MotoGP

Andrea Dovizioso has captured the lead in the MotoGP world championship, holding an nine-point advantage over reigning champion Marc Marquez as the action continues at the San Marino Grand Prix on Sunday.

Marquez was forced to retire after seven laps of the British Grand Prix, as Dovizioso took the chequered flag and victory.

Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi hold third and fourth in the chase for the world title, respectively.

The race will start at 1 p.m. BST (8 a.m. ET). The full schedule can be found on MotoGP's official website.

Live stream: BT Sport website (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.) 

                 

Here is a look at the top riders:

Andrea Dovizioso—Ducati

The experienced Italian has risen to new levels of consistency this season, already exceeding the full points total he earned last term.

Dovizioso could be helped by Ducati team-mate Jorge Lorenzo if the rider needs assistance in gaining further ground in the championship race.

According to Fox Sports, Lorenzo said he is ready to follow team orders when the season reaches a conclusion.

"At the moment, we haven’t spoken with the team about helping Dovi. But it will be the time to do it at the end of the season if he remains in this position.

"In this moment there are many races to go and I keep progressing. If I can fight for the victory, I will try to do it."

Dovizioso has Marquez on his tail, and the three-time world champion is used to getting his own way when he climbs the summit.

However, with just six races remaining, the Spanish star must win in San Marino and hope his main competitor suffers the same fate he did at Silverstone.

                

Marc Marquez—Honda

Marquez suffered a complicated and difficult start to the season this year, but he quickly rectified any problems to climb the leaderboard.

However, the rider has lost a grip on a fourth world title and must raise his game against a highly competitive field.

The Honda kingpin was buoyant about his chances after his disappointment in Great Britain.

Per MotoGP.com, Marquez said:

"We’ll try and have a great weekend in Misano, putting the last race behind us. The important thing is that lately we’ve been competitive at all kinds of tracks, so now we go to Misano, which has a twisty, tight layout, with the same approach and mentality that have worked very well for us so far. We’ll look to be as strong as possible, not with victory as the only target but ready to fight for it if we have the opportunity to do so. We’ll work to get the best result possible. We had a positive test there in August, so we’ll go there ready to start well beginning on Friday morning."

The finishing places have been regularly shared and distributed among the sport's top stars, halting Marquez as he unsuccessfully attempts to accumulate consecutive wins on a regular basis.

Vinales and Rossi have made sure the world title battle is not just a two horse race, and if one of the aforementioned contenders can finish ahead of the pack in San Marino, the championship could go down to the final encounter in Valencia.

Ducati talisman Andrea Dovizioso roared to victory in the 2017 MotoGP British Grand Prix on Sunday after defending world champion Marc Marquez blew his engine with seven laps remaining.

The official MotoGP Twitter account provided a look at the moment Dovizioso clinched his first-place finish, with Yamaha pair Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi following in second and third, respectively:

🏁 #MotoGP Race

Back-to-back! @AndreaDovizioso wins the #BritishGP ahead of @maverickmack25 and @ValeYellow46! What a race! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SfGUqswaQ8

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 27, 2017

Dovizioso moved up to first in the standings and is nine points ahead of Marquez. He ended an eight-year drought at Silverstone, winning his first Moto GP British Grand Prix since 2009.

Marquez's late retirement handed his pursuers new hope in making sure he doesn't add a fourth world championship to his collection, with the Spaniard dropping from first as a result.

This is how the top 10 looks after the latest race in the 2017 calendar, via Fox Sports Live:

Championship standings

We have a new leader in @AndreaDovizioso after today's 4th win of the season.#MotoGP #BritishGP🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/xWoaxXctHq

— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) August 27, 2017

Rossi was the leader for much of Sunday's meeting at Silverstone and only lost his perch near the race's crescendo, with Dovizioso continuing the best season of his career with a second successive win.

The 31-year-old capitalised on Marquez's falter following a daring display in the British midlands.

Rossi got a great start and was swiftly followed by Marquez, Vinales and Dovizioso, the three of whom remained on The Doctor's tail for the majority of the race.

Despite the rush of younger talent beaming through the upper ranks of MotoGP of late, BT Sport noted the experience that allowed Rossi to maintain his title optimism at Silverstone:

There's a reason people call Valentino Rossi the GOAT 

300 #MotoGP races and counting for the Doctor... pic.twitter.com/kekilLsKSY

— #BritishGP  (@btsportmotogp) August 27, 2017

Cal Crutchlow, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa formed part of an outsiders' group that battled for seniority outside the main pack, but even they applied pressure on the podium places in a thrilling contest.

