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Moto GP – 2024 Motul TT Assen Preview

After a small break, MotoGP heads to TT Assen for Round 8 of the world championship. Here is DRC’s preview for the TT Assen.

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Moto GP - 2024 Motul TT Assen Preview
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Moto GP returns to us fans after a long wait of a month, and it does so in the form of Motul TT Assen. With a ton of rider announcements still left and a championship to win, there is a lot for us fans to look forward to.

Bombshell announcements

Perhaps the biggest talking point from the month-long break is the sheer amount of surprise driver transfers. The first domino to fall in this series was the transfer of Jorge Martin to Aprilia Racing in 2025, replacing the outgoing Aleix Espargo.

This transfer paved the way for the other frontrunner of that coveted factory Ducati seat, Marc Marquez. Marquez signed with Ducati Lenovo team on a two-year deal that will see him race for the Italian outfit for at least 2026.

Elsewhere, it was KTM that took the headlines by storm. They have announced Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales as riders of the satellite Red Bull KTM Tech3 team.

The final piece that came in the spring break was the transfer of Marco Bezzecchi from a Ducati bike to Aprilia Racing where he will paired with Jorge Martin.

With 7 teams still left to announce their lineups, the driver market will be interesting to watch.

Bagnaia’s strong suit

The Assen circuit has been a favourite among many riders. But the rider that has won the last two races held at this circuit is Francesco Bagnaia. The only other rider that managed consecutive wins at the Cathedral of Speed was Valentino Rossi (2004, 2005). With Marc Marquez recently announced as his teammate for 2025, he would be looking forward to making a strong point for himself.

Moto GP - 2024 Motul TT Assen Preview
Bagnaia after winning last year’s race at TT Assen; credits-TheRace

Elsewhere, Jorge Martin still leads the rider’s championship over Bagnaia by 17 points. He, however, is yet to taste the champagne at this track. He would be hoping to change this fact and further extend his championship lead.

Sitting in P3 and firmly in contention is Marc Marquez. He too, like Pecco, has won at this venue in Moto GP two times previously. His 2024 season has been one for the books so far and he too would be looking forward to getting that first win with a Ducati. If Marc Marquez manages to come atop the podium come Sunday, it would mark a gap of 980 days between his wins, with his last win being in 2021 at Emilia Romagna GP.

Aprilia magic

Aprilia has started the second part of the season with the strong signings of Marco Bezecchi and Jorge Martin. However, their current rostrum is no slouch either. Last year’s TT Assen saw Aleix Esparago finish in P3 in the race and P4 in the sprint.

Moto GP - 2024 Motul TT Assen Preview
Maverick Vinales at the Mugello testing; Credits-MotoGP

On the other side of the garage is another Assen master. Maverick Vinales has had a win in 2019 and podiums in 2018, 2021 and 2022. With his 2024 form looking good, can he add another Assen win to his bag?

KTM’s updates in first racing action?

The manufacturer that gathered the most eyeballs in the Mugello testing held at the beginning of the month was KTM. They had introduced a new design of side fairing, a similar one to the Jerez test.

Moto GP - 2024 Motul TT Assen Preview
Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (KTM’s satellite team) with the updated aero; credits-Moto GP

This update helped the Austrian outfit to top the timesheets at the Mugello test with Brad Binder. However, it being a wet session, didn’t mean as much. The Motul TT Assen could be the first racing opportunity that KTM will get to test their bikes.

With Jack Miller, race winner here in 2016, effectively without a seat in 2025, he would be looking for a good performance to come under the radar of other Teams.

However, whether they decide to introduce these upgrades at this race is yet to be seen.

Yamaha’s private testing

The team heading to the Netherlands with the highest aspiration would be the Japanese outfit Yamaha. Yamaha had an extra testing opportunity at the Valencia track after the Mugello testing. They had greatly appreciated this chance since the Mugello test was interrupted due to rain.

Moto GP - 2024 Motul TT Assen Preview
Fabio Quartaro in mugello testing; credits- Moto GP

Fabio Quartaro has won here in the past, in 2021. But the last two TT Assen have not been good for him as he retired from both. His pace, however, has been there. He grabbed a sprint podium last time around and qualified P4 for the race. His teammate Alex Rins, an effective free agent for 2025, would be looking to impress the Yamaha bosses with his performance.

Whether or not this testing has had any positive impact on the team’s condition will be a thing to witness.

The Track

TT Assen is the longest-serving track on the MotoGP calendar. Moto GP has raced here at its every rendition barring 2020. A rider and fan favorite, this track is known for its amazing atmosphere.

Moto GP - 2024 Motul TT Assen Preview
Moto GP - 2024 Motul TT Assen Preview

Weekend Schedule and Where to Watch

You can watch all the action live on Eurosport (TV Broadcast) and Jio Cinema (Digital streaming). The full schedule in IST is given below:

Moto GP - 2024 Motul TT Assen Preview

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MotoGP

MotoGP: Unstoppable Marquez Makes it 93 Wins for #93 in Mugello

Dominant Marc, Vintage Bagnaia and edge of the seat action, MotoGP delivered it all in Mugello.

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Marc Marquez celebrates on the podium after winning the MotoGP Grand Prix of Mugello
Credits: MotoGP

MotoGP went from Marquez’s backyard in Aragon to Bagnaia’s backyard in Mugello, but the end result was the same: a complete domination by Marc Marquez. This weekend it was made more special as Marquez got his 93rd win in all classes of two-wheeler racing.

Read More: MotoGP Aragon: Marc Marquez Dominant at His Backyard

93 Wins for #93

Marc Marquez had another dominant weekend in MotoGP, taking yet another Pole, Sprint win, and Grand Prix win at Mugello. After a short winless streak of 4 races, Marc bounced back strong to have 2 dominant weekends in Aragon and in Mugello. In Mugello, however, it was not an easy ride.

