Cycle News Staff | June 30, 2024
Sunday MotoGP Race
Francesco Bagnaia’s Motul TT Assen couldn’t have been better. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider did the double from pole, with a Sunday masterclass cutting the Championship deficit to just 10 points as Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) was forced to follow him home and focus on limiting the damage. Bagnaia is the first rider to win three successive MotoGP™️ Grand Prix races in a single season since he did it in 2022 with four in a row from Assen to Misano, it’s his third win in a row at the TT Circuit Assen, and he equals Casey Stoner’s 23 wins with Ducati to tie the MotoGP™ Legend as the two most successful riders with the Borgo Panigale factory. All that said, Martin will now look to use his right of reply in Germany.
Meanwhile, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) charged up from a tougher qualifying to complete the podium, denying Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing). Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was also denied after crossing the line in fourth, with a tyre pressure penalty dropping him to P10.
Francesco Bagnaia was utterly dominant at Assen.
As the lights went out, Bagnaia nailed the start to take the holeshot, with Viñales just holding onto second to deny Martin. Still, the #89 launched it to near perfection from his P5 after that three-place penalty, and soon enough he did get it done to take over in second. Marc Marquez, meanwhile, was on the march and soon put his own moves on Viñales to slot into third.
That duo stayed glued together as the battle behind was hotting up. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) had shot up past front-row starter Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), but soon it was Di Giannantonio on the move, and he made it past Acosta at Turn 1, caught the Marquez-Viñales duo and then pounced on the Aprilia at the final chicane. Next up: #MM93.
By 19 to go, the yellow flash of the VR46 machine went past, but with Marquez also seeming to gesture at the Italian and make it a little easier for him too. Expecting to have been in a group fight and set up for it? Wanting a reference to follow? Either way, the two Ducatis stayed close together, with Viñales on their tail and Acosta on his. Lap by lap, however, Bastianini was cutting the deficit to the podium battle.
Jorge Martin had to settle for second again and see his title lead shrink further.
He made it past the rookie by nine to go, and a lap later the group shuffled again. Diggia was wide, Marc Marquez didn’t seem to want to take advantage, and Viñales shot past both. Bastianini was then right on that trio once again, and by seven to go was past Diggia. A lap later he did a near carbon copy on Marquez to take over in fourth, with a bit of a closer racing kiss for the #93, who headed wide but recovered it in time to keep Di Giannantonio at bay. At the time, anyway, before the two started duelling, Acosta got involved once more, and it looked like Viñales and Bastianini had disappeared up the road. But not so.
At the final chicane, the ‘Beast’ struck for the podium and got past Viñales with four full laps remaining, and from there the group couldn’t quite stay with him. By the penultimate lap it then looked like a Viñales-Marquez duel for the podium, but there was still drama to come.
On the final lap, Acosta slid out at Turn 7, and then Viñales headed just wide enough to allow Marquez through, leaving it an Aprilia-VR46 drag to the line for fifth instead. But when all is judged and confirmed, Viñales was forced to drop one position due to exceeding track limits at the chicane, promoting Diggia to fifth, and then the tyre pressure penalty for Marquez saw the #93 drop to P10.
Enea Bastianini (23) had to fight through so many riders he lost count on his way to third.
When the dust settles, Bagnaia’s masterclass puts the cherry on top of a weekend that saw him top every session bar Warm Up, but Martin took a valuable second. Bastianini takes back-to-back podiums to recover from a P10 qualifying, and it’s Diggia classified fourth ahead of Viñales, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) taking P6 after a quiet but valuable ride. Alex Marquez takes P7 ahead of a solid result for Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) in eighth, with Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) next up ahead of the #93 completing the top ten. Check out the full results below.
Unfortunately, one piece of tougher news on the grid was for Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), who suffered a big crash at Turn 1 and was declared unfit for a right wrist fracture.
2024 Dutch MotoGP Results—Sunday MotoGP Race
| 1 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
|
| 2 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+3.676 |
| 3 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+7.073 |
| 4 |
Marc Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+7.868 |
| 5 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) |
+8.299 |
| 6 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+8.399 |
| 7 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+16.146 |
| 8 |
Alex Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+21.236 |
| 9 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Trackhouse Racing) |
+22.509 |
| 10 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+23.554 |
Sunday Moto2 Race
In Triumph’s 100th race powering Moto2™, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) claimed a second victory of 2024 as a tense fight for victory played out between the Japanese star, second place Fermin Aldeguer (Folladore SpeedUp) and Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) at the Motul TT Assen.