The MotoGP title hunt has been its closest for some years in 2017, and reporter Simon Patterson noted the slim margins between competitors give Rossi an advantage:

Rossi is managing the gap to the pack behind - and Vinales, Dovi and Marquez dicing with each other is helping him out!

— Simon Patterson (@denkmit) August 27, 2017

Marquez's first retirement in more than three months came out of the blue, as he was forced to pull up at the end of the Hangar Straight after smoke busted out of his bike, making for major drama late on in the race.

With only seven laps remaining, Rossi had one fewer star enemy to deal with in his pursuit of a second Silverstone crown in three years, via MotoGP:

MASSIVE MOMENT! Marquez is out of the #BritishGP! 😱 pic.twitter.com/cphHNo9enc

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 27, 2017

But Rossi couldn't press his lead, and with three laps remaining, Dovizioso timed his surge to steal in front of his Italian countryman with precious few turns remaining before the chequered flag. There was no bad blood between Rossi and the victor, as he applauded Dovizioso's triumph, and the standings leader told BT Sport what the result meant to him:

"This was an important race, an important victory..."

Andrea Dovizioso says "he wasn't fastest" he just put the bike in the right place. pic.twitter.com/0sltIPTijw

— TNT Sports Bikes (@bikesontnt) August 27, 2017

Dovizioso can bank on this win to provide him with a rush of confidence ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix in a fortnight's time, having already experienced what it feels like to lose the standings lead this season.

Victory in San Marino could make Dovizioso the first rider to seal three successive MotoGP wins since Lorenzo won four in a row during the 2015 campaign.

Marc Marquez holds the advantage at the top of the MotoGP world championship as the competition reaches the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday.

The three-time world champion has picked up his form after a difficult start to his campaign, acquiring podium finishes in recent weeks.

However, Andrea Dovizioso kept the pressure on the Spanish star after winning at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

The race will start at 3:30 p.m. BST (10:30 a.m. ET). The full schedule can be found on MotoGP's official website.

Live stream: BT Sport website (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)

           

Here is a look at the top riders:

Marc Marquez—Honda

Marquez appeared to be undone at the start of the season, but it is foolish to discount the 24-year-old with plenty of battles to fight.

The reigning champion has been a revelation since his Moto GP debut in 2013, and the old guard of the sport have struggled to follow his youthful revolution.

Marquez leads the championship by just 16 points, with Dovizioso finding a rich vein of form for Ducati.

The Spaniard could only finish fourth in last year's race at Silverstone, as Maverick Vinales streaked to victory.

Per Peter McLaren of Crash, Marquez is confident ahead of the British race:

"I know that Yamaha is working really good there and Maverick won [for Suzuki] last year there. But anyway, I'm feeling good with the bike now. It's a bumpy track. We need to find a very good setup. Last year I was competitive. Just I choose the incorrect option with the front tyre. I choose too soft."

A victory will give Marquez the edge he requires at the top of the standings, and with six races remaining after Sunday, the champion will be pushing for another world crown.

                                 

Andrea Dovizioso—Ducati

The Italian star has found an extra gear this season after finishing fifth last term.

Ducati's title chances rest with the 31-year-old, with Jorge Lorenzo languishing in seventh.

Dovizioso edged out Marquez in Austria, pipping the Honda rider on the line to keep his title flame alight.

However, Dovizioso has not contended at the top in this manner before.

Per Jack de Menezes of The Independent, Dovizioso was angered by Marquez as he beat him in Austria, with the Spaniard attempting to overtake at pace.

"To win in the last corner is always different and especially with Marc, because he is really good in the battle," Dovizioso said. "But I had a strange feeling in the last corner, I was more angry than happy because he tried to overtake me in that way."

Marquez is coming into his own in the final weeks of the season, but Dovizioso, Vinales and Valentino Rossi all have realistic chances of closing the gap.

Rossi is the dark horse in the run-in, but the legend has confounded his critics on many occasions in the past.

The MotoGP season will turn its attention to the Red Bull Ring for the 2017 Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, when Andrea Iannone will attempt to offset his recent patch of bad form in search of a second successive win in Spielberg.

The Austrian Grand Prix was absent from the MotoGP circuit for almost 20 years prior to last year's running—it was last held in 1997—but the biggest stars missed top spot as the Italian rider surged to victory.

