{"id":2018278,"date":"2026-06-29T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2018278"},"modified":"2026-06-29T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T05:00:00","slug":"why-marc-marquezs-lacklustre-assen-round-was-his-biggest-win-of-motogp-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2018278","title":{"rendered":"Why Marc Marquez\u2019s lacklustre Assen round was his biggest win of MotoGP 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330858_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;]<\/p>\n<article>\n<header id=\"lbs-article\" class=\"article header article-header section layout layout--article-header\">\n<div class=\"col headline\">\n<div>\n<h1>Why Marc Marquez\u2019s lacklustre Assen round was his biggest win of MotoGP 2026<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Back-to-back wins gave way to a distinctly average Dutch Grand Prix for reigning world champion Marc Marquez. Never cracking the top five at the end of qualifying or either race, Marquez nevertheless came out the other side with his title challenge comeback still standing strong as the early-season favourite once again endured a disaster\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section two-column\">\n<div class=\"col article-info\">\n<div>\n<address> Lewis Duncan <\/address>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><time datetime=\"2026-06-29T09:00:00+01:00\">29 Jun 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col article-actions\">\n<div class=\"block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block\">\n<div class=\"social-sharing-buttons\"><span class=\"ssb-title\"> Share<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div id=\"lbs-content\" class=\"content wide-two-column-sticky section layout layout--wide-two-column-sticky\">\n<div class=\"col first-column\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330858_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330858_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330858_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330858_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330858_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330858_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330858_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330858_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330858_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Marc Marquez, Ducati Corse, 2026 Dutch MotoGP<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-preferred-source\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source-cta\">  Add as a preferred source <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>For once, Marc Marquez\u2019s estimations of his finishing potential were accurate. Across the Dutch Grand Prix, he expected to finish around the seventh-place mark, with maybe a top five if everything went his way.<\/p>\n<p>The reigning world champion has offered a cautious outlook for every round so far this season, but even more so since returning from surgery on his right shoulder. And yet, in that four-round span, he\u2019s won two grands prix and a sprint, as well as taking pole in Hungary. So, believing anything he says has become something of a test.<\/p>\n<p>But even as the champagne was still drying on his Ducati leathers after winning the Czech Grand Prix, he noted that the Assen weekend would be about \u201csurvival\u201d. Though he won at Assen last year, the fast right-handed layout has always been a test for him when he was fully fit, let alone while he\u2019s still trying to find the new 100% in his shoulder.<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Fabio Di Giannantonio, Marc Marquez, 2026 Dutch MotoGP<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m in safe mode,\u201d he said after finishing seventh, where he qualified, in the sprint last Saturday. \u201cIn this circuit, you need to feel [confident], and I don\u2019t feel that I can push much more. I\u2019m riding not bad, but I\u2019m losing too much in some points.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>In particular, he was struggling with the changes of direction from left to right, especially those that led onto a hard braking zone, such as the final chicane. In the grand prix, he was on the receiving end of a number of overtakes there &#8211; including a 2015-esque one from Fabio Di Giannantonio that saw Marquez playing the Valentino Rossi role as he skittered through the gravel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m struggling a lot from left corners to right ones,\u201d he explained after finishing sixth on the road in the main race, though this was converted to seventh due to a penalty for exceeding track limits on the final lap. \u201cEspecially if I need to change from left and arrive in a brake point on the right side. That is where I\u2019m struggling more, and today it\u2019s where people attacked me.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-56d60661c4ad0d2ac430a5871d2ba843a8da1c653414ec022ad459d8b5d5e8c5\">  Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s first words after losing MotoGP title lead in Assen accident   \u201cThat&#8217;s enough!\u201d &#8211; Aprilia boss hails Trackhouse&#8217;s Assen MotoGP double <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Marquez\u2019s risk-over-reward ratio was uncharacteristically weighted towards safety across the Assen round. The Dutch venue bites hard when it does, as the likes of Alex Marquez, Fermin Aldeguer &#8211; who fractured his back &#8211; and Marco Bezzecchi found out throughout the weekend.<\/p>\n<p>He really was out to survive, noting after the race: \u201cI went out on the race and I knew that my place was finish sixth, seventh, eighth. And it&#8217;s true that looking at the race, the maximum was fifth place, but in the end we finished seventh. The good thing is that we escaped from Holland without injuries, so this was my main target.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That didn\u2019t necessarily stop him from getting his elbows out a bit. He made a late choice to go to the soft rear for the grand prix, which put him in a podium position in the early stages. He also didn\u2019t exactly roll over in battles with the likes of Bezzecchi and KTM\u2019s Pedro Acosta.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-600719f3af6e275c461f0be25b408aa67811a737b4b45e9f694669e160e3de84\">  Marc Marquez: Assen must \u201cdo something\u201d to stop MotoGP riders \u201cflying\u201d   \u201cSimply too fast\u201d &#8211; Aprilia verdict on Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s Assen MotoGP crash <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Finishing 10.288s from the race-winning Aprilia of Ai Ogura on a weekend in which the Noale brand ran riot, the results sheets won\u2019t work their way into any frames to be hung with Marquez\u2019s other achievements. But the big win comes when looking at the championship standings.