Dutch disaster for unlucky De Puniet

After Friday´s positive qualifying session at the A-Style TT Assen Randy de Puniet started from the fifth place for the 26-lap MotoGP race, which was held on a dry track despite the rain shower on Saturday morning.

De Puniet set off well, keeping fifth position until the unfortunate incident in which he crashed out and into the gravel with Valentino Rossi, suffering a small abrasion in his left thigh.

Rossi was able to remount and complete the race but De Puniet was not so lucky and the Italian later issued an apology to the Frenchman, who has suffered a number of crashes in an inconsistent 2008 campaign.

Randy de Puniet - DNF

`We all deserve a lot better than this! Since the beginning of this weekend my pace was consistently fast and was able to stay with the top five riders today. I made a very good start and was in fifth position when Rossi crashed and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We both went out into the gravel but he rejoined the race. He probably arrived too fast and lost the rear in braking, hitting my bike. I am very disappointed because we could have fought for a good result here. Luckily I only suffered a small injury on my left thigh. Want to thank my team for their excellent work during this weekend.´