Ogura grabbed the holeshot from his first front row start of the season but by Turn 5, Aldeguer pounced into the race lead. The #54 clicked into his groove immediately and was a second clear of the chasers by Lap 5, as Garcia – having dropped to P5 – then carved his way up to P2.
Ogura (79) made the most of Aldeguer’s (54) Long Lap penalty to take a close win.
For the next few laps, the gap stabilised at just over a second with Garcia and Ogura edging clear of Alonso Lopez (Folladore SpeedUp), who in turn had a train of Kalex riders in tow, including Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) and Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team).
With 11 to go, Ogura passed teammate Garcia for P2 following a small mistake from the latter, with Aldeguer’s lead now up to 1.6s. Then, with nine laps left, Aldeguer was handed a Long Lap penalty for exceeding track limits. Once completed, Aldeguer dropped behind Ogura and Garcia, with the top three now split by 0.8s with six laps to go.
With four to go, a blanket could cover the top trio. It was Ogura vs Garcia vs Aldeguer for victory, but Garcia then made a mistake at the start of Lap 20 of 22 to see him drop 1.5s off the 25-point haul fight. Heading onto the last lap, it was Ogura vs Aldeguer. The Japanese rider unearthed a stellar last lap to pull clear of the Spaniard to win for the second time in three races, with Aldeguer settling for P2 and Garcia crossing the line in a lonely P3.
Dixon led the Kalex charge with a solid P4, with Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) completing the top five as we look forward to next weekend’s German GP.
2024 Dutch Moto2 Results—Sunday Moto2 Race
| 1 |
Ai Ogura |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
|
| 2 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Folladore SpeedUp) |
+0.571 |
| 3 |
Sergio Garcia |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+4.252 |
| 4 |
Jake Dixon |
(CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) |
+8.985 |
| 5 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) |
+9.949 |
| 6 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+10.069 |
| 7 |
Marcos Ramirez |
(OnlyFans American Racing Team) |
+12.488 |
| 8 |
Alonso Lopez |
(Folladore SpeedUp) |
+12.592 |
| 9 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) |
+12.734 |
| 10 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+12.986 |
Sunday Moto3 Race
Until the final time into the final chicane, Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Intact Husqvarna GP) looked set to take home glory at the Motul TT Assen, but Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) had other ideas. The Spaniard led the early stages and the Dutchman the latter, but by the final lap it was a duel for Dutch TT honours – and Ortola went round the outside into the chicane to grab the glory by just 0.012.
David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) completed the podium after overhauling Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Championship leader David Alonso (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team).
Ivan Ortola broke Dutch hearts with an ultra-close win in Moto3.
After Ortola and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) led the way in the initial stages, Veijer brought the group back onto the duo. By nine to go it was a true Moto3™ battle, with Veijer moving through to the lead, and the Dutchman then started to get the hammer down himself to make a gap. But as the pack shuffled, Ortola picked his way back into second and was able to claw back the deficit to Veijer, setting the stage for a duel.
As the final lap began, Ortola was right on the rear wheels of the home hero, and the two were in a private battle with a second in hand on the rest. The move came at the final chicane as the Spaniard went round the outside to steal it, with Veijer then trying to get him back on the drag to the line. He almost did as they crossed the line side-by-side, but Ortola took it by just 0.012.
The masterclass is the #48’s first win of the year, for Veijer its his fourth podium in 2024. For both, it’s points gained in the title fight too. After Alonso came home fifth and fellow frontrunner Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) took P12, Alonso’s lead is now down to 39 points and ahead of Veijer.
2024 Dutch Moto3 Results—Sunday Moto3 Race
| 1 |
Ivan Ortola |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
|
| 2 |
Collin Veijer |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.012 |
| 3 |
David Muñoz |
(BOE Motorsports) |
+2.197 |
| 4 |
Jose Antonio Rueda |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+2.430 |
| 5 |
David Alonso |
(CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) |
+2.460 |
| 6 |
Luca Lunetta |
(SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+2.487 |
| 7 |
Adrian Fernandez |
(Leopard Racing) |
+2.531 |
| 8 |
Angel Piqueras |
(Leopard Racing) |
+2.689 |
| 9 |
Stefano Nepa |
(LEVELUP – MTA) |
+2.877 |
| 10 |
Ryusei Yamanaka |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+2.932 |
2024 Dutch MotoGP News—Saturday
Yamaha tries new engine
Yamaha runners Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins had a new engine to try in Assen. The motor didn’t have the desired effect, with the Frenchman still complaining of an overly aggressive bike.