<\/p>\n<p>Sitting 102 points from the lead after his Italian Grand Prix comeback (where he was also seventh), Marquez came to the Dutch Grand Prix 40 points adrift. After coming away from it with a brace of sevenths, his deficit to points leader Jorge Martin remains at just 40.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel like I&#8217;m not the strongest one, and I&#8217;m not the fastest one, but nobody wants to be the fastest one,\u201d he said. \u201cSo at the moment, it&#8217;s five names in the championship that are fighting every race there.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix, pit box. Credit: Gold and Goose.<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold &amp; Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s title-favourite status has collapsed<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Marquez maintaining the championship deficit he came to Assen with is a major victory for his own title aspirations, not least with the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring coming up ahead of the summer break.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>There is a real possibility of Marquez registering another 37-point weekend in Germany, which would thrust him right into the thick of the championship battle, depending on how those ahead of him in the standings go.<\/p>\n<p>The situation Marquez finds himself in has been helped in no small part by Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s recent form implosion. The Aprilia rider was an unfortunate victim in a Turn 1 pile-up triggered by his team-mate Jorge Martin in Hungary. But his crash out of a top five in the Brno sprint was all his own doing, as were the actions immediately afterwards that got him a ban for the grand prix in Czechia.<\/p>\n<p>What he needed at Assen was a proper rebound. But his sprint struggles continued, with Bezzecchi fourth as the Trackhouse Aprilia duo stormed to a 1-2. But Bezzecchi was unquestionably the favourite for success in the grand prix, based on Friday&#8217;s practice long run pace.<\/p>\n<p>But on the second lap of 26, he crashed going through the fast left-hander at Turn 15 while running in fourth. It was a heavy fall that required him to go to the hospital for checks, which thankfully revealed no serious injuries.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<div class=\"placeholder embed x\">\n<div>Loading this video will expose you to potential cookies and tracking by the provider<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>He lost the lead in the championship to team-mate Martin, who is not yet fully adapted to the RS-GP, dropping seven points behind him. Such has been the wild nature of the 2026 season so far that 63 points cover the top eight down to Pecco Bagnaia with half the campaign still to run.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Bezzecchi wasn\u2019t able to give his version of events due to his trip to the hospital, but Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola felt it was simply a mistake on the Italian\u2019s part: \u201cSimply too fast. It\u2019s a shame about Marco\u2019s mistake. On a weekend where he had shown such great speed, he should have achieved much more. However, the priority now is to recover as best he can after the bad crash.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>From a possible 111 points in the month of June, Bezzecchi has taken just 11. And that has come at a time when the pressure is clearly beginning to get to him. His Brno outburst with a marshal was a sign of the first crack. I wrote at the time that it had opened up an opportunity for Marquez to begin to exploit.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, Marquez made a point on Friday and Saturday to put the spotlight on Bezzecchi\u2019s form, stating that he was expecting a 37-point weekend from the Aprilia rider. And even after he was only fourth in the sprint, Marquez said on Saturday \u201cI expect tomorrow that Marco will be the fastest again\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Bezzecchi found himself behind Marquez on the second lap while running fourth in the main race. He crashed going through the strongest sector for the Aprilia, and arguably the weakest for Marquez in the grand prix. Rivola\u2019s claim that Bezzecchi was \u201csimply too fast\u201d makes it hard to look past the crash as anything but the former championship leader being a little too desperate to overtake a rider growing in threat.<\/p>\n<p>With Marquez on the soft tyre &#8211; something Bezzecchi may not have been aware of at the time &#8211; it was ultimately needless to pass the Ducati rider quickly, because he would have faded eventually. That\u2019s a fact that will gnaw in hindsight.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>The upcoming German Grand Prix has now become an immensely important round for Bezzecchi. But the consistency of his team-mate Martin (who won his 2024 title by just stacking strong points finish after strong points finish against an erratic Bagnaia) while not yet fully adapted to the Aprilia, the similarly consistent Fabio Di Giannantonio, the undeniable rise of Dutch Grand Prix winner Ai Ogura, and Marquez looming has raised an uncomfortable truth: at this moment, Bezzecchi is no longer title favourite.<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Ai Ogura, Trackhouse Aprilia, 2026 Dutch MotoGP<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Ai Ogura\u2019s victory a long time coming<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Not since 2004 had a Japanese rider won a MotoGP race before last weekend\u2019s Dutch Grand Prix. Makoto Tamada\u2019s Motegi victory ushered in a drought for Japanese MotoGP fans that would last 7952 days, until Ai Ogura beat Trackhouse team-mate Raul Fernandez by 2.004s at Assen.<\/p>\n<p>It completed a perfect weekend for the Trackhouse squad in its third season in MotoGP, having also celebrated a 1-2 in the sprint. Across both races, it was simply the better Aprilia team.<\/p>\n<p>Ogura, once seemingly destined for a Honda seat, was something of a shock signing by Trackhouse in the middle of the 2024 season. When he won the Moto2 title that year, it was a contract that had aged spectacularly well.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>But Davide Brivio, soon to leave Trackhouse for Honda in 2027, has always had an eye for young talent: \u201cHis riding style seems to be probably a good starting point to be a MotoGP riding style,\u201d Brivio told <em>Crash<\/em> in the winter of 2024.