as the Cathedral by race fans, has been hosting races since its creation in 1925. The MotoGP series makes its way to this city in the northeastern Netherlands.

Plagued with poor qualifying in previous races, Valentino Rossi now has gotten the kinks out and will start from pole in Assen. The seven-time world champion and Movistar Yamaha rider looked excited ahead of the race start. Alongside the Italian was Aleix Espargaro on board the Suzuki while defending champion Marc Marquez in the Repsol Honda took P3, 0.200 seconds back of Vale. Fellow Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa slotted in at P4, Pol Espargaro took P5, while Ducati rider Andrea Iannone rounded up the second row. Jorge Lorenzo was back in 8th and had a lot of ground to overcome if he wanted to ensure that the fight for the championship remained close.

At the start, Rossi made a clean start, leading the pack into turn 1. Marquez also mixed it up in the front, but it was Lorenzo who made the best start of the race. Before turn 2, Jorge was already up to P5, and a lap later the Spaniard was up to P3 behind Marquez and Rossi. Lorenzo was gunning for the win.

The Repsol Honda engineers seemed to have sorted out the gremlins in their engine and gave Marquez a bike worthy of running with both the Yamahas. This allowed Marquez to keep the pressure on Rossi. While Jorge Lorenzo was slowly dropping away from the fight up front, making Marquez’s life all that much easier. He didn’t need to worry about a charge from Jorge and only Rossi up in front was the target. All he had to do was reel in Vale and look for the perfect corner to pass. The Yamaha was strong at the straights and using a new chassis, was very agile in the chicanes. The Honda, on the other hand, was better under braking. This was something Marquez needed badly to overcome the power of the Yamaha. Marc was cautious at the beginning, for he knew that the 27-lap race will offer a lot of overtaking opprtunities.

With the exception of a few passes in the mid-field, the race went on. But with seven laps to go, things started to heat up. Marc, hounding Rossi since lap 1, braked late into a corner and jumped Vale for the lead. The move was helped by Rossi stepping out of the track onto the astroturf, and when he rejoined, Marc was right alongside.

It was now Rossi’s turn to sniff the exhaust of the Honda. Marc held postion for a few laps, until the time when the Doctor saw his chance. Vale braked late and dove inside of Marc, this move got the 90,000 strong fans in the grandstands up on their feet in jubillation. The 36 year-old still has it.

Rossi was now extending his lead going into the penultimate lap. On the last lap, Marquez was hounding Valentino, and in the last corner Marc pressured Rossi off the track. Both bikes touched and the Doctor was left with no option but to use the gravel trap. The Italian made it through, and, crossed the line ahead of Marquez. Jorge Lorenzo was a distant 3rd.

Rossi maintained his lead in the standings at 163 points, 10 points clear of his team mate. Ducati rider Andrea Iannone retained 3^rd. With Marquez taking second in the race, the defending champion vaulted to 4th past Andrea Dovizioso to keep his championship hopes alive.

The Sachsenring is next on the calendar. All eyes are now focused on both the Yamahas. Will it be Vale or Jorge taking the silverware in Germany? Or will the Hondas with their new found power run past the Movistar Yamahas?

The Go-Pro Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland is on July 12, 2015.