One positive on the horizon? This engine was one of two tested at Valencia last week. The other, which should be available after the summer break, made the M1 a good deal easier to ride.
New motor still no dice for Fabio, but a better one is coming after the break.
“We had two, explained Quartararo of the test. “The ’24, this one and another one. in this track we don’t really feel the improvement of the new engine. (The newer one) improved a lot on agility and turning and I think this will be a big, big help for the future.”
Quartararo, meanwhile, was pleased with Yamaha’s more aggressive working method. “(In the past) if we tested an engine in Valencia on Friday we would never have the opportunity to have it here for each rider. Normally it would’ve been testing and then maybe for Silverstone. We are going much faster. Plus we have clearer ideas, we have direction.”
Honda in delay
By contrast Honda’s riders are still awaiting significant updates after acknowledging it had taken the wrong development direction earlier in the year.
“Maybe in September there we will make a step,” said Joan Mir. “Not the definitive one, but probably a big one and we will also understand the direction for next year. That is the thing,
Luca Marini’s face says it all in the Honda pit box.
the direction that they want to take is very interesting. So this season we’ve been a bit unlucky because with one engine character that we – that looks like was pretty good in in Sepang Test then was giving us a lot of unexpected problems. So we had to come back. The engineers had to work on that, not on developing and we lost a bit of time there.”
Mir also admitted he is close to extending his stay at Repsol Honda for another two years.
“I still have the feeling that if I leave I will be failing on this project because when another rider on the past left this project he was with some good results on the past and it’s not my case. I don’t have a good result on with this team and I would have a different feeling that if I leave.”
Saturday MotoGP Sprint Race
Francesco Bagnaia’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) statement weekend at the Motul TT Assen continued on Saturday afternoon as the reigning Champion took the Tissot Sprint win – making it back-to-back victories on Saturday afternoon for the first time in his career. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) followed him home in second to limit the damage in the standings, but the two are now split by just 15 points. The pressure amped up further at the end of Saturday’s action too, with Martin handed a 3-place grid penalty for Sunday after being deemed to have been slow on line and disturbed Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) in qualifying.
Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) completed the Sprint podium as his speed at the Cathedral continued, with drama hitting for Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) as he slid out early on.
Pecco made it look easy with a comfortable Sprint Race win.
As the lights went out, Bagnaia held on to the holeshot from pole, with Martin keeping second but Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) attacking and taking over in third. That put Viñales on the attack to take it back, but by the end of Lap 2 the Aprilia had homed back in and shot past at the chicane.
Meanwhile, that drama had hit for Marc Marquez. On the tail of that duel, the #93 overcooked it and suddenly slid out, no way to get back in it and forced to watch the Sprint from the sidelines.
Back at the front, Bagnaia had the hammer down. Still, the gap was hovering around seven tenths, going up and down here and there as Martin held on. But by seven to go, it was the gap back to Viñales the #89 had to watch instead, with Bagnaia edging clear and the Aprilia homing in.
Martin responded quickly, however, pulling it back out to a second – but it didn’t get him any closer to Bagnaia. The top three were in a holding pattern just as the battle behind them was starting to heat up.
Martin (89) tried to hang onto Bagnaia but the World Champion rode away in the later stages.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had been on the tail of Alex Marquez since Viñales got back past the #73, but by half distance the two had some company: a queue of Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) had arrived on the scene.
Once there, Bastianini struck quick, past Binder and then immediately glued to the rear of Alex Marquez. The ‘Beast’ stalked him round the rest of the lap and then attacked at the chicane, taking over in fourth and pulling away. The #73 was then given a Long Lap for track limits, and soon after there was another key move in the group, also at the chicane, with Diggia attacking Binder. The VR46 rider headed a little wide, both affected but keeping it pinned, just as Alex Marquez had suffered his own little wobble. Into Turn 1 for the final lap, the net result was Diggia leading Espargaro leading Binder, with the #73 dropping to the back of the gaggle and still with that Long Lap to serve.