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo see Ai riding the bike is quite strange, because the style he is using is quite different to the rest of us,\u201d team-mate Raul Fernandez commented last Sunday. \u201cMaybe for that reason he is strong at the end of the race. In data, we see that his performance comes better and better. So, be careful with him in the championship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ogura\u2019s late-race pace has been something to marvel at this year. But he\u2019s now marrying that with better qualifying form, which is stopping him from having to work so hard to close in on the podium battle.<\/p>\n<p>On lap four, he found himself 2.4s off the lead in fourth. Once through into third, he carved into the advantage held by Jorge Martin on the factory team RS-GP and Fernandez. Even a late ride height device issue, which he said was his own mistake, couldn\u2019t knock him off his stride.<\/p>\n<p>Arguably, this first win should have come in March at the US Grand Prix, but for a technical issue knocking him out of the race. It\u2019s to Ogura\u2019s immense credit &#8211; as well as the surroundings of the Trackhouse squad &#8211; that this didn\u2019t cripple his confidence. He came close again two weeks ago at Brno, but just lost out to Marc Marquez.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Now just 25 points from the championship lead, he is well and truly in the title hunt and carrying a lot of momentum into the final round before the summer break.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll keep doing my job in the next races,\u201d he said, in his typically honest way. \u201cAnd if it\u2019s enough, I can be happy. But if they do something better, they are just better.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our MotoGP Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest MotoGP news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>In this article<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Marc Marquez<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Ducati Lenovo Team<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Marco Bezzecchi<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-next-prev\">\n<div class=\"next-prev-pager contextual-region\">\n<div class=\"items\">\n<div class=\"item prev\">\n<h3>  Previous<\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Why all Honda riders went against the grain at Assen MotoGP<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330944_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330944_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330944_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330944_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330944_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330944_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330944_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330944_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330944_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item next\">\n<h3> Next <\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Marc Marquez: Assen must \u201cdo something\u201d to stop MotoGP riders \u201cflying\u201d<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330460_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330460_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330460_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330460_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330460_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330460_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330460_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330460_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330460_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-block block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<div class=\"author-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-ba410c228050213ed6962cefee1e3c074e53771a775cae39d7c3764d104f1713\">\n<div class=\"card user default\">\n<div class=\"image\"> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/pictures\/img_8107.JPG?height=270&amp;format=webp 270w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/pictures\/img_8107.JPG?height=180&amp;format=webp 180w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/pictures\/img_8107.JPG?height=90&amp;format=webp 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"header\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"name\">Lewis Duncan<\/div>\n<div class=\"role\">Head of Editorial<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"desc\">\n<div>Lewis joined the Crash.net team in August of 2024 having been a journalist for five years covering MotoGP for the Motorsport Network. In February of 2026, he became Head of Editorial.\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views-blockrelated-content-related-content-block\">\n<h3>More News<\/h3>\n<div class=\"grid-view grid-2 js-view-dom-id-78e216a6cbc4acd58603329106ee95740be42591a03a31828152a2f8b40a8ebe\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Marco Bezzecchi hospitalised after huge Assen MotoGP crash, escapes injury<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782662104\"> 28\/06\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix, pit box. Credit: Gold and Goose.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Dutch MotoGP, Assen &#8211; Race Results: Updated after penalties<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782660596\"> 28\/06\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330445_hires_1600x900.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Raul Fernandez, Ai Ogura, 2026 Assen MotoGP. \" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2018I forgot the rules\u2019 &#8211; Di Giannantonio on Assen MotoGP penalty in Marc Marquez battle<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782660102\"> 28\/06\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Fabio Di Giannantonio, Marc Marquez, 2026 Dutch MotoGP\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Too difficult to think about continuing&#8221; &#8211; Pecco Bagnaia explains Assen MotoGP retirement<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782659672\"> 28\/06\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330410_hires_1600x900.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Pecco Bagnaia, 2026 Assen MotoGP. \" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2018I escaped without injuries\u2019 &#8211; Marc Marquez survives Assen MotoGP round<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782656710\"> 28\/06\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330475_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Marc Marquez, Ducati Corse, 2026 Dutch MotoGP\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Assen: New 2026 MotoGP World Championship standings<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782651656\"> 28\/06\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329433_hires_1600x900.