What did the race weekend in Assen show? Salač had his best result yet in the Moto2 class, Bagnaia was flawless in MotoGP

The MotoGP series has returned to Assen in the Netherlands after one year. Last season, the Dutch Grand Prix was the only race in which Filip Salač did not take part. This year, he recorded his best result yet in Moto2. In the MotoGP royal category, Francesco Bagnaia took the victory, while reigning champion Quartararo did not finish.

Salač in the elite ten for the first time

The Czech rider qualified for Sunday’s Grand Prix in twelfth place and fought his way up to tenth place in the race. He thus takes six points from the weekend into the championship, in which he is currently 21st. So far this season, Salač has scored 14 points

The Grand Prix at the Assen circuit was won by Spain’s Augusto Fernández ahead of Aio Ogura. Only one point currently separates the top three in the drivers’ championship, which is led by Italian Celestino Vietti ahead of today’s top two.

Bagnai’s flawless ride, a nightmare for Quartara

As far as the MotoGP Royal Cubature is concerned, the Dutch Grand Prix was dominated by the Italian Bagnaia after a flawless performance. The winner of Saturday’s qualifying started the race from the front row. The Ducati rider could have lost the lead as early as the first corner, when Fabio Quartararo claimed the lead.

However, the Italian rider held on to the top spot and had already built up a solid lead after the opening few laps. On the other hand, Quartararo’s race didn’t go well at all – he collided with Aleix Espargar with 22 laps to go.

Both drivers returned to the race, albeit Espargaro in 15th place, last year’s World Championship winner hopelessly last. Apparently Quartararo continued with a damaged motorcycle and when he fell off his machine for a second time, he retired from the race. However, Raúl Fernández, Franco Morbidelli and Darryn Binder also failed to finish the race.

After a dominant performance, Bagnaia deservedly rode to his third win of the season and moved ahead of compatriot Enea Bastianini into fourth place in the riders’ championship.

Viñales and Bezzecchi on the podium

The previously mentioned Spaniard Aleix Espargaro provided a dramatic finish to the race. He passed two riders on the last lap and ended his wild ride just below the podium. His teammate Maverick Viñales finished third, marking Aprilia’s sixth podium finish in this year’s MotoGP.

Fifth place in Assen went to Brad Binder on the KTM, with Jack Miller sixth, Jorge Martin seventh, Joan Mir eighth, Miguel Oliveira ninth and Alex Rins rounding out the elite ten.

Drivers’ Championship, Constructors’ Cup

In the above tweet you can see what the Dutch Grand Prix did to the Drivers’ Championship standings. Quartararo is still in the lead, Bagnaia has moved up to fourth ahead of Bastianini, Mir has leapfrogged his teammate Alex Rins.

In terms of the Constructors’ Cup standings, Aprilia Racing is still in the lead with 213 points, but the second place is currently shared by Yamaha and Ducati (197) with the same number of points! The non-factory Pramac Racing team remains in fourth place with 184 points ahead of the factory Red Bull KTM team with 164 points.

Fans will have to wait until the first weekend in August for the next race, when it will be held at Silverstone in England. Until then, the MotoGP series is on a big summer break.

Sources: MotoGP, Moto2