Vinales got the better of a gnarly fight to claim the final podium place in third.
Up ahead, there were no dramas for the top three. No one had an answer for Bagnaia as the reigning Champion won his second Sprint in a row for the first time ever, and Martin took an important second place as the Championship gap just starts to get closer once more. Viñales’ podium is another positive as he looks to better it on Sunday and beat Aprilia’s best MotoGP™ result at Assen as yet: third.
Bastianini took that P4 after his charge up from outside the top ten on the grid, and in the grand battle behind, Diggia completed the top five ahead of Binder. After not taking it in the remaining laps, Alex Marquez’ LLP was converted into the equivalent time second penalty and drops him down the order to eighth – moving Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) up into seventh, from P13 on the grid. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) completed the Sprint point scorers, with rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) losing out in P10.
Espargaro slid out fast late on, losing his chance at that battle to the flag and heading for a check up. He will be reviewed on Sunday morning before Warm Up.
2024 Dutch MotoGP Results—Saturday Sprit Race
| 1 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
|
| 2 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+2.355 |
| 3 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+4.103 |
| 4 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+6.377 |
| 5 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) |
+8.869 |
| 6 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+9.727 |
| 7 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team) |
+10.828 |
| 8 |
Alex Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+13.196 |
| 9 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+13.560 |
| 10 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+15.972 |
MotoGP Qualifying
On Thursday, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) predicted a 1:30.899 as the pole position time at the Motul TT Assen, and on Saturday he proved himself very, lap-record-smashed wrong. His actual time around the iconic TT Circuit Assen is stunning 1:30.540 to take his first pole of 2024, and even then it was only enough to deny key title rival Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) by 0.081s as the duo head the grid.
The two then have a little breathing space ahead of Maverick Viñales as the Aprilia Racing rider completes the front row, 0.330s further back, although the #12 was the only rider within Bagnaia’s postcode for much of the weekend until Q2. He’ll be looking to turn the duel into a group battle from the off.
Easy peasy for Pecco’s pole position.
Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), meanwhile, starts seventh after a crash in Q2 when going for a move on Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), going past the Aprilia and then sliding straight out. Rider ok.
Q1 had some big names looking for a way through, as ever, and at the end of the first runs it was Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) leading the way from Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) by just 0.034s, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) lurking in third. The Frenchman then took over on top, Acosta hit back, but finally Diggia found another little slice of time to slot into second behind Acosta. The rookie finished the session with a crash, rider ok, but remained quickest despite the final small twist of drama.
By five and a half minutes to go, Bagnaia was already looking back over his shoulder after completing his fastest lap. The reigning Champion unleashed his 1:30.5 by the conclusion of the first runs, and for him it was the conclusion of his running full stop. He went back to the box and watched the rest take aim at his benchmark on TV. Martin was second, over three tenths back, with a similar gap to Diggia holding third.
Martin was oh-so-close but not close enough in second.
The second runs saw the track get busy, and Marquez was one who didn’t quite find the space he’d wanted. He was just behind Espargaro, trying to slice through on a fast one after the #41 had passed him earlier, and the #93 overcooked it and slid straight out once he was past the Aprilia. That left Marquez waiting to see who would be able to pip him further down the order from the P5 he held at the time. One of them would turn out to be… Espargaro.
Meanwhile, Viñales was on a flying lap. It wasn’t quite enough to be an assault on pole, but keeping it clean round the final sector saw him cross the line to take the final place on the front row.
Martin was then left to try and make his statement. And despite’s Bagnaia’s incredible dominance of the weekend so far, the #89 ran it close. Over the line the Championship leader came up just 0.081s short, but he starts right alongside his closest rival in the standings.
2024 Dutch MotoGP Results—MotoGP Qualifying
| 1 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
1:30.540 |
| 2 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+0.081 |
| 3 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.411 |
| 4 |
Alex Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+0.439 |
| 5 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.537 |
| 6 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) |
+0.734 |
| 7 |
Marc Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+0.838 |
| 8 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+0.865 |
| 9 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+0.939 |
| 10 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+0.942 |
Moto2 Qualifying
For the first time since the Spanish GP, Fermin Aldeguer (Folladore SpeedUp) will launch from pole position as the #54 beat Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) to Moto2™ pole position by 0.230s at the Motul TT Assen. The Japanese star earned his first front row of the season and will start alongside Championship leader and teammate Sergio Garcia at the Dutch TT, as Boscoscuro riders lockout the front row.