This time around promises to be different, however, after standings leader and champion Marc Marquez rediscovered his stride, and he comes to Spielberg hoping to become the first rider this year to win three successive races.

A group of elite contenders are ready to capitalise on any show of weakness in Austria, though, and here we will provide a breakdown of the top riders coming into Sunday's competition. 

Sunday's race will start at 1 p.m. BST (8 a.m. ET). The full schedule can be found on MotoGP's official website.

Live stream: BT Sport website (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)

         

Maverick Vinales

Dani Pedrosa will be seen as one rider with the potential to slow Marquez's charge this weekend based on recent form, but second-placed Maverick Vinales has a lot more on the line coming into the Austrian Grand Prix.

Just 14 points separate him from Marquez after the champion followed up his triumph at the German Grand Prix with another win in the Czech Republic last Sunday, and Vinales' title hopes are far from over.

The Spaniard returned to the podium in Brno, Czech Republic, following a three-race streak of retirements and finishes outside the top three, but he'll need to start accumulating better results if he's to usurp Marquez.

MotoGP journalist Hannah Smith recently provided an update from Vinales regarding his outlook after the Czech Grand Prix, and the 22-year-old had only positive thoughts:

https://twitter.com/smith_hannah19/status/894634802485354496

That kind of mentality will help him in his efforts to fend off the likes of Andrea Dovizioso and Valentino Rossi—just seven and eight points below him, respectively—although good performances are still required.

Vinales won't have much experience of racing in Austria or having watched a grand prix there considering its prior absence from the calendar, but that mystery arguably aids his campaign to stage a shock on Sunday.

        

Marc Marquez

Currently matched with Vinales on three wins apiece, victory for Marquez this Sunday would help set his record apart from the rest of the field and hand the youngster a third win in as many outings.

The Honda Repsol team strutted their stuff with a one-two finish at last weekend's Czech Grand Prix, their second of the year after Pedrosa and Marquez clinched first and second, respectively, at the Spanish Grand Prix in May:

Team spirit 🤜🤛 #CzechGP Race @marcmarquez93 @26_danipedrosa @MotoGP #Honda #RepsolHondaTeam #thepowerofdreams pic.twitter.com/WnxyHqwxn4

— Honda HRC Castrol - MotoGP (@HRC_MotoGP) August 6, 2017

Marquez, 24, could only finish fifth in Spielberg last year but told the official MotoGP website he's hopeful of bigger things in 2017:

“The Red Bull Ring is a circuit where we struggled quite a bit last year but hopefully this year it will be different. Brno also used to be a challenging track for us but in the end we got a fantastic result, so we're going to Austria feeling positive. In the post-race test we were able to look into several aspects of our bike's setup, also in view of the next race, such as getting better acceleration and reducing the wheelie-ing.

"We'll do our best to get a good result and to gain important points for the Championship.”

The field will be doing its utmost to ensure the Spaniard doesn't seal his third win in succession, but superbike rider Eugene Laverty testified to Marquez's unique racing acumen during last Sunday's Grand Prix:

I reckon @marcmarquez93 has an Intel Core Processor upstairs! Can’t help but appreciate the best racing brain out there 👏🏼

— Eugene Laverty (@eugenelaverty) August 6, 2017

Marquez's run of four consecutive podium finishes is the longest run of its kind in MotoGP this year, and the champion appears to be enjoying his riding, which is a frightening prospect for his peers.

That being said, the Austrian circuit did hand Marquez concerns en route to a fifth-place finish last year, offering his rivals a glimmer of hope in their efforts to rein in his lead.

A tactical masterstroke from Honda helped Marc Marquez to an emphatic victory in the MotoGP Czech Republic Grand Prix on Sunday.

On a wet track, Marquez was brought into the pits early to put on a softer tyre compound, and he was able to make massive gains on the rest of the field. Eventually he finished 12 seconds clear of team-mate Dani Pedrosa in second place, with Yamaha's Maverick Vinales taking third.

The victory may prove vital in what has been a tight MotoGP season, with Marquez extending his lead to 14 points over Vinales in the race for the world championship; just 10 points had separated the top four in the standings heading into the battle at Brno.

