MotoGP is in action this weekend as it heads to Assen for round eight of the season.
On form
Marc Marquez currently leads the MotoGP championship and is coming into the weekend having won three of the last four races and therefore having also managed to outscore his nearest rival, Andrea Dovizioso, in the last four races.
Others entering the weekend on a good run of results include Danilo Petrucci who has finished on the podium in the last three races, which includes his maiden MotoGP win in Mugello, Italy. Rookie, Fabio Quartararo is also on good form having taken pole position twice in the last four rounds and claimed his maiden MotoGP podium at the previous round in Catalunya.
Another rider in strong form is Pol Espargaro who has finished inside the top ten in the last three consecutive races, which includes a season best result of sixth at the French Grand Prix.
In need of a result
If Andrea Dovizioso wants to challenge Marquez for the title this season, the Italian will need to start outscoring Marquez having only managed to do so in two of the seven races so far this season.
Another in need of a result is Valentino Rossi, having retired from the previous two races, although one of those he was collected in the multiple rider accident in Catalunya which was triggered by Jorge Lorenzo.
Embed from Getty ImagesOthers in need of a trouble free weekend include Franco Morbidelli who has retired from the previous two races and Maverick Vinales who has retired from two of the last three races.
Lastly Francesco Bagnaia will also want a solid weekend having retired from the last four races and having only managed to finish two races so far this season.
Been there, done that
There are four riders on the MotoGP grid to have won in Assen in the premier class.
Marc Marquez won last season as well as in 2014, while Valentino Rossi has won eight times, the most recent of which came in 2017.
The other two riders on the grid to have won in Assen are Jack Miller who took victory in the 2016 edition and Jorge Lorenzo who won in 2010 for Yamaha.
Last Season
As mentioned previously, Marc Marquez won the 2018 edition and was accompanied on the podium by Alex Rins on the Suzuki and Maverick Vinales on the Yamaha, making it an all Spanish rider podium as well as an all Japanese bike manufacturer podium.
Valentino Rossi finished fifth in 2018 while Jorge Lorenzo crossed the line in seventh and Jack Miller finished tenth.
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The Motorsport Critic 