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Jorge Martin, 2026 Assen MotoGP. \" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col second-column\">\n<div class=\"sticky\">\n<div class=\"component-card-default block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<h2>Latest News<\/h2>\n<div class=\"component-blocks-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-2b4f7aeb41c557679016b94a9f022a921e818ded18b6292278eb184337b9e256\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cVery smart\u201d &#8211; Aprilia praises Jorge Martin after Assen MotoGP<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782747737\"> 4h ago<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330502_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 270w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330502_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 180w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330502_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s first words after losing MotoGP title lead in Assen accident<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782743417\"> 6h ago<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330788_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 270w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330788_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 180w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330788_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;No grip and super heavy&#8221; &#8211; Yamaha back in MotoGP top ten despite Quartararo pain<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782741197\"> 6h ago<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330937_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 270w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330937_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 180w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330937_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Crashing every corner!&#8221; &#8211; Aprilia rivals talk Ai Ogura&#8217;s &#8220;strange&#8221; MotoGP riding style<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782734404\"> 8h ago<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330110_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 270w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330110_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 180w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330110_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cA bit worried\u201d &#8211; Ducati \u201cmust improve\u201d in Aprilia MotoGP title fight<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782731152\"> 9h ago<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329609_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 270w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329609_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 180w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329609_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our MotoGP Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info\">\n<p>Get the latest MotoGP news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"component-card-default block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<h2>More News<\/h2>\n<div class=\"component-blocks-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-fe16277a3d349032d22ae8a1621b7f500dd9c3b5683aa0270b1c187c13632ea9\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s wrong!\u201d &#8211; Brad Binder on \u201cunfair\u201d Assen MotoGP penalty<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782727870\"> 10h ago<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330774_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 270w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330774_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 180w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330774_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThat&#8217;s enough!\u201d &#8211; Aprilia boss hails Trackhouse&#8217;s Assen MotoGP double<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782724930\"> 11h ago<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330636_hires.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 270w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330636_hires.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 180w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330636_hires.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Marc Marquez: Assen must \u201cdo something\u201d to stop MotoGP riders \u201cflying\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782722405\"> 11h ago<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330460_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 270w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330460_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 180w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330460_hires_1600x900.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Why all Honda riders went against the grain at Assen MotoGP<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782716400\"> 13h ago<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330944_hires.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 270w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330944_hires.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 180w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330944_hires.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Alex Marquez was ready to \u201cstop\u201d in Assen MotoGP before late chaos<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1782665489\"> 28\/06\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330706_hires.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 270w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330706_hires.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 180w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330706_hires.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=1:1 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Back-to-back wins gave way to a distinctly average Dutch Grand Prix for reigning world champion Marc Marquez. Never cracking the top five at the end of qualifying or either race, Marquez nevertheless came out the other side with his title challenge comeback still standing strong as the early-season favourite once again endured a disaster\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>For once, Marc Marquez\u2019s estimations of his finishing potential were accurate. Across the Dutch Grand Prix, he expected to finish around the seventh-place mark, with maybe a top five if everything went his way.