Fermin was fast enough for the Moto2 pole.
Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresin Moto2™) leads the Kalex charge from P4 on the grid, with home star Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) coming through Q1 to earn a P14 place on the grid.
Following his Friday afternoon crash, title-hunting Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) was declared unfit for the Dutch TT after it was confirmed he sustained a fractured right collarbone.
2024 Dutch MotoGP Results—Moto2 Qualifying
| 1 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Folladore Speedup) |
1:35.269 |
| 2 |
Ai Ogura |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.230 |
| 3 |
Sergio Garcia |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.354 |
| 4 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) |
+0.371 |
| 5 |
Alonso Lopez |
(Folladore SpeedUp) |
+0.476 |
| 6 |
Albert Arenas |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) |
+0.555 |
| 7 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+0.604 |
| 8 |
Diogo Moreira |
(Italtrans Racing Team) |
+0.612 |
| 9 |
Jake Dixon |
(CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) |
+0.714 |
| 10 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.777 |
Moto3 Qualifying
A late Q2 charge from Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) saw the rookie claim a debut Moto3™ pole position, with Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) bagging a P2 grid slot after lapping just 0.074s slower than Piqueras’ 1:39.746. Home hero Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) will launch from the front row in P3, but the Dutchman lost out on a Motul TT Assen pole following a final chicane crash which cost the #95 a chance of improving his time in the closing stages.
Angel Piqueras claimed a maiden GP pole at Assen.
World Championship leader David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) had to settle for P13 in Q2 as the Colombian aims to battle back through the pack from a season-worst Saturday result.
It was also a low-key Q2 for title-chasing Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). The rider second in the overall standings will launch from P15 as he aims to claw back some points on Alonso.
2024 Dutch MotoGP Results—Moto3 Qualifying
| 1 |
Angel Piqueras |
(Leopard Racing) |
1:39.746 |
| 2 |
Taiyo Furusato |
(Honda Team Asia) |
+0.074 |
| 3 |
Collin Veijer |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.309 |
| 4 |
Ivan Ortola |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.327 |
| 5 |
Ryusei Yamanaka |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.367 |
| 6 |
Stefano Nepa |
(LEVELUP – MTA) |
+0.400 |
| 7 |
Jose Antonio Rueda |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.443 |
| 8 |
Adrian Fernandez |
(Leopard Racing) |
+0.508 |
| 9 |
Joel Esteban |
(CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) |
+0.538 |
| 10 |
Luca Lunetta |
(SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+0.552 |
MotoE Race One
Thanks to a beautiful last lap pass, Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) came out on top in a phenomenal Race 1 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship battle at the Motul TT Assen. The #4 carved up the inside of polesitter Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) at the rapid Turn 13 to win for the first time in 2024, with Zaccone forced to settle for P2 at the chequered flag. However, a post-race tyre pressure penalty saw the Italian disqualified from the Race 1 results, so P2 went the way of comeback king Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI) as the Spaniard fought back expertly from P11 on the grid. Following Zaccone’s penalty, Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team) was promoted to the podium places in P3.
Garzo got the better of Gutierrez for the first MotoE win at Assen.
Elsewhere, drama unfolded for the top two in the World Championship as Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) was taken out at Turn 1, while Kevin Zannoni (Tech3 E-Racing) and Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) crashed out following contact in the closing stages at Turn 5.
2024 Dutch MotoGP Results—MotoE Race One
| 1 |
Hector Garzo |
(Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) |
|
| 2 |
Oscar Gutierrez |
(Axxis-MSI) |
+0.425 |
| 3 |
Jordi Torres |
(Openbank Aspar Team) |
+1.101 |
| 4 |
Miquel Pons |
(Axxis-MSI) |
+2.295 |
| 5 |
Matteo Ferrari |
(Felo Gresini MotoE™) |
+3.219 |
| 6 |
Massimo Roccoli |
(Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+3.265 |
| 7 |
Lukas Tulovic |
(Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) |
+5.456 |
| 8 |
Alessio Finello |
(Felo Gresini MotoE™) |
+7.037 |
| 9 |
Chaz Davies |
(Aruba Cloud MotoE™ Racing Team) |
+7.460 |
| 10 |
Kevin Manfredi |
(Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+17.322 |
MotoE Race Two
After going agonisingly close at Mugello and in Race 1 at the Motul TT Assen, Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) finally claimed another victory in MotoE™ as the Italian dominated Race 2 to pocket those craved 25 points. 1.9s behind in second was Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI) as the Spaniard produced another stunning comeback ride to the podium, with Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE) completing the top three in P3 despite having to drop one position on the penultimate lap.
