Di Giannantonio would run wide
early on, but the rest would play a
lively role in the lead pack, piling up
behind fast-starter Binder, who was
overtaken several times, but imme-
diately got straight back in front.
At first it was Vierge in pursuit,
then Lowes took over briefly. But
the Briton had dropped back to
out of what was looking like an
assured fourth win in a row.
This was just one incident in a
close race with many of them.
Another victim was first-time
pole qualifier Remy Gard-
ner (ONEXOX Kalex), whose
chances were spoiled with
gear-shifting problems that put
him out of the leading group and
off the track in the early stages,
then into a last-corner crash as
he tried to make up time.
By the finish, more crashes
had depleted the once super-
close front group, and gave a
season-best second for long-
time leader Brad Binder, whose
Red Bull KTM has, until this
race, been struggling; and a
most unexpected third for Luca
Marini (SKY VR46 Kalex).
Binder had qualified second,
with Xavi Vierge (EG-VDS Kalex)
alongside, and Marquez head-
ing row two from Sam Lowes
(Federal Oils Kalex) and Fabio Di
Giannantonio's Beta Tools Speed
Up.
Espargaro (Aprilia) got the better
of a four-bike tussle, leading
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM)
by less than a tenth, with Pecco
Bagnaia (Pramac Ducati) and
Hafizh Syahrin (Red Bull KTM)
right there, the quartet past the
flag inside four tenths to wrap
the final points.
Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM)
had dropped out of this fight and
retired to the pits, reportedly
with "no mechanical issues."
With the midpoint of the sea-
son approaching, Marquez goes
to the German GP next week-
end, where he is undefeated,
with a 44-point lead, 160 points
to Dovi's 116. Petrucci has 108,
then Rins 101, Rossi 72 and the
rising Quartararo 67.
MOTO2
High drama in the best Moto2
race in the new Triumph-powered
era yielded a first win for Flexbox
HP40 Kalex rider Augusto Fer-
nandez, but bitter gall for Spanish
compatriot Alex Marquez (EG-
VDS Kalex), who was knocked
MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 10 / JUNE 28-30, 2019
TT CIRCUIT ASSEN / ASSEN, NETHERLANDS
P70
Dovizioso (04)
struggled with grip
issues all race but
improved for fourth.
