MotoGP: Ducatis rule Dutch GP

World MotoGP champ Francesco Bagnaia extended his MotoGP points lead with a convincing win in the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen as Ducati HP continued to rule MotoGP.

A formidable show of strength from the title contender on a weekend that had seen him play second fiddle to Ducati stablemate and title rival Marco Bezzecchi, Bagnaia took the lead of the race on lap three before steadily moving clear of the chasing pack.

Bezzecchi trailed his countryman home in second, the VR46 Ducati rider having struggled to keep tabs on a spirited duel between Bagnaia and Brad Binder early on after dropping from pole to third at the first corner.

Binder was third across the line but – just as he was in the Sprint Race – given a post-race penalty for track limit violation on the final lap. Occurring once again at Turn 8, the South African therefore copped a one place demotion to fourth, promoting Aleix Espargaro onto the podium for the first time since Aragon in 2022.

In a race of high attrition, only 14 of the original 22 starters would make it to the flag with crashes for several of the leading contenders.

Race Results