MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 8 / JUNE 24-25, 2017
TT CIRCUIT ASSEN / ASSEN, THE NETHERLANDS
P82
Alex Rins (Ecstar Suzuki) at the
end of the back straight on the
last lap cost Petrucci a chance
of a first win, he believed. "We
almost crashed, and in the end I
was second, but very close. But
I am happy," he smiled ruefully.
Very close indeed—just 0.06
of a second. But Rossi had cal-
culated it would not be possible
to pass out of the final chicane,
chance of catching the leading
quartet. Then he became one of
a slew of the weekend's victims
of the notorious closing chicane.
Game over for the Movistar
Yamaha. "I don't even know why
I crashed. I have passed there
2000 times, but this time I was
over the limit."
He missed what remained an
enthralling race to the end. By
then Rossi (Movistar Yamaha)
and Danilo Petrucci (Pramac
Ducati) had broken clear, Pe-
trucci briefly ahead.
A near collision as he lapped
and had slowed to celebrate his
10th Assen win, his first for more
than one year.
"It's a great feeling after that
time, and a great battle—with
Danilo, with Marc and with Zar-
co," Rossi said. Importantly he
was using an upgraded chassis,
which addressed his bad feeling
on corner entry. "I am able to
ride the bike in a better way."
(Above) Rossi celebrates his 115th
career grand prix victory.
(Right) Rossi leads Marquez and
Pettrucci at the Dutch Grand Prix.
