VOL. 52 ISSUE 26 JUNE 30, 2015 P59
He finally passed Rossi on
the 20th of 26 laps, but escape
was as impossible for him as it
had been for the old-timer. And
four laps later, Rossi returned
the compliment. The stage was
set for the ending. And now, all
restraint forgotten, it was Mar-
quez merciless, prepared to do
anything; and Rossi relentless,
prepared for obdurate resis-
tance.
The climax will be replayed
over and over, and there may
Briefly...
His plans for a thorough test thwart-
ed by bad weather on the test day
after the last round, Marc Marquez
took a gamble on his back-to-the-
future chassis switch at Assen, and
came up smiling. The beleaguered
defending champion has switched
back to last year's chassis, but with
the latest swing-arm and rear link-
age, in his quest to regain control of
his wayward Honda. He managed
a handful of laps at Barcelona be-
fore rain ruined the day, reporting
a positive feeling. For Assen, both
his bikes were in that configuration,
and he was relieved to report, after
the first day. But he had opened his
account with yet another step into
darkness, crashing at the notorious
155 mph Ramshoek corner before
he had even completed a lap. It
was a lucky escape: he was all but
high-sided, but landed on the seat,
ran across the gravel and grass, and
fell before hitting the fence. The dis-
interred chassis combination "still
needs some work," according to
Marquez. "But I am able to be more
constant at race pace. The previous
chassis was really good for one lap.
Kalex taking over on lap 10,
and Derendinger Kalex' Thom-
as Luthi also getting ahead of
Simeon. Folger was just off the
back by the finish.
Italtrans Kalex' Mika Kallio got
back ahead of Rabat's teammate
Alex Marquez after a race-long
battle. Athina Kalex' Simone
Corsi completed the top 10.
Zarco's third win further extended his
points advantage, 159 to Rabat's 114.
Lowes has 96, Luthi 89, then Rins 87.
Johann Zarco (5) scored his
second-straight win in the Moto2
class and advanced his points lead
in the championship.
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