The Australian rider Jack Miller claimed his first win in MotoGP in an absolutely crazy race in Assen rhythmed by rain and falls. Marc Marquez finished second and extended his championship lead. Scott Redding finished third.
Rain was falling hard on the circuit when the race started with Andrea Dovizioso on pole position. Valentino Rossi took a better start than his fellow countryman while conditions were particularly dangerous. Yonny Hernandez, braver than the two championship contenders took the lead before he fell to the ground. Race direction decided to red flag the race with twelve laps to go due to impracticable weather conditions.
The race started again not long afterwards for a twelve-lap sprint. Dovizioso was, at this point, leading from Danilo Petrucci and Rossi. After leading at the restart, Dovizioso lost the front and offered Rossi the lead until he fell the lap afterwards.
Jack Miller however, easy under wet conditions, kept going up in the standings until he was second behind Marc Marquez. Miller, who had nothing to lose, overtook Marquez. The Spaniard decided not to take to many risks defending or attacking when he knew Dovizioso and Rossi fell.
Behind them was a great battle for third place between Scott Redding and Pol Espargaro, the Brit finishing ahead of the Catalan. Andrea Iannone, who initially started last benefitted from the numerous falls to finish in fourth position ahead of Hector Barbera and Eugene Laverty. Stefan Bradl, Maverick Viñales and Jorge Lorenzo, who really struggled that week-end, completed the top 10 with only thirteen riders making it to the end.
This is Miller’s first victory in MotoGP since his graduation from Moto3 in 2015. In the championship standings, Marquez has now twenty-for points more than Jorge Lorenzo in second position. Rossi remains third.
