Ai Ogura victorious at Assen being the first Japanese winner since Makoto Tamada in an attritional and dramatic Dutch TT

It was clear, hot and sunny skies over Assen for the Dutch TT, Jorge Martin started from pole position ahead of Ai Ogura who’s taken a hat-trick of second places and Marco Bezzecchi rounds out the front row. Tissot Sprint winner Raul Fernandez started in fourth ahead of Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio, Marc Marquez headed the third row in seventh with his future teammate Pedro Acosta next to him in eighth.

The light went out Martin took the holeshot ahead of Ogura and Fernandez with Bezzecchi in fourth. Bezzecchi made a mistake at turn nine and Marquez bounced at turn 11 to take fourth.

The Trackhouse Aprilia’s began to battle and Marquez took advantage, but Fernandez held it around the outside at turn four to take the inside at turn five.

Bezzecchi lost the front through turn 15 and was out of the race!

Bagnaia was beginning to struggle being overtaken by Acosta into the GT Chicane on lap three to drop to sixth place.

Ogura made it an all Aprilia podium as he block passed Marquez into the GT Chicane, Acosta then went through on the reigning champion at turn five. Marquez got a good exit out of the hairpin and took fourth back from Acosta into turn six. Acosta then pounced back at turn one and made it stick.

Marquez got a good exit out of the GT Chicane and retook fourth place. Acosta tried to pass Marquez at turn one but ran wide and let Pecco Bagnaia into fifth place.

Bagnaia overtook Marquez at turn eight to move into fourth as the group had been extended with the likes of Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez.

Acosta was out of the race with the same mechanical problems that he’s suffered with all weekend and in Brno. Toprak Razgatlioglu also retired after running in 11th.

Bagnaia then had a problem and pulled off the racing line to try and adjust something on the bike but he had to retire the bike.

On lap 16 Ogura’s ride height device was stuck down through turn three and four and lost nearly a second.

On the following lap Fernandez finally made the move on Martin to take the lead of the Grand Prix and Ogura wasted no time following his teammate and overtook Martin into turn one.

On lap 20 Ogura took the lead making a late maneuver on Fernandez into turn eight and immediately began to pull a gap.

Di Giannantonio and Marquez made contact at the GT Chicane, Marquez went through the gravel and his brother Alex Marquez went through with Enea Bastianini behind him.

Bastianini went through on Marc Marquez at turn one on lap 22. Di Giannantonio was under investigation for the pass.

Bastianini made a mistake at turn seven, nine and ten and Marquez sat up the Italian at turn 11.

Di Giannantonio was given a long lap penalty for cutting the chicane and not dropping one second. He took the penalty and rejoined behind Marc Marquez and in-front of Bastianini.

Di Gianantonio made the block pass on Marc Marquez at the GT Chicane and made it cleaner than his first attempt. The Italian then went through on Alex Marquez at turn eight.

Ogura crossed the line to win the Dutch TT at Assen, his first MotoGP victory and the first since Makoto Tamada at the Japanese Grand Prix in 2004. Fernandez was second and Martin rounded out the podium for the second ever Aprilia podium lock out. Di Giannantonio was fourth ahead of Alex Marquez in fifth, Marc Marquez crossed the line in sixth but exceeded track limits at turn 13 so was demoted behind Bastianini. Fabio Quartarao was eighth with Brad Binder in ninth and Alex Rins rounded out the top ten.

Martin now leads the championship on 193 points, Bezzecchi is seven behind with Di Giannantonio 16 behind, Ogura is fourth 25 points back and Marquez in fifth can’t take the championship lead at the Sachsenring as he is 40 points behind.

Featured Image: SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team