As noted by Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg ahead of the start, the track conditions were tough for the competitors in the Czech Republic:

About to watch the MotoGP. Messy weather out there. Gonna be an exciting race 🏍 pic.twitter.com/VOwg57wwyy

— Nico Rosberg (@NicoRosberg) August 6, 2017

After a strong getaway from pole position, Marquez was overhauled by Jorge Lorenzo and found himself slipping back down the field in the early stages. He was clearly uncomfortable on the wet tyres.

So, with the track slowly drying out, Honda took the decision to bring in the Spaniard and take a measured gamble. As we can see, Marquez emerged from the pits on slicks, as he sought to steal a march on the rest of the field:

Disaster so far for #MM93 who dropped down the field big time before pitting for dry tyres.. could this be a master stroke, though? #CzechGP pic.twitter.com/TF8WWvAbfM

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 6, 2017

In a repeat of their superb strategy at the Sachsenring last season, the decision proved to be inspired from Honda.

Marquez was able to scythe through the field, who were toiling on the wet compound, and back to the head of the pack. As relayed by journalist Simon Patterson, the three-time world champion had quickly established a massive lead over every other rider:

Zarco pits... So Marquez leads Redding by 17s, with Aleix 2 and Bautista 3 right behind him. Crutchlow 9, Vinales 11, Rossi 12, Lorenzo 19

— Simon Patterson (@denkmit) August 6, 2017

It meant that after a frantic beginning to the day, quickly the race looked to be over at the front, with Scott Redding falling back into the pack. In another boost for Honda, Marquez's team-mate, Pedrosa, moved into second spot.

When he started to pull clear of third place, the afternoon was beginning to look routine for the two Honda riders. Marquez, in particular, would have been pleased to see his title rivals—Vinales, Valentino Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso—out of the podium places.

The Yamaha riders were at least giving it a go, though, as Vinales did well to move up into third. Meanwhile, further down the field, Rossi was pulling off something typically enthralling moves:

9 laps to go and The Doctor is on the move, he's past local boy Abraham into 8th! #CzechGP pic.twitter.com/2pq2Fk08ol

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 6, 2017

Indeed, it was Rossi who made for the most exciting viewing late in the race, with Marquez, Pedrosa and Vinales almost in a procession on their way to the finish line.

The Italian did brilliantly to put himself into fifth position and could sense fourth was up for grabs when he moved on to the back of Cal Crutchlow on the final lap. At Turn 5, Rossi was able to get the job done with a smart move and ensure he limited the damage on a fantastic weekend for the world championship leader.

MotoGP will return from its 2017 summer break on Sunday, as the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic is on tap.

Three-time world champion Marc Marquez will lead the pack into the second half of the season, hoping to build off his win in Germany. He holds a minimal lead over Maverick Vinales and Andrea Dovizioso, who both disappointed at the Sachsenring and will be primed to do better in Brno.

Sunday's race will start at 1 p.m. BST (8 a.m. ET). The full schedule can be found on MotoGP's official website.

Live stream: BT Sport website (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)

         

Top Riders

After a slow start to the season, Marquez finds himself in a familiar position at the end of the summer break―at the top of the overall standings. He's finished on the podium in his last three races, winning in Germany to pass Vinales and claim the lead.

The Spaniard has won three titles in MotoGP thanks to his remarkable consistency and versatility. The 24-year-old thrives when racing with the lead, taking advantage of the clean air to build his advantage, and a good start in Brno will once again be crucial.

As shared by MotoGP's official Twitter account, Marquez's form has once again been stellar when looking at the full 2017 campaign:

#MotoGP season so far - @marcmarquez93

🏁 Top result: 1st
🏆 Championship position: 1st pic.twitter.com/3GE5pfLFNd

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) July 30, 2017

But the most talked-about rider this year has been Vinales, who has exploded on to the scene. He took the first two races of the season and added a third win in France, before cooling off in the final races before the summer break.

The 22-year-old now finds himself in a title race he will have dreamed of, but probably not expected at the start of the year. Whether or not Vinales can handle that kind of pressure at such a young age is anyone's guess―Marquez was ready for it during his first successful campaign, but many have needed more seasoning before they took the next step.

Vinales knows the coming races will be crucial:

“The 2nd half of the season is going to be crucial" - @maverickmack25 #CzechGP 📰 https://t.co/kQy6ZDbIO4 pic.twitter.com/LtBVgmFRlM

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 2, 2017

Dovizioso took the win in Italy and Catalunya, powering his surge up the standings, but he failed to make the podium in the Netherlands and Germany. As of right now, the Italian appears to be an outsider in the title race.

