Assen – Sprint: Bagnaia still crushes the competition

Le MotoGP is back in Assen after three weeks of absence. The eighth round of the world championship is also the penultimate of this first part of the season, and will therefore be crucial for the championship leaders who wish to go on vacation with the confidence to lead the operations. The favorite for this event is Francesco Bagnaia. The Italian found the path to victory during the last two meetings to date. But also during the last two Assen GPs.

ALSO READ > The program for the 2024 MotoGP Grand Prix of Assen

Sprint: 

• Francesco Bagnaia took the lead at the first corner to complete the first lap ahead of Jorge Martin. A first lap which also marked the end of Marc Marquez's race, since the latter ended up in the gravel at turn 1 after hitting the curb.
• The first two quickly move away from the peloton, moving at the same pace, like their third lap which they completed with the same time to the nearest thousandth. However, the Pramac driver will not last long in contact with his opponent. From the next loop, he begins to give up ground.
• Nothing will change and unsurprisingly, Bagnaia wins at the end of a very lively race at the front of the peloton. Jorge Martin finally finished 2.3 seconds behind the latter, while Maverick Viñales completed the podium 4 seconds behind the leader.

🏁 #TissotSprint 🏁@PeccoBagnaia DOMINATES in Assen with a 2.3s lead🥇#DutchGP 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/wG7goOj4uM

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 29, 2024

• Fortunately, behind the fight was more intense. At the end of the race, Enea Bastianini took advantage of the Long Lap inflicted on Alex Marquez to place fourth. Fabio Di Giannantonio, Brad Binder and fabio quartararo As for them, they fought until the end to secure points between fifth and eighth place. A satisfactory Sprint for the Frenchman who regretted not having qualified for Q2.
• Johann Zarco moved up slightly in the hierarchy, to finish sixteenth. If it's not satisfactory to score points today, there is reason to be optimistic. On Sunday, points are accessible from fifteenth place, which will be the Habs' objective.
• During the Sprint, the drivers were moving 7 to 8 tenths per lap faster than last year, a clear indicator of the progress of the machines.
• Aleix Espargaro loses control at the end of the race and stays on the ground for a long time. This is the Spaniard's second big fall of the day.

That was a fast one 😱

A massive last-lap blow for @AleixEspargaro, who thankfully got back up 💥#DutchGP 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/DpMmZ5desf

- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) June 29, 2024

MotoGP Assen – Sprint Ranking

Ranking : MotoTiming