Assen: Miller makes history as MotoGP™ hits the 'Cathedral'

It rained, it rained – and then it rained a little more. With a first attempt at the premier class race at the TT Circuit Assen red-flagged as conditions worsened, the re-start saw the grid line up once again in order of track position when the flag came out. That gave a big advantage to the man who was about to re-write history - Jack Miller (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) - as the Aussie lined up much further up the grid for the second attempt at a Dutch GP and went on to win. Overtaking a cautious, Championship-leading Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) on his way to the stunning wet weather win, ‘Jackass’ became the first Independent Team rider to win a race since Toni Elias took on the big guns at Estoril in 2006. Historic for the former Moto3™ World Championship runner up – and emotional in parc ferme after a difficult run in the premier class. Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Yakhnich) completed the podium, for his first rostrum result since Misano 2015.

Marquez, meanwhile, crossed the line celebrating like he’d won – and the reaction was understandable. Gaining traction in the title fight, the rider from Cervera left the TT Circuit Assen with an advantage of 24 points at the top of the table, after key rivals failed to score anything like the 20 points the number 93 took home.

As one man celebrated like he’d won the title, another felt his grip on that coveted end of year prize start to slip. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) crashed out of the lead at the Dutch track, and put another zero on the board. Despite pre-season testing having seemed to paint the opposite picture, both Yamaha riders were on the back foot after Assen with one zero for the number 46 and a P10 for the 99. Of that the ‘Doctor’ was well aware, clawing his Yamaha up out the gravel with more than the desperation of watching a single race win escape him - but it wasn't to be.