<\/p>\n<p>The reigning world champion has offered a cautious outlook for every round so far this season, but even more so since returning from surgery on his right shoulder. And yet, in that four-round span, he\u2019s won two grands prix and a sprint, as well as taking pole in Hungary. So, believing anything he says has become something of a test.<\/p>\n<p>But even as the champagne was still drying on his Ducati leathers after winning the Czech Grand Prix, he noted that the Assen weekend would be about \u201csurvival\u201d. Though he won at Assen last year, the fast right-handed layout has always been a test for him when he was fully fit, let alone while he\u2019s still trying to find the new 100% in his shoulder.<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Fabio Di Giannantonio, Marc Marquez, 2026 Dutch MotoGP<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m in safe mode,\u201d he said after finishing seventh, where he qualified, in the sprint last Saturday. \u201cIn this circuit, you need to feel [confident], and I don\u2019t feel that I can push much more. I\u2019m riding not bad, but I\u2019m losing too much in some points.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>In particular, he was struggling with the changes of direction from left to right, especially those that led onto a hard braking zone, such as the final chicane. In the grand prix, he was on the receiving end of a number of overtakes there &#8211; including a 2015-esque one from Fabio Di Giannantonio that saw Marquez playing the Valentino Rossi role as he skittered through the gravel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m struggling a lot from left corners to right ones,\u201d he explained after finishing sixth on the road in the main race, though this was converted to seventh due to a penalty for exceeding track limits on the final lap. \u201cEspecially if I need to change from left and arrive in a brake point on the right side. That is where I\u2019m struggling more, and today it\u2019s where people attacked me.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-56d60661c4ad0d2ac430a5871d2ba843a8da1c653414ec022ad459d8b5d5e8c5\">  Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s first words after losing MotoGP title lead in Assen accident   \u201cThat&#8217;s enough!\u201d &#8211; Aprilia boss hails Trackhouse&#8217;s Assen MotoGP double <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Marquez\u2019s risk-over-reward ratio was uncharacteristically weighted towards safety across the Assen round. The Dutch venue bites hard when it does, as the likes of Alex Marquez, Fermin Aldeguer &#8211; who fractured his back &#8211; and Marco Bezzecchi found out throughout the weekend.<\/p>\n<p>He really was out to survive, noting after the race: \u201cI went out on the race and I knew that my place was finish sixth, seventh, eighth. And it&#8217;s true that looking at the race, the maximum was fifth place, but in the end we finished seventh. The good thing is that we escaped from Holland without injuries, so this was my main target.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That didn\u2019t necessarily stop him from getting his elbows out a bit. He made a late choice to go to the soft rear for the grand prix, which put him in a podium position in the early stages. He also didn\u2019t exactly roll over in battles with the likes of Bezzecchi and KTM\u2019s Pedro Acosta.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-600719f3af6e275c461f0be25b408aa67811a737b4b45e9f694669e160e3de84\">  Marc Marquez: Assen must \u201cdo something\u201d to stop MotoGP riders \u201cflying\u201d   \u201cSimply too fast\u201d &#8211; Aprilia verdict on Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s Assen MotoGP crash <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Finishing 10.288s from the race-winning Aprilia of Ai Ogura on a weekend in which the Noale brand ran riot, the results sheets won\u2019t work their way into any frames to be hung with Marquez\u2019s other achievements. But the big win comes when looking at the championship standings.<\/p>\n<p>Sitting 102 points from the lead after his Italian Grand Prix comeback (where he was also seventh), Marquez came to the Dutch Grand Prix 40 points adrift. After coming away from it with a brace of sevenths, his deficit to points leader Jorge Martin remains at just 40.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel like I&#8217;m not the strongest one, and I&#8217;m not the fastest one, but nobody wants to be the fastest one,\u201d he said. \u201cSo at the moment, it&#8217;s five names in the championship that are fighting every race there.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix, pit box. Credit: Gold and Goose.<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold &amp; Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s title-favourite status has collapsed<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Marquez maintaining the championship deficit he came to Assen with is a major victory for his own title aspirations, not least with the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring coming up ahead of the summer break.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>There is a real possibility of Marquez registering another 37-point weekend in Germany, which would thrust him right into the thick of the championship battle, depending on how those ahead of him in the standings go.<\/p>\n<p>The situation Marquez finds himself in has been helped in no small part by Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s recent form implosion. The Aprilia rider was an unfortunate victim in a Turn 1 pile-up triggered by his team-mate Jorge Martin in Hungary. But his crash out of a top five in the Brno sprint was all his own doing, as were the actions immediately afterwards that got him a ban for the grand prix in Czechia.<\/p>\n<p>What he needed at Assen was a proper rebound. But his sprint struggles continued, with Bezzecchi fourth as the Trackhouse Aprilia duo stormed to a 1-2. But Bezzecchi was unquestionably the favourite for success in the grand prix, based on Friday&#8217;s practice long run pace.<\/p>\n<p>But on the second lap of 26, he crashed going through the fast left-hander at Turn 15 while running in fourth. It was a heavy fall that required him to go to the hospital for checks, which thankfully revealed no serious injuries.