Zaccone was brilliant in race two, taking an easy win.
With Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team) and Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) finishing P7 and P8 respectively in Race 2, the Championship chase has been blown wide open ahead of the German GP next weekend.
2024 Dutch MotoGP Results—MotoE Race Two
| 1 |
Alessandro Zaccone |
(Tech3 E-Racing) |
|
| 2 |
Oscar Gutierrez |
(Axxis-MSI) |
+1.909 |
| 3 |
Hector Garzo |
(Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) |
+2.113 |
| 4 |
Lukas Tulovic |
(Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) |
+2.252 |
| 5 |
Jordi Torres |
(Openbank Aspar Team) |
+2.642 |
| 6 |
Miquel Pons |
(Axxis-MSI) |
+3.415 |
| 7 |
Kevin Zannoni |
(Openbank Aspar Team) |
+3.083 |
| 8 |
Mattia Casadei |
(LCR E-Team) |
+3.566 |
| 9 |
Matteo Ferrari |
(Felo Gresini MotoE™) |
+3.916 |
| 10 |
Massimo Roccoli |
(Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+5.105 |
2024 Dutch MotoGP News—Friday
Pramac joins forces with Yamaha for 2025
Yamaha has finally got its team. On Friday it confirmed it will join forces with Pramac in a whopping seven-year deal to run two more M1s on the MotoGP grid from 2025.
After more than 20 years as a satellite Ducati operation, Pramac Racing will join forces with Yamaha for 2025 and beyond.
The Iwata factory has had just two bikes on the MotoGP grid since 2022, when it split ways with former satellite team RNF. Now, it is keen to stress how Pramac Racing—currently leading the championship with Jorge Martin and Ducati—will operate as another factory team, rather than a satellite operation.
“The new partnership with Prima Pramac Racing will take a different form than we’ve used in the past,” said Managing Director Lin Jarvis. “Rather than a satellite team, with this new agreement Yamaha have put their trust in Pramac Racing, and we will be providing them with factory bikes of the same specification used by the Monster Energy Yamaha Team.”
Martin opens up on Aprilia move
Thursday was the first chance to quiz Jorge Martin on his sensational switch to Aprilia for 2025. The Spaniard revealed he was led to believe he’d be in Ducati’s factory team after finishing second in Barcelona, only to find the mood had changed at Mugello. It was there when he realized he had to make a decision.
Jorge Martin knows his worth and apparently so too does Aprilia.
“I spoke with Ducati after Montmelo, and everything seemed quite clear,” he said. “Then on Sunday evening, I saw that it wasn’t that clear. So, I took a decision. I also wanted to make clear my future in Mugello, and I did it that way. But for sure, something or someone arrived (from Ducati) and changed the idea. A bit frustrated because after such a long time trying to go, it always seemed like it would never arrive, and finally it didn’t arrive, so it wasn’t easy…”
On his thoughts of Aprilia, where he will replace the retiring Aleix Espargaro, “There is work going on to try to make a nice team for me next year. The bike has been super competitive, in Austin Maverick was on another level. So, I think the potential has been really good.”
Miller has options to remain in MotoGP
Jack Miller is confident he has options to continue in MotoGP after surprisingly being dropped by KTM and has ruled out a switch to World Superbike. Gresini Ducati remains an option for next year, as well as the Pramac Yamaha satellite team.
Miller believes he’ll still be in GPs next year with Pramac Yamaha emerging as a likely home,.
“Obviously, going to a Ducati is very, very interesting, because I know the bike very well,” he said. “I know the structure very well. I have no doubts that I can get back on that bike and be inside the top five. Almost instantly.
“But a lot of things are changing in MotoGP come ‘27 and working on a project and looking for a long-term sort of home to finish out, let’s say, my last strong years in MotoGP. And working towards a common goal, which I thought we had [at KTM] but we didn’t.