Veteran Valentino Rossi and Spain's Dani Pedrosa make up the rest of the top five, and the latter sits just 26 points behind compatriot Marquez. Both have experience and are just one good result away from a serious challenge at the top―Pedrosa in particular could stand out in the Czech Republic, with wins there in 2012 and 2014.

The 2017 MotoGP season is turning into one of the most fascinating campaigns for years, making this weekend's Grand Prix of Germany crucial for those involved in the title shakeup.

A thrilling win for Valentino Rossi at the Netherlands Grand Prix last time out means that just 11 points separate the top four in the battle for the world championship. The Yamaha man is on 108 points in third, with Andrea Dovizioso leading the way on 115 points; Maverick Vinales has 111 in second, while defending champion Marc Marquez is fourth with a haul of 104.

The Sachsenring in Saxony will host the next chapter of this campaign—a venue where Marquez picked up a big win on his way to glory in 2016, his fourth in a row in Germany.

Read on for the key viewing details for the race weekend and a closer look at some of the riders in the mix for the world title as we reach the halfway point of the season.

         

Schedule (Times BST)

Free Practice 1—Friday, June 30, 8:55 a.m. - 9:40 a.m.

Free Practice 2—Friday, June 30, 1:05 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

Free Practice 3—Saturday, July 1, 8:55 a.m. - 9:40 a.m.

Free Practice 4—Saturday, July 1, 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Qualifying 1—Saturday, July 1, 1:10 p.m. - 1:25 p.m.

Qualifying 2—Saturday, July 1, 1:35 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

Race—Sunday, July 2, 1 p.m.

         

TV Info: BT Sport (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)

Live Stream: BT Sport website (UK), beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)

         

Four-Way Fight for World Title

Having not stood on the top step of the podium for more than a year, there was relief on the face of Rossi when he finally held off Danilo Petrucci at Assen.

The two Italians were involved in a gripping tussle at the end of a brilliant race on Sunday, although the experience of the nine-time world champion eventually saw him take the win by a meagre 0.063-second margin.

The Eurosport UK Twitter account reminded everyone of how long Rossi has been at the top:

The ageless Valentino Rossi! @ValeYellow46 #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/etNsG9P3Su

— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) June 25, 2017

The 38-year-old's win also gave him a real chance of winning another world title, as relayed by the MotoGP Twitter account:

"The Championship is unbelievable!" - #VR46 pic.twitter.com/VlRNl20M1T

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 25, 2017

Going into this weekend's race, it's Dovizioso who leads the way in the standings, as he came home in fifth place at Assen.

The Ducati man is having the season of his life after back-to-back wins leading into the Netherlands Grand Prix and put together a decent performance last weekend. Eventually, getting over the line in a points position was enough for him to move to the summit of the standings.

That was after Vinales crashed out, continuing his inconsistent form. Having joined Yamaha, the young Spaniard was sensational early in the season, winning the first two races in style. He also won the French Grand Prix but has struggled in his last two races.

As we can see, he had a pretty heavy fall in the Assen race:

#DutchGP disaster for Viñales! 🙈

Watch how #MV25 lost the #MotoGP Championship lead in Assen! 🎥 https://t.co/PpadJZbxjH pic.twitter.com/0Va0gbbTMN

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 25, 2017

The man who won in Germany 12 months ago, Marquez, will be hoping to kick-start his season with victory here, having only won one of the opening eight races. A determined third spot in the Netherlands should give him confidence coming into this weekend.

However, the unpredictable nature of this season makes it tough to write off any man in the field. As noted by MotoGP journalist Neil Morrison, at the moment it feels as though anyone can win in this remarkable campaign:

5 victors in 8 MotoGP races. That's greater variety than '15/'14/'13 (4 diff winners in each yr), '12 (3), '11 & '10 (4) in their entirety.

— Neil Morrison (@NeilMorrison87) June 25, 2017

Marquez has been imperious at this venue in the past. Not only has the Honda world champion won his last four MotoGP races here, he also won twice in Germany as a Moto2 rider.

If there was a race in which the Spaniard's Sachsenring streak was to come to an end, this chaotic 2017 campaign may well be the perfect stage for it. However, after a strong showing in the Netherlands and many fond memories around this circuit in the bank, the world champion will stamp his authority on the race.