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<div class=\"placeholder embed x\">\n<div>Loading this video will expose you to potential cookies and tracking by the provider<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>He lost the lead in the championship to team-mate Martin, who is not yet fully adapted to the RS-GP, dropping seven points behind him. Such has been the wild nature of the 2026 season so far that 63 points cover the top eight down to Pecco Bagnaia with half the campaign still to run.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Bezzecchi wasn\u2019t able to give his version of events due to his trip to the hospital, but Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola felt it was simply a mistake on the Italian\u2019s part: \u201cSimply too fast. It\u2019s a shame about Marco\u2019s mistake. On a weekend where he had shown such great speed, he should have achieved much more. However, the priority now is to recover as best he can after the bad crash.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>From a possible 111 points in the month of June, Bezzecchi has taken just 11. And that has come at a time when the pressure is clearly beginning to get to him. His Brno outburst with a marshal was a sign of the first crack. I wrote at the time that it had opened up an opportunity for Marquez to begin to exploit.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, Marquez made a point on Friday and Saturday to put the spotlight on Bezzecchi\u2019s form, stating that he was expecting a 37-point weekend from the Aprilia rider. And even after he was only fourth in the sprint, Marquez said on Saturday \u201cI expect tomorrow that Marco will be the fastest again\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Bezzecchi found himself behind Marquez on the second lap while running fourth in the main race. He crashed going through the strongest sector for the Aprilia, and arguably the weakest for Marquez in the grand prix. Rivola\u2019s claim that Bezzecchi was \u201csimply too fast\u201d makes it hard to look past the crash as anything but the former championship leader being a little too desperate to overtake a rider growing in threat.<\/p>\n<p>With Marquez on the soft tyre &#8211; something Bezzecchi may not have been aware of at the time &#8211; it was ultimately needless to pass the Ducati rider quickly, because he would have faded eventually. That\u2019s a fact that will gnaw in hindsight.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>The upcoming German Grand Prix has now become an immensely important round for Bezzecchi. But the consistency of his team-mate Martin (who won his 2024 title by just stacking strong points finish after strong points finish against an erratic Bagnaia) while not yet fully adapted to the Aprilia, the similarly consistent Fabio Di Giannantonio, the undeniable rise of Dutch Grand Prix winner Ai Ogura, and Marquez looming has raised an uncomfortable truth: at this moment, Bezzecchi is no longer title favourite.<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Ai Ogura, Trackhouse Aprilia, 2026 Dutch MotoGP<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Ai Ogura\u2019s victory a long time coming<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Not since 2004 had a Japanese rider won a MotoGP race before last weekend\u2019s Dutch Grand Prix. Makoto Tamada\u2019s Motegi victory ushered in a drought for Japanese MotoGP fans that would last 7952 days, until Ai Ogura beat Trackhouse team-mate Raul Fernandez by 2.004s at Assen.<\/p>\n<p>It completed a perfect weekend for the Trackhouse squad in its third season in MotoGP, having also celebrated a 1-2 in the sprint. Across both races, it was simply the better Aprilia team.<\/p>\n<p>Ogura, once seemingly destined for a Honda seat, was something of a shock signing by Trackhouse in the middle of the 2024 season. When he won the Moto2 title that year, it was a contract that had aged spectacularly well.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>But Davide Brivio, soon to leave Trackhouse for Honda in 2027, has always had an eye for young talent: \u201cHis riding style seems to be probably a good starting point to be a MotoGP riding style,\u201d Brivio told <em>Crash<\/em> in the winter of 2024.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo see Ai riding the bike is quite strange, because the style he is using is quite different to the rest of us,\u201d team-mate Raul Fernandez commented last Sunday. \u201cMaybe for that reason he is strong at the end of the race. In data, we see that his performance comes better and better. So, be careful with him in the championship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ogura\u2019s late-race pace has been something to marvel at this year. But he\u2019s now marrying that with better qualifying form, which is stopping him from having to work so hard to close in on the podium battle.<\/p>\n<p>On lap four, he found himself 2.4s off the lead in fourth. Once through into third, he carved into the advantage held by Jorge Martin on the factory team RS-GP and Fernandez. Even a late ride height device issue, which he said was his own mistake, couldn\u2019t knock him off his stride.<\/p>\n<p>Arguably, this first win should have come in March at the US Grand Prix, but for a technical issue knocking him out of the race. It\u2019s to Ogura\u2019s immense credit &#8211; as well as the surroundings of the Trackhouse squad &#8211; that this didn\u2019t cripple his confidence. He came close again two weeks ago at Brno, but just lost out to Marc Marquez.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Now just 25 points from the championship lead, he is well and truly in the title hunt and carrying a lot of momentum into the final round before the summer break.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll keep doing my job in the next races,\u201d he said, in his typically honest way. \u201cAnd if it\u2019s enough, I can be happy. But if they do something better, they are just better.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our MotoGP Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest MotoGP news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>For once, Marc Marquez\u2019s estimations of his finishing potential were accurate. Across the Dutch Grand Prix, he expected to finish around the seventh-place mark, with maybe a top five if everything went his way.<\/p>\n<p>The reigning world champion has offered a cautious outlook for every round so far this season, but even more so since returning from surgery on his right shoulder. And yet, in that four-round span, he\u2019s won two grands prix and a sprint, as well as taking pole in Hungary. So, believing anything he says has become something of a test.