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| 2025 Dutch MotoGP: Marc Marquez’s Assen Crashes, Fabio Quartararo’s Yamaha Revival, and Key Race Pace Insights. |
The 2025 MotoGP season has taken plenty of criticism—and often deserved—for its occasional lack of on-track excitement. But despite that, the championship continues to deliver unexpected twists that keep fans guessing and invested.
From Marquez Dominance to Shocking Upsets
At the Grand Prix of the Americas, Marc Marquez was leading comfortably until a crash handed victory to teammate Pecco Bagnaia—and unexpectedly transferred the championship lead to his younger brother, Alex Marquez.
After sweeping Qatar, Marquez crashed again in Jerez, allowing Alex to secure his first win and reclaim the points lead. The wet chaos at Le Mans saw Johann Zarco clinch a victory for Honda, while Marco Bezzecchi delivered a stunning win for Aprilia at Silverstone.
But it was back-to-back domination for Marquez at Aragon and Mugello, where he secured pole position, sprint race, and Grand Prix victories—bringing a 40-point lead into this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix at Assen.
Assen Challenges: Not Always Marquez’s Playground
While Marquez entered Assen cautiously optimistic—he hadn't won there since 2018—it didn’t take long for the track to bite back. Just minutes into FP1, he suffered a high-speed crash at Turn 15 (Ramshoek), injuring his left arm after a violent slide into the gravel.
Ducati’s Davide Tardozzi later confirmed the crash was caused by Marquez’s own error—downshifting too quickly and losing rear traction. Incredibly, Marquez returned to the track and set the fastest time of the session.
Later, in the main Practice session, he suffered another crash—this time at Turn 7 (Ruskenhoek). Although he bounced through the gravel and took some painful hits, medical checks showed no major injuries.
Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha Find Momentum at Assen
While Marquez stole headlines, the biggest surprise came from Yamaha. Fabio Quartararo topped the timing charts and showed genuine pace throughout Friday. Assen’s short straight and grippy surface helped offset Yamaha’s top-speed disadvantage, and Quartararo looked rejuvenated.
Despite struggling with bike setup in FP1, the Yamaha team made major improvements for the afternoon session. Quartararo’s seven-lap run on soft tires averaged 1m32.273s—faster than both Marc Marquez (1m32.409s) and Pecco Bagnaia (1m32.499s).
However, the rest of the Yamaha camp struggled. Alex Rins placed 13th, and satellite riders Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller were outside the top 15. Still, Quartararo’s previous podiums and wins at Assen suggest he could be a dark horse for Sunday.
Race Pace Analysis: Who’s Really Fast?
Here’s a breakdown of the best average pace from Practice:
| Rider | Bike | Avg Pace | Tire | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Marquez | Ducati | 1m32.039s | Soft | 2 |
| Fabio Quartararo | Yamaha | 1m32.273s | Soft | 7 |
| Pedro Acosta | KTM | 1m32.369s | Soft | 3 |
| Marc Marquez | Ducati | 1m32.409s | Soft | 7 |
| Pecco Bagnaia | Ducati | 1m32.499s | Soft | 4 |
Quartararo’s pace stands out not just for its consistency, but for being more reliable than Alex Marquez’s shorter sample. If he can qualify strongly, his ability to lead and control a race (as seen at Silverstone) could turn into Yamaha’s big redemption moment.
What About Bagnaia and Marquez?
Bagnaia had a quiet but solid day. After struggling with front-end feeling in Mugello, signs of improvement came at Assen—despite his best soft-tire lap being compromised by a red flag. His long-run average of 1m32.499s over four laps shows promise, but he remains nearly a tenth off Marquez.
Marquez, meanwhile, was relentless. Despite two heavy crashes, he completed a strong long run and showed excellent tire management—something he’s consistently excelled at this season. With Sachsenring (his favorite track) up next, he’ll want to maintain or extend his championship lead here in the Netherlands.
Can Quartararo Capitalize? Or Will Marquez Bounce Back?
Assen remains unpredictable. Friday showed flashes of brilliance from Quartararo and resilience from Marquez. Bagnaia isn’t out of the fight either, but still needs to find consistency in sprint conditions.
With Quartararo showing the best soft tire performance over a real race distance, and Marquez nursing bruises but still fast, Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix could deliver the drama fans have been craving.
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