          

Prediction: 1. Marquez, 2. Vinales, 3. Rossi

Yamaha's Valentino Rossi won his first race for more than a year on Sunday, as he came through to take victory in a thrilling MotoGP Netherlands Grand Prix.

The veteran hadn't savoured glory since the 2016 Catalan Grand Prix, but he showcased all his experience in spades at Assen, as he held off Ducati's Danilo Petrucci in an absorbing battle. Defending world champion Marc Marquez came home in third place for Honda.

The MotoGP Twitter feed captured the moment Rossi crossed the line:

#VR46 WINS! He OFFICIALLY has the longest winning career through ALL classes - 20 years, 313 days!#DutchGP #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/EaymFdbIC2

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 25, 2017

Rossi's team-mate Maverick Vinales crashed out, allowing Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso to take the lead of the championship by four points; the top four riders in the standings are now covered by just 11 points.

MotoGrandPrixID provided the final race result:

https://twitter.com/MotoGrandPrixID/status/878944005265936384

Rossi Wins Assen Thriller

It was Johann Zarco who started the race on pole having produced a storming qualifying performance. The rookie eventually didn't finish in the shakeup for victory, losing ground due to a misguided tactical switch and coming home in 14th spot.

Another rider who endured a disappointing day was Vinales. After enjoying a blistering beginning to the season with his new team, the young Spaniard has lost momentum in recent weeks and paid the price for losing balance at Turn 17 with 14 laps to go.

As noted by MotoGP journalist Neil Morrison, his team-mate Rossi is chopping down the advantage built up initially by Vinales:

Viñales fastest everywhere all winter & Rossi says the right things & keeps @ it. Now VR's 7pts off & MV's spitting. It's all going to plan.

— Neil Morrison (@NeilMorrison87) June 25, 2017

With the duo out of contention, some more seasoned competitors were juking it out at the front in pursuit of the victory, with Rossi moving through into first position. Petrucci was keeping the Doctor on his toes, though, as the pair engaged in a fascinating tussle.

Indeed, as the heavens threatened to open and drizzle sprinkled across the Assen circuit, the riders needed to be careful. Eventually, it was the duo aforementioned who handled the conditions the better, as they pulled away from the rest of the field.

The Italians each held the lead in the final stages, as they each pushed their bike to the limit in pursuit of the win. Per the Crash.net MotoGP Twitter feed, there was very little separating the pair in the final stages:

It's Rossi vs Petrucci for victory as the rain drops continue to fall #DutchGP #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/ZkAvHau7gK

— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) June 25, 2017

Petrucci did everything possible to seize what would have been his first win in MotoGP and rode superbly, but eventually Rossi's experience just about shone through, as he nipped ahead to take the chequered flag. The nine-time world champion's winning margin was eventually a miniscule 0.065 seconds.

World Superbikes rider Alex Lowes paid tribute to another great Rossi performance, who has now won 10 times at the Assen circuit:

Nothing more than total and utter respect @ValeYellow46 take another bow #GOAT

— - (@alexlowes22) June 25, 2017

Meanwhile, Petrucci wasn't pleased with the race officials, as lapped riders seemed to hold him up in the final stages, per MotoGP reporter Simon Patterson:

Petrux blaming marshals for costing him the race - said Barbera and Rins weren't shown blue flags when he and Rossi caught and lapped them

— Simon Patterson (@denkmit) June 25, 2017

"This place is always special," said a delighted Rossi afterwards, per Crash.net. "Today, I have a lot of people around and the track is fantastic. I'm back in first after one year. I'm so happy. It's the best way!"

Further back, Marquez was also involved in a brilliant battle, as he fended off Cal Crutchlow and Dovizioso to take the final spot on the podium. It keeps the Spaniard right in the hunt at the top of the standings when the riders head to Germany next weekend.

Maverick Vinales leads the world championship in MotoGP as the season heads to the 2017 Grand Prix of the Netherlands at the TT Circuit Assen on Sunday.

The Movistar Yamaha rider is only seven points clear of Andrea Dovizioso as the Ducati man has been consistent this season.

Marc Marquez's annual charge is yet to catch fire, but the mercurial Spaniard will be hoping to claim a victory in the eighth race of the campaign.

    

Race Schedule

Sunday, June 25

WUP start: 8:10 a.m. (BST)/3:10 a.m. (ET)

Race start: 12 p.m. (BST)/7 a.m. (ET)

Live stream: BT Sport website (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)

    

Top Riders

As Vinales and Dovizioso have their own private tussle for the lead at the top of the world standings, there is a tight pack crammed with quality behind them ready to strike.

