It came down to the final laps at the Catalan GP, Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) putting on a masterful display to best Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). His victory, along with his teammate’s misfortune, have helped Rossi climb back into championship contention after the disaster of Mugello. ‘The Doctor’ arrives at the Motul TT Assen 22 points off the championship lead, a manageable gap as this will be just the eighth round of the season. 2009 was the last time Rossi took back-to-back wins, coming out victorious in both the Catalan and Dutch GPs. Can he do it again in 2016 and continue his hunt for a tenth crown?
Of all the riders on the grid, Rossi has the most success in Assen with a total of nine wins, seven in the premier class alone. But his most memorable win at MotoGP™’s oldest circuit is also his most recent, coming at the last corner in 2015. It was a battle that will go down in history, the master and the apprentice putting it all on the line for glory. Contact was made and Rossi was forced to cut across the gravel trap, securing a thrilling win in the process. Rossi will no doubt be hoping for a less dramatic race in 2016.
Valentino Rossi: “I used this short break to rest a bit and now I'm ready for the next race. I love Assen, it is one of my favourite tracks, but that doesn’t mean anything because every race this year is very open and very uncertain. We just have to stay focused, try to work in the best way possible and see what happens. In Barcelona we had a good race and also the test went well. I really want to get back on track and prepare for the upcoming race with my team.”