Friday MotoGP
With rumors, tension, and excitement swirling around the paddock at the Motul TT Assen, the battle for direct entry to the 2024 Dutch MotoGP Q2 did not disappoint in the hour-long Practice session. Ending the day at the top of the time sheets was Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who completed a perfect day in the Netherlands. The #1 set a blistering time early on before improving later in the session, setting a brilliant 1:31.340. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) crossed the line to claim second after improving yet again on his final fast lap – ending the day 0.065s shy from Bagnaia. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had a positive end to Friday after a magnificent lap allowed the #73 to round out the top three.
Francesco Bagnaia was not to be denied in Assen, continually placing P1 across the day on Friday.
It was a dramatic session throughout which all came down to the final 15 minutes when the riders took to the track for their time attack. Bagnaia was at the top of times as red sectors began to pop up everywhere before Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) hit the top for the first time of the weekend before Pecco soon responded on his next flying lap. There would be drama heading into the final run with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) having an incredibly close moment with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing).
Further back, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) took a brave fourth and showed great pace throughout the session – completing over 20 laps. However, the #41 suffered a crash in the closing minutes at the final corner and would end the Spaniard’s session. Behind the Spaniard was compatriot Martin, who rounded out the top five positions, with work still to do to feel comfortable for Saturday.
Vinales held P1 late in the session but couldn’t hold off Pecco.
Sixth place went the way of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who had an incredible front-end save during the session – improving on his 22nd lap. Brad Binder was the only Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine inside the top 10 with his teammate Miller down in 18th place at the end of Friday.
Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) held onto eighth place and a spot inside Q2 after suffering from a crash of his own with three minutes to go. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) took ninth place, after setting a 1:31.909 in his final run. Behind the #25 was Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), who took the final spot inside the top 10 and the final direct entry spot into Q2.
Alex Marquez made a return to the top three on Friday at Assen.
However, some huge names are now forced to battle in Q1 on Saturday including Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team), who missed out on his spot inside the top 10 by a mere 0.041s. Joining Quartararo in what is building to be an unpredictable Q1 will be both Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team riders and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), who was down in 15th place at the end of Friday.
2024 Dutch MotoGP Results—Friday
| 1 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
1:31.340 |
| 2 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.065 |
| 3 |
Alex Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+0.320 |
| 4 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.472 |
| 5 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+0.489 |
| 6 |
Marc Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+0.511 |
| 7 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+0.526 |
| 8 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+0.530 |
| 9 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Trackhouse Racing) |
+0.569 |
| 10 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+0.673 |
Friday Moto2
Moto2™ returned to the track at the Motul TT Assen for a dramatic end to Friday’s proceedings, with Fermin Aldeguer (Folladore SpeedUp) breaking the lap record by over three-tenths at the end of Practice 1. The #54 improved throughout the session to set a magnificent 1:35.698 on his final flying lap to become the new benchmark time. Behind Aldeguer was Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI), who continued to show great pace at the TT Circuit Assen – after topping the morning session. Rounding out the top three was Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team), who briefly took the top spot before suffering a crash at turn 7 and would not take part in the remainder of the session.
Fermin Aldeguer topped a hectic Moto2 Friday.
It was a dramatic start to the session with Filip Salac (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) suffering from an early crash at turn 7 – bringing out the red flag. Once the the session resumed Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) soon leapt to the top of the timesheets before Roberts took over. Roberts would then suffer his own crash at turn 7, minutes before Xavi Cardelus (Fantic Racing) had a fall at turn 2 as the pace began to heat up towards the end of the session.
Fourth place went the way of Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI), who set a strong lap early on and showed consistent pace throughout the session. Tony Arbolino on the remaining Elf Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex rounded out the top five ahead of the Aron Canet (Fantic Racing). The #44 was just 0.374s back from the top spot, ending the session ahead of Alonso Lopez (Folladore SpeedUp) and late-charging Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) in eighth.
Joe Roberts suffered a massive highside crash and broke his collarbone. He will be out for at least this round.
Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) took ninth, with Albert Arenas (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) securing 10th after a crash in the final five minutes of the day. Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) was less than a second away from the top spot in 11th. Meanwhile, the final spots inside the top 14 went the way of Bo Bendsneyder (Preicanos Racing Team), Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), and Zonta Van Den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP).