Marquez's second place in Barcelona has kept him in touch, but the reigning world champion will feel his season has truly begun if he is on top of the podium in Assen.

Dovizioso has proved himself as a genuine contender in recent months, but the Italian is refusing to get carried away at this early juncture.

According to Crash.net, Dovizioso was confident ahead of the trip to the Netherlands:

"After two wins on the run in Italy and Spain, it's been a fantastic week for me. Even though I'm second overall in the standings I'm not thinking too much of the championship because there are still a lot of races left and we must continue to work to improve some aspects of our bike. It's true that we have dominated the last two GP and that the Desmosedici GP has gone really well but these were peculiar races, in particular Barcelona. In any case I'm pretty relaxed about everything and also at Assen I'll be trying to get the best result I can."

Dani Pedrosa and the legendary Valentino Rossi will both be in contention on Sunday, and they are placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the championship.

Much like last season, Rossi is failing to gain victories, but his consistency sees him very much the title picture.

Cal Crutchlow will be hoping for a good result to celebrate signing a new two-year deal with LCR Honda, per Crash.

The British rider is down in ninth but has the craft to finish high up the field in the Netherlands.

Vinales and Dovizioso are fan favourites at the moment, and both will be trying to extend their necks ahead of the other on Sunday.

However, Vinales' 10th-placed finish in Barcelona was a temporary blip during his personal charge, and he will be desperate to get back to winning ways in the next race.

Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso won his second consecutive MotoGP race on Sunday, turning in an imperious performance to clinch the Grand Prix of Catalunya.

After starting in seventh place, Dovizioso moved through the field seamlessly, eventually overtaking Honda riders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa—who finished second and third, respectively—to take the chequered flag.

It was a day to forget for the Yamaha riders, as Valentino Rossi came home eighth and world championship leader Maverick Vinales was only good for 10th.

Dovizioso Wins Again

Off the line pole-sitter Pedrosa preserved his advantage, but there was a hairy moment for Marquez further back in the field, as he came into contact with Danilo Petrucci off the line. Marquez recovered and eventually moved into third.

Meanwhile, Jorge Lorenzo took the lead from Pedrosa, who looked vulnerable early on. Indeed, the Honda man was overtaken by his team-mate Marquez, too.

With the world champion on the charge, Lorenzo couldn't keep first place for long. The home crowd was delighted to see Marquez take the lead and Pedrosa sneak into second, courtesy of the MotoGP Twitter feed:

New leader! #MM93 hits the front and #DP26 follows him through! #CatalanGP pic.twitter.com/7q07nrgF5y

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 11, 2017

Lorenzo started slipping down the order, and Dovizioso went the other way. The Ducati man showed excellent pace to recover from seventh on the grid.

Having won the Italian grand prix last time out, Dovizioso showed a lot of confidence and was quickly onto the two Honda drivers up front. As the Moto Race Feed noted, there wasn't much to choose between the leaders at this point:

#MotoGP - Close at the front... pic.twitter.com/nXS3D3PnhQ

— Moto Race Feed (@MotoRaceFeed) June 11, 2017

Dovizioso had the best pace, though. First, he took Marquez—who had fallen back into second behind his team-mate—on the inside, and after biding his time behind Pedrosa, he easily moved through on the straight with nine laps remaining.

The Italian was on course for back-to-back victories at this stage, as he laid down the gauntlet for a Honda response. Marquez responded, as he retook second spot and kept the gap steady for a spell.

Dovizioso, however, still looked strong up top, and he slowly extended his lead beyond a second. The leader had settled into a brilliant groove out front, per ThePitCrewOnline:

Dovizioso has shown some incredible consistency! Not a 1.48 lap in sight.

— ThePitCrewOnline © (@PitCrew_Online) June 11, 2017

As the race entered the final stages, Dovizioso built a gap over Marquez. The Ducati rider enjoyed the moment, coasting over the line ahead of the Honda pairing.

There is no doubt Dovizioso is in the form of his career. Prior to last week's triumph at Mugello, he had secured only two wins in nine years in MotoGP.

He'll have his eyes on the world title as well now. Dovizioso is just seven points behind Vinales in the standings. With his tail up, the Ducati man will feel confident of overhauling that deficit in a fortnight's time, when MotoGP heads to the Netherlands.