MotoGP update: Espargaro probably injured
After his violent crash in the sprint race, Aleix Espargaro has been taken to hospital for further examinations. According to Sky Italia, there is a suspected fracture of the metacarpal bone of his right hand and a problem with his right foot.
Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori is also in the hospital after his fall. He suffered a severe blow to his back. It remains more than questionable whether either of them will be able to start tomorrow.
MotoE race 2: Zaccone wins confidently
In the first MotoE race, Alessandro Zaccone was narrowly defeated. But this time he doesn’t give his competitors a chance. He dominates the second race, sometimes with a lead of three seconds, and wins for the first time in three years.
Behind them, the battle for positions is tight for a long time. Oscar Gutierrez takes second place, while Hector Garzo narrowly beats IntactGP team-mate Lukas Tulovic to secure third place. Jordi Torres completes the top 5. World Championship leader Mattia Casadei only comes eighth.
– Result Race 2
– World Cup standings
Bagnaia: “We are working very well”
Francesco Bagnaia (1./Ducati): “This is incredible, I love it! We are working very well. I tried to be as consistent as possible to understand if the soft rear tyre is a good choice for tomorrow’s race as well. Winning here in Assen is always fantastic. It’s only Saturday, but the pole position and the sprint win are fantastic.”
Martin: “I tried to follow him”
Jorge Martin (2./Pramac-Ducati): “After yesterday I couldn’t expect to be on the podium today. We worked very well, but ‘Pecco’ is still on another planet.”
“I tried to follow him, but I had a lot of trouble with the hard front tyre. I didn’t want to take that tyre, but then I decided to go for it. The feeling wasn’t good. But I’m very happy to be on the podium here in Assen in the cathedral. Thanks to all the fans!”
Vinales: “It was hard!”
Maverick Vinales (3./Aprilia): “I’m not happy because I expected to be able to fight with them at the front. But Ducati always takes a step forward on Saturday and Sunday. It was tough! My rhythm was a bit slower than theirs.”
“When I saw that I had a lead at the back, I made sure that I didn’t make any mistakes and that I was on the podium. It’s important that we take another step tomorrow because I want to fight for the win.”
MotoGP sprint: Bagnaia wins, Espargaro crashes
Bagnaia celebrates a safe sprint victory and gains important points on Martin, who comes second. The two are now only 15 points apart. Vinales secures third place. Bastianini is fourth.
Di Giannantonio completes the top 5. Espargaro crashes shortly before the finish in turn 15. Binder inherits sixth place. Alex Marquez comes in seventh, but because he did not serve his long lap penalty he receives a time penalty. This drops him to eighth place behind Quartararo. Morbidelli scores the last point.
MotoGP Sprint: Final lap
The last lap is underway. The positions at the front seem to have been decided. Bagnaia is leading comfortably ahead of Martin and Vinales. Bastianini is in fourth place. Behind him, Di Giannantonio, Espargaro, Alex Marquez and Binder continue to form a close fighting group. Nothing has been decided yet.
MotoGP Sprint: Penalties for track limits
In the last third of the race, the track limit warnings become more frequent. Raul Fernandez is the first driver who has to do the long lap because of this. And Alex Marquez also receives a penalty.
Bagnaia has also been warned. The leader must therefore be careful. His lead over Martin is just under one and a half seconds.
MotoGP Sprint: Bastianini on the rise
Five laps left and the field continues to shrink. Now Rins has crashed. Bastianini is moving forward, having cleared Binder and Alex Marquez to take fourth place.
MotoGP Sprint: Battle Group
Behind Alex Marquez in fourth place, the field is closing in. Not only Binder, but also Bastianini and Espargaro are close behind. At the front, Bagnaia has increased his lead to over a second. Martin can’t keep up at the moment.
Meanwhile, Savadori is the next rider out of the race. He seems to have crashed.
MotoGP Sprint: Next failure
For Luca Marini, the race is over early. His Honda has stopped working. It looks like an engine failure.
MotoGP sprint: Bagnaia steps on the gas
Bagnaia is able to open up a first gap and puts six tenths between himself and Martin. Vinales is a good eight tenths behind Martin. Behind him there is already a large gap to Alex Marquez and Binder.
MotoGP sprint: Alex Marquez under pressure
Alex Marquez and Vinales have swapped places again. Now the Aprilia rider is chasing the top 2. And Marquez is being challenged by Binder, who is currently fifth.
MotoGP Sprint: Marc Marquez crashed!
Marc Marquez is able to gain two places and starts the second lap in fifth place, but then crashes in turn 2 and is out of the race. Bagnaia is still in the lead, but cannot shake off Martin. Alex Marquez is fighting to keep up in third place.
MotoGP Sprint: The Start
Bagnai has the best start and is ahead of the field. Martin, Vinales, and Alex Marquez also hold their positions. All of them get through the first corners well.
