Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/842139
MOTOGP FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 8 / JUNE 24-25, 2017 TT CIRCUIT ASSEN / ASSEN, THE NETHERLANDS P92 of British Talent Team rider John McPhee (Honda). Canet started the last lap third, from Mir and McPhee. But Mir's so far superlative race-craft de- serted him. He slowed too much at the furthest corners, and was swamped. Canet took advantage, with Fenati as close company, and McPhee less than a 10th behind in third. Martin was now back to fourth. Jules Danilo (Rivacold Honda) was fifth, then Ramirez the first KTM. Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA KTM) was seventh, then Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Honda), with Mir ninth, albeit less than a second adrift of the winner. Bendsneyder crossed the line tenth, but he was no longer on his bike, having fallen on the chicane exit, so was not classi- fied. The position went to Nicolo Bulega (SKY VR46 KTM), never in touch with the leaders. Canet closed up slightly on Mir, 110 points to the four-times winner's 140. Fenati has 108, Martin 89 and McPhee 83. Pole qualifier Jorge Martin (Del Conca Honda) led away, with crowd favorite Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM) in pursuit. The Dutchman took to the front on lap five, but Romano Fenati (Rivacold Honda) led next time around, and for the next few laps it was Fenati and Martin making the run- ning, with points leader Joan Mir (Leopard Honda) staying close. As usual, however, it was a volatile lead group, which swelled to 11-strong just around half distance. Martin demonstrated just how volatile, dropping from a challenging fifth to 11th with three laps to go, after a collision with former leader Marcos Ramirez (Platinum Bay KTM) at the first corner. The ride of the race came from Aron Canet (EG Honda), who had dropped to 15th after narrowly avoiding a three-bike chicane tumble that took out Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Honda) and Enea Bastianini (EG Honda). As the rest swapped paint, the Jerez winner was cannily pick- ing his way forward, in the wake got back ahead of Hafizh Syahrin (Petronas Kalex) by a couple of tenths for seventh; class rookie Fabio Quartararo (Pons Kalex) got ahead of Dominique Aegerter (Kiefer Suter) after half distance for ninth. In the closing laps, Pecco Bagnaia (SKY VR46 Kalex) also got past the Swiss rider and es- caped, and also Marcel Schrotter (Dynavolt Suter), taking 11th on the last lap. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM), Yonny Hernandez (AGR Kalex) and Jorge Na- varro (Gresini Kalex) took the last points, the last-named displacing Remy Gardner (Tech 3) from the points with four laps to go. Morbidelli now leads Luthi by 12 points, 148-136, with Marquez on 113, then Oliveira (94) and Pasini (82). MOTO3 The track had mainly dried after a sodden morning, but drizzle began during the warm-up lap. Luckily, it came to nothing, but the track was treacherous, and there were a number of crashes. Aron Canet (inside) started the last lap in third but ended up the winner of Moto3.