MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 7 / JUNE 29-JULY 1, 2018
TT CIRCUIT ASSEN / ASSEN, NETHERLANDS
P84
McPhee had dropped away
then caught up again, but
crashed at the looping Strubben
left-hander early on the penulti-
mate lap.
At the same time, Martin—who
said later he had been battling
with a soft-feeling front brake
throughout—put his head down
and opened a small but signifi-
cant gap.
Bezzecchi was at the back
of the pursuit when he lost the
rear at the first of the two right-
handers at the furthest reach of
the track. This left Bastianini to
mount a successful attack on
Canet, only for the Spaniard to
ping to second.
It was the culmination of a
race-long five-bike battle, with
Martin leading away from pole,
but battered to and fro with the
constant changing of places.
Bezzecchi also led a number of
laps, and also 2017 Assen win-
ner Aron Canet (EG Honda).
Scotsman John McPhee (CIP
KTM) also led one lap after half
distance.
The only one never to lead
over the line was Catalunya
winner Enea Bastianini (Leopard
Honda), but he was always well
in the fight as the final laps drew
near.
Moto3
A dramatic last lap turned the
championship standings upside-
down. Not only did pole qualifier
Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini
Honda) claim a fine fighting win,
but previous points leader Marco
Bezzecchi (Redox Pruestel
KTM) crashed out of the battle
for second with less than half a
lap to go.
Martin has twice been
knocked down and once
crashed alone in the previous
four races, but Sunday's win (his
fourth this year) returns him to
the top of the standings, with a
disappointed Bezzecchi drop-