<\/p>\n<p>But even as the champagne was still drying on his Ducati leathers after winning the Czech Grand Prix, he noted that the Assen weekend would be about \u201csurvival\u201d. Though he won at Assen last year, the fast right-handed layout has always been a test for him when he was fully fit, let alone while he\u2019s still trying to find the new 100% in his shoulder.<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330452_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Fabio Di Giannantonio, Marc Marquez, 2026 Dutch MotoGP<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m in safe mode,\u201d he said after finishing seventh, where he qualified, in the sprint last Saturday. \u201cIn this circuit, you need to feel [confident], and I don\u2019t feel that I can push much more. I\u2019m riding not bad, but I\u2019m losing too much in some points.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>In particular, he was struggling with the changes of direction from left to right, especially those that led onto a hard braking zone, such as the final chicane. In the grand prix, he was on the receiving end of a number of overtakes there &#8211; including a 2015-esque one from Fabio Di Giannantonio that saw Marquez playing the Valentino Rossi role as he skittered through the gravel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m struggling a lot from left corners to right ones,\u201d he explained after finishing sixth on the road in the main race, though this was converted to seventh due to a penalty for exceeding track limits on the final lap. \u201cEspecially if I need to change from left and arrive in a brake point on the right side. That is where I\u2019m struggling more, and today it\u2019s where people attacked me.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-56d60661c4ad0d2ac430a5871d2ba843a8da1c653414ec022ad459d8b5d5e8c5\">  Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s first words after losing MotoGP title lead in Assen accident   \u201cThat&#8217;s enough!\u201d &#8211; Aprilia boss hails Trackhouse&#8217;s Assen MotoGP double <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Marquez\u2019s risk-over-reward ratio was uncharacteristically weighted towards safety across the Assen round. The Dutch venue bites hard when it does, as the likes of Alex Marquez, Fermin Aldeguer &#8211; who fractured his back &#8211; and Marco Bezzecchi found out throughout the weekend.<\/p>\n<p>He really was out to survive, noting after the race: \u201cI went out on the race and I knew that my place was finish sixth, seventh, eighth. And it&#8217;s true that looking at the race, the maximum was fifth place, but in the end we finished seventh. The good thing is that we escaped from Holland without injuries, so this was my main target.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That didn\u2019t necessarily stop him from getting his elbows out a bit. He made a late choice to go to the soft rear for the grand prix, which put him in a podium position in the early stages. He also didn\u2019t exactly roll over in battles with the likes of Bezzecchi and KTM\u2019s Pedro Acosta.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-600719f3af6e275c461f0be25b408aa67811a737b4b45e9f694669e160e3de84\">  Marc Marquez: Assen must \u201cdo something\u201d to stop MotoGP riders \u201cflying\u201d   \u201cSimply too fast\u201d &#8211; Aprilia verdict on Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s Assen MotoGP crash <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Finishing 10.288s from the race-winning Aprilia of Ai Ogura on a weekend in which the Noale brand ran riot, the results sheets won\u2019t work their way into any frames to be hung with Marquez\u2019s other achievements. But the big win comes when looking at the championship standings.<\/p>\n<p>Sitting 102 points from the lead after his Italian Grand Prix comeback (where he was also seventh), Marquez came to the Dutch Grand Prix 40 points adrift. After coming away from it with a brace of sevenths, his deficit to points leader Jorge Martin remains at just 40.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel like I&#8217;m not the strongest one, and I&#8217;m not the fastest one, but nobody wants to be the fastest one,\u201d he said. \u201cSo at the moment, it&#8217;s five names in the championship that are fighting every race there.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1329204_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix, pit box. Credit: Gold and Goose.<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold &amp; Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s title-favourite status has collapsed<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Marquez maintaining the championship deficit he came to Assen with is a major victory for his own title aspirations, not least with the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring coming up ahead of the summer break.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>There is a real possibility of Marquez registering another 37-point weekend in Germany, which would thrust him right into the thick of the championship battle, depending on how those ahead of him in the standings go.<\/p>\n<p>The situation Marquez finds himself in has been helped in no small part by Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s recent form implosion. The Aprilia rider was an unfortunate victim in a Turn 1 pile-up triggered by his team-mate Jorge Martin in Hungary. But his crash out of a top five in the Brno sprint was all his own doing, as were the actions immediately afterwards that got him a ban for the grand prix in Czechia.<\/p>\n<p>What he needed at Assen was a proper rebound. But his sprint struggles continued, with Bezzecchi fourth as the Trackhouse Aprilia duo stormed to a 1-2. But Bezzecchi was unquestionably the favourite for success in the grand prix, based on Friday&#8217;s practice long run pace.<\/p>\n<p>But on the second lap of 26, he crashed going through the fast left-hander at Turn 15 while running in fourth. It was a heavy fall that required him to go to the hospital for checks, which thankfully revealed no serious injuries.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<div class=\"placeholder embed x\">\n<div>Loading this video will expose you to potential cookies and tracking by the provider<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>He lost the lead in the championship to team-mate Martin, who is not yet fully adapted to the RS-GP, dropping seven points behind him. Such has been the wild nature of the 2026 season so far that 63 points cover the top eight down to Pecco Bagnaia with half the campaign still to run.