It's called the Cathedral for a reason. Only missing in 2020 due to the changes obliged to the calendar, the TT Circuit Assen has otherwise been a mainstay of motorcycle Grand Prix racing since the world's first motorsport World Championship began in 1949. The venue has gone from a long street circuit to a shorter but no less incredible track over the seven decades since, creating some of the greatest racing in the world every time we return. In 2022, that time is now!
After deposing the "no Yamaha win since 2009" stat at the Sachsenring, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) arrives on the front foot and with his eye on another: no one's won back to back at Assen since Valentino Rossi did it in 2004 and 2005. Since the Quartararo reigned last year in the Netherlands, it's within reach... and his form only backs that statement up yet further. Three in a row would be quite a way to head into summer break.
Elsewhere at Yamaha, Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™) and Andrea Dovizioso will want more, the latter a former podium finisher at Assen and the former looking for a bounce back before summer break. Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), meanwhile, continues looking for a big step forward, the Italian well outside his already conquered postcode of the podium fight so far in 2022.
At Aprilia, meanwhile, it can raise a smile that one of their worst races of the season so far, all told, is still in fact what the Noale factory would have been aiming for at the start of just last season. "Worst" describing fourth place for Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) still maintains the number 41 in second overall and was another consistent, big-points finish he'll be looking to build on again.
On the other side of the garage there's another two-sided coin for Maverick Viñales from Germany too: he suffered a technical issue and had to retire, but he had to retire after having been pinned to the back of his teammate for some time, looking like a podium charge was on the cards. Will there be one at Assen? It's those final laps of the race, the ones we didn't get to see at the Sachsenring, where 'Top Gun' often shines, and everything seems to be coming together.
That statement is also true of Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing). The Frenchman is on a steady upward curve of results with the next natural number in the progression being 1 aka the win. As satisfying a stat as that would be, his recent run already stands alone as impressive. Now third overall – and top Ducati in the Championship – can he pull another podium out the bag?
Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) did just that in Germany to put some tougher races behind him, and 'Thriller' did it despite a Long Lap penalty too. Of all those on the grid, Miller's memories of Assen are probably the sweetest as he took that incredible win in 2016, so what can he do in 2022? And can Jorge Martin (Prima Racing) find something more? What will Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) have in the locker after impressive speed in Germany? Can Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) bounce back from a stint of going AWOL?
Then, of course, there's Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). From bad luck in Barcelona to a slide out of second at the Sachsenring, it's been a tougher few weeks for the number 63. Assen hasn't traditionally been the best for Ducati, but Pecco even has the track as a tattoo, having taken his very first win there in Moto3™ in 2016. He's also reigned in Moto2™, and knows his way around the Cathedral. The gap to the top is now a big one, but the season is only half way done...
Lurking a single point above both Bagnaia and Miller in the standings, meanwhile, is the truest Sunday rider of late – in the best sense. No matter the grid position, when the lights go out Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) wrings some magic out of his KTM, and he's now into the top five overall. It's never two or three positions either, it's a charge as far as the charge can possibly go, and it's paying dividends. Can he and teammate Miguel Oliveira - who is gaining back some solid form too - take that extra step forward at Assen?Another factory looking for more, in their case a real bounce back, is Suzuki. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) crashed out in Germany after that stunning charge in Barcelona, and the number 36 will be gunning for glory at Assen. Teammate Alex Rins, meanwhile, tried to take part put then hit a serious pain barrier before withdrawing due to his wrist. Can he try again at Assen?
Classic, historic, and nestled in the north of one of northern Europe's most vibrant countries, there have already been 72 great reasons to visit Assen - or tune in. This weekend provides the 73rd as MotoGP™ returns to the Cathedral, so join us at 14:00 (GMT +2) on Sunday for the final showdown before summer break!
Classic, historic, and nestled in the north of one of northern Europe's most vibrant countries, there have already been 72 great reasons to visit Assen - or tune in. This weekend provides the 73rd as MotoGP™ returns to the Cathedral, so join us at 14:00 (GMT +2) on Sunday for the final showdown before summer break!
Fernandez arrives on favoured turf
After a bumpier start to the season, it's now very much in gear for Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as the number 37 laid down a dominant performance at the Sachsenring. His gap to the top is now just 12 points after a DNF for Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and a tougher weekend for Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) in Germany, and guess where his favourite track is? The TT Circuit Assen, where he's won before and took a podium in 2021.
Vietti, Ogura and Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40), the latter with a few more days to get back to fitness, will be keen to spoil the party ahead of summer break. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will have to sit the weekend out after suffering a leg break this week, a great shame for the Moto3™ Champion as he would've been a threat again after another podium in Germany. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) also put a long run of bad luck to bed at the Sachsenring and will expect to be fast at Assen, so the Brit may way feature once again - as may compatriot Jake Dixon (Inde Aspar Team) as it's a venue he knows well.
Guevara on the hunt as Moto3™ heads for Assen
Izan Guevara (GASGAS Aspar Team) has the momentum as Moto3™ heads for the Motul TT Assen, with the number 28 having taken the last two wins in some style – and he’s now within just seven points of the Championship lead held by teammate Sergio Garcia. A third win in a row would be a fantastic way to head into the summer break, but there will be plenty of competition.
Garcia lost out last season by the smallest margin as it came down to a Garcia vs Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) duel, and both will likely be strong again. And both head into the round from podiums, and Garcia has been incredibly consistent. Can they stamp some more veteran authority back on Guevara?
Aegerter on a charge, Granado on the chase
Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) is on a roll in the 2022 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup, with 29 points in hand as MotoE™ heads to the classic TT Circuit Assen for only the second time. It’s a venue where the Swiss rider has plenty of experience and, after taking two wins and finishing on the podium in every race bar one so far this year, it could be another weekend to remember.
Last year on MotoE™’s first visit to the venue, however, it belonged to one rider: Eric Granado (LCR E-Team). The Brazilian took pole, the win and the fastest lap. Granado is the closest challenger to Aegerter in the standings too, and the only rider so far in 2022 to do the double after he started the season in Jerez with two wins. Can he cut that gap back down?