2015 Dutch MotoGP: Rossi wins Assen thriller

With Valentino Rossi qualifying on pole position for the first occasion in 2015, there was no doubt that the Dutch Grand Prix would be an exciting affair. And it was a race that no MotoGP enthusiast will forget soon. The Doctor knew that a good start was essential to utilise the pole advantage and that is what exactly he did.  Marc Marquez also jumped a position from third on the grid as Aleix Espargaro made another dreadful start and was overtaken by the trailing pack of riders as they made their way to the first corner. The best start though was made by Jorge Lorenzo. The Yamaha rider had qualified a disappointing eighth after winning the past four races but the Spanish racer compensated that by climbing up to third position.

It seemed that it would be a three-way battle for the race lead between Rossi, Marquez and Lorenzo but after the opening few laps, it was evident that Rossi and Marquez were running a supreme race pace. The Italian rider had etched out an over half second lead over the reigning champion and was setting a good pace. Marquez knew that he couldn’t let the Yamaha rider runaway at the start and responded by clocking the fastest lap of the race and slowly managed to erase his lead to few tenths of a second.

Marquez was following the MotoGP legend like a shadow but was hesitant in making the decisive move to pass him. This was uncanny for Marquez as the Repsol Honda rider is known for his aggressive riding style but instead he was showing a lot of patience and maturity which maybe the result of three crashes in the 2015 season. Rossi was also giving a demonstration of defensive riding as every time the reigning champion would think of passing him, the witty Italian would shut the door skilfully. With Lorenzo in third and Andrea Iannone in fourth position there was a great battle brewing for fifth place. It was a four-way fight between Cal Crutchlow, Espargaro, Bradley Smith and Dani Pedrosa. 

The pecking order didn’t change for the following laps but at no moment did the race become boring as it was a closely contested race. Entering into the 20th lap, Rossi ran wide off the kerbs and this allowed Marquez to use his better traction to pass Rossi for the race lead. The Italian rider was first to respond with two laps remaining in the race and reclaimed the race lead. Rossi posted his personal best lap to etch out a half second lead. It seemed that The Doctor had the race in his kitty but Marquez had other plans.

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He reduced Rossi’s lead in the matter of few corners and the rider made their way into the entry of the last corner of the race, the reigning champion tried to pass Rossi and made contact with him. Rossi ran wide of the track and rode through the gravel and grass to cut the corner and wheelied past the finish line while a furious Marquez finished second while Lorenzo grabbed third place. Marquez was visibly unhappy that Rossi cut the last corner to win the race but race officials deemed it as a racing incident and the fact that the Italian rider was pushed off the track by Honda rider. It was the first occasion since 2009 that Rossi has won the race after starting from pole position and now extends his championship lead by 10 points.