2024 Dutch Moto2 Results—Friday
| 1 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Folladore Speedup) |
1:35.698 |
| 2 |
Ai Ogura |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.286 |
| 3 |
Joe Roberts |
(OnlyFans American Racing Team) |
+0.485 |
| 4 |
Sergio Garcia |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.497 |
| 5 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+0.584 |
| 6 |
Aron Canet |
(Fantic Racing) |
+0.588 |
| 7 |
Alonso Lopez |
(Folladore SpeedUp) |
+0.685 |
| 8 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) |
+0.849 |
| 9 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) |
+0.852 |
| 10 |
Albert Arenas |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) |
+0.907 |
Friday Moto3
Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) was back in business and was quickest at the end of Friday at the Motul TT Assen to the delight of the Dutch fans. Veijer was the fastest rider for the majority of the session before putting in an incredible 1:40.259 in the final five minutes of the day. Behind the #95 was Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI), who had a strong result to finish the day in second. Yamanaka was ahead of his MT Helmets – MSI teammate Ivan Ortola, who didn’t have enough in the tank to match the unbelievable pace of Veijer at the front.
It was a quick session from the word go with Veijer breaking the lap record early on. The Dutchman was over half a second clear of the rest of the field who had no response to the #95’s relentless pace heading into the final 15 minutes. The pace began to heat up in the final 10 minutes with the MT Helmets – MSI duo working together on the track and closing the gap to Veijer as yellow flags soon came out for Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), who had their own crashes during the session.
Collin Veijer is hoping to become the first Dutch winner of a Dutch GP in decades.
Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) once again impressed after securing the honours of finishing as the top Honda in fourth place. Behind Fernandez was Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who shot up the order to round out the top five ahead of the second Leopard Racing machine of Angel Piqueras in sixth. Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) consolidated seventh at the end of Friday, 0.530s adrift from Veijer and ahead of Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse).
Further back it was a very dramatic day for Alonso, who crashed twice during the session at turn 5 and later at turn 3. The Colombian also had a huge moment on the exit of the final corner on his fast lap – placing down in ninth. Behind Alonso was Holgado who recovered to 10th after his crash to place ahead of Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and MLav Racing’s Scott Ogden. Meanwhile, the final spots inside the top 14 went the way of Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA).
2024 Dutch Moto3 Results—Friday
| 1 |
Collin Veijer |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
1:40.259 |
| 2 |
Ryusei Yamanaka |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.294 |
| 3 |
Ivan Ortola |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.310 |
| 4 |
Adrian Fernandez |
(Leopard Racing) |
+0.344 |
| 5 |
Jose Antonio Rueda |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.367 |
| 6 |
Angel Piqueras |
(Leopard Racing) |
+0.429 |
| 7 |
Joel Kelso |
(BOE Motorsports) |
+0.530 |
| 8 |
Luca Lunetta |
(SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+0.606 |
| 9 |
David Alonso |
(CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) |
+0.645 |
| 10 |
Daniel Holgado |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+0.648 |
Friday MotoE
It was a frantic end to qualifying for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship, with Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) storming to pole position after setting a 1:39.444 in the closing stages of the session. The #61 jumped from sixth to pole position with a super lap and final sector to start ahead of Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™), who missed out on pole position by a mere 0.338s. Joining Zaccone and Garzo on the front row will be Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team) in third position. Meanwhile, Championship leader Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) has work to do on Saturday and will be forced to start from P9 ahead of KLINT Forward Factory Team’s Andrea Mantovani, who suffered a crash at the final chicane.
Alessandro Zaccone topped the Friday MotoE times.
2024 Dutch MotoE Results—Friday
| 1 |
Alessandro Zaccone |
(Tech3 E-Racing) |
1:39.444 |
| 2 |
Hector Garzo |
(Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) |
+0.338 |
| 3 |
Kevin Zannoni |
(Openbank Aspar Team) |
+0.571 |
| 4 |
Jordi Torres |
(Openbank Aspar Team) |
+0.664 |
| 5 |
Nicholas Spinelli |
(Tech3 E-Racing) |
+0.706 |
| 6 |
Eric Granado |
(LCR E-Team) |
+0.708 |
| 7 |
Lukas Tulovic |
(Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) |
+0.963 |
| 8 |
Miquel Pons |
(Axxis-MSI) |
+0.975 |
| 9 |
Mattia Casadei |
(LCR E-Team) |
+1.263 |
| 10 |
Andrea Mantovani |
(KLINT Forward Factory Team) |
+1.804 |
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