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Bezzecchi wasn\u2019t able to give his version of events due to his trip to the hospital, but Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola felt it was simply a mistake on the Italian\u2019s part: \u201cSimply too fast. It\u2019s a shame about Marco\u2019s mistake. On a weekend where he had shown such great speed, he should have achieved much more. However, the priority now is to recover as best he can after the bad crash.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>From a possible 111 points in the month of June, Bezzecchi has taken just 11. And that has come at a time when the pressure is clearly beginning to get to him. His Brno outburst with a marshal was a sign of the first crack. I wrote at the time that it had opened up an opportunity for Marquez to begin to exploit.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, Marquez made a point on Friday and Saturday to put the spotlight on Bezzecchi\u2019s form, stating that he was expecting a 37-point weekend from the Aprilia rider. And even after he was only fourth in the sprint, Marquez said on Saturday \u201cI expect tomorrow that Marco will be the fastest again\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Bezzecchi found himself behind Marquez on the second lap while running fourth in the main race. He crashed going through the strongest sector for the Aprilia, and arguably the weakest for Marquez in the grand prix. Rivola\u2019s claim that Bezzecchi was \u201csimply too fast\u201d makes it hard to look past the crash as anything but the former championship leader being a little too desperate to overtake a rider growing in threat.<\/p>\n<p>With Marquez on the soft tyre &#8211; something Bezzecchi may not have been aware of at the time &#8211; it was ultimately needless to pass the Ducati rider quickly, because he would have faded eventually. That\u2019s a fact that will gnaw in hindsight.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>The upcoming German Grand Prix has now become an immensely important round for Bezzecchi. But the consistency of his team-mate Martin (who won his 2024 title by just stacking strong points finish after strong points finish against an erratic Bagnaia) while not yet fully adapted to the Aprilia, the similarly consistent Fabio Di Giannantonio, the undeniable rise of Dutch Grand Prix winner Ai Ogura, and Marquez looming has raised an uncomfortable truth: at this moment, Bezzecchi is no longer title favourite.<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330485_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Ai Ogura, Trackhouse Aprilia, 2026 Dutch MotoGP<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Ai Ogura\u2019s victory a long time coming<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Not since 2004 had a Japanese rider won a MotoGP race before last weekend\u2019s Dutch Grand Prix. Makoto Tamada\u2019s Motegi victory ushered in a drought for Japanese MotoGP fans that would last 7952 days, until Ai Ogura beat Trackhouse team-mate Raul Fernandez by 2.004s at Assen.<\/p>\n<p>It completed a perfect weekend for the Trackhouse squad in its third season in MotoGP, having also celebrated a 1-2 in the sprint. Across both races, it was simply the better Aprilia team.<\/p>\n<p>Ogura, once seemingly destined for a Honda seat, was something of a shock signing by Trackhouse in the middle of the 2024 season. When he won the Moto2 title that year, it was a contract that had aged spectacularly well.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>But Davide Brivio, soon to leave Trackhouse for Honda in 2027, has always had an eye for young talent: \u201cHis riding style seems to be probably a good starting point to be a MotoGP riding style,\u201d Brivio told <em>Crash<\/em> in the winter of 2024.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo see Ai riding the bike is quite strange, because the style he is using is quite different to the rest of us,\u201d team-mate Raul Fernandez commented last Sunday. \u201cMaybe for that reason he is strong at the end of the race. In data, we see that his performance comes better and better. So, be careful with him in the championship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ogura\u2019s late-race pace has been something to marvel at this year. But he\u2019s now marrying that with better qualifying form, which is stopping him from having to work so hard to close in on the podium battle.<\/p>\n<p>On lap four, he found himself 2.4s off the lead in fourth. Once through into third, he carved into the advantage held by Jorge Martin on the factory team RS-GP and Fernandez. Even a late ride height device issue, which he said was his own mistake, couldn\u2019t knock him off his stride.<\/p>\n<p>Arguably, this first win should have come in March at the US Grand Prix, but for a technical issue knocking him out of the race. It\u2019s to Ogura\u2019s immense credit &#8211; as well as the surroundings of the Trackhouse squad &#8211; that this didn\u2019t cripple his confidence. He came close again two weeks ago at Brno, but just lost out to Marc Marquez.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Now just 25 points from the championship lead, he is well and truly in the title hunt and carrying a lot of momentum into the final round before the summer break.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll keep doing my job in the next races,\u201d he said, in his typically honest way. \u201cAnd if it\u2019s enough, I can be happy. But if they do something better, they are just better.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our MotoGP Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest MotoGP news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/motogp\/feature\/1099910\/1\/why-marc-marquezs-lacklustre-assen-round-was-his-biggest-win-motogp-2026&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.crash.net\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-06\/gng_1330858_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] Why Marc Marquez\u2019s lacklustre Assen round was his biggest win of MotoGP 2026 Back-to-back wins gave way to a distinctly average Dutch Grand Prix for reigning world champion Marc Marquez. Never cracking the top five at the end of qualifying or either race, Marquez nevertheless came out the other side with his [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[47,226],"class_list":["post-2018278","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crash-net","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2018278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2018278"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2018278\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2018278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2018278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2018278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}