During the Sprint race, Marquez had an issue with his bike just as the lights were about to go out, which resulted in Marc dropping places going into Turn 1. But Marc soon made up places, going up to P3 at the start of Lap 3. What commenced was a battle for victory between Marc, Bagnaia and Alex. On lap 4, Marc made the move for the lead, and it was smooth sailing for him afterwards as he converted his 100th GP pole to the sprint win.

MotoGP: Unstoppable Marquez Makes it 93 Wins for #93 in Mugello
Marc Marquez after his sprint win in Mugello. Credits: MotoGP

The GP race on Sunday was a treat to the eyes. The opening laps in Mugello were some of the best we have seen this year in terms of racing. Marc was constantly challenged and overtaken for the lead by his teammate and brother, a proper edge-of-the-seat drama. Ultimately, Marc took the win with his brother following him in P2.

Vintage Bagnaia on Display in Mugello but in Vain

For the first time this year, we saw the Bagnaia we had been expecting to see from the start. When Marquez signed for Ducati, everyone was looking forward to Marquez vs Bagnaia, but that did not happen this year, until Mugello. Pecco was in his vintage mode, taking on Marquez toe to toe and more often than not coming out ahead of his teammate, although eventually it was Marquez who got the better of him. Pecco still had a decent weekend, a P3 in the sprint and narrowly missing out on the podium on Sunday after leading the race early on.

MotoGP: Unstoppable Marquez Makes it 93 Wins for #93 in Mugello
Marquez vs Bagnaia in Mugello. Credits: MotoGP

Another Solid Weekend from Alex Marquez

Alex Marquez got his 6th podium of the season and a fourth Marquez 1-2 of the year. Alex did briefly challenge for the win in both races in Mugello, but eventually lost out to Marc, just like everyone else. Currently sitting second in the standings, Alex is 40 points behind his older brother, and there is still a long season to go. Although there have been allegations made after Mugello that Alex does not race his older brother like he races others, if Alex does take on Marc, it will be a championship battle to watch out for.

MotoGP: Unstoppable Marquez Makes it 93 Wins for #93 in Mugello
Alex Marquez leads the factory Ducatis in Mugello. Credit: MotoGP

Di Giannantonio Matches His Best Season in MotoGP in Terms of Podiums

Fabio Di Giannantonio got his second podium of the year, finishing P3 in Mugello, matching his best finish of P3 in Austin earlier this year. The Italian rider had a stellar show on Sunday, charging up to claim the podium, narrowly missing out on P2 as he ran out of laps to chase down Alex. Overall, it is a weekend Diggia will be happy with and will look to build on it for the rest of the season. He currently sits 5th in the standings, only 8 points behind his teammate in fourth.

MotoGP: Unstoppable Marquez Makes it 93 Wins for #93 in Mugello
Di Giannantonio finishes P3 at his home race in Mugello. Credits: MotoGP

Up Next: Assen

No time to rest as the paddock moves to TT Circuit Assen for the MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix from 27th to 29th June for the second leg of the double header. Who triumphs in the land of the Dutch? Only one way to find out. Watch all the MotoGP action live in India online on Fancode or on your TVs at Eurosport.


Desi Racing Co.Ā is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us onĀ Twitter/X/,Ā Instagram, andĀ LinkedInĀ to keep up with the latest motorsport newsĀ andĀ updates.

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MotoGP Aragon: Marc Marquez Dominant at His Backyard

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Marc Marquez at the MotoGP Grand Prix of Aragon.
Credits: MotoGP

MotoGP made its way to Aragon, a place that is known as Marc Marquez’s backyard. Marquez demonstrated why exactly. A complete dominance from the Spaniard that saw him take the Pole and sprint win on Saturday, and then a win and the fastest lap of the GP on Sunday. Alex Marquez continued to be at the tail of his brother, finishing second, and Francesco Bagnaia scored a P3 on Sunday, a podium that will do a world of good to the confidence of the Italian before we head to his home turf in Mugello.

Read More: MotoGP Heads to Marquez’s Backyard in Aragon

Marquez Takes his 4th Win of MotoGP 2025

It’s not often you get to see a masterclass live, in Aragon, that is what everyone watching the Aragon GP witnessed. Marc Marquez had a perfect weekend, leading every session and every lap of the race. This win felt a long time coming, as this was Marquez’s first win since Qatar, which was all the way back in April. But before Qatar was Austin, where Marquez made a big mistake that resulted in him retiring from the race, Marc explained how those mistakes start to creep in and build doubts in the head.

ā€œIf we want to fight for the Championship, we cannot have a weekend where we repeat mistakes like we did in Austin. The other ones, okay, but Austin was a big mistake and then today I was very focused. With six or seven laps remaining, I started to think about that mistake. I asked myself, ā€˜how should I manage the situation?’ But then I was looking the lap time and I was riding on low: 47s without full concentration. Then I decided to increase the speed to be focused again.”

MotoGP Aragon: Marc Marquez Dominant at His Backyard
Marquez takes the win in Aragon. Credits: MotoGP

Confidence Boost for Bagnaia Before Mugello

Bagnaia has been struggling with his GP25 from the start of the season, but the last two races have been very miserable. The Italian rider had a retirement and a 16th place in the previous two GPs, even in the sprint, he only had a lonely P6 in the previous one. However, a P3 in Aragon has done a world of good for Bagnaia. In his own words, he has a confidence boost heading to Mugello, a track where he has always been competitive.

Positives for Joan Mir and Honda

It was the first time for Joan Mir to get back-to-back points finishes riding a Honda. A P7 in Aragon was a very positive result for the factory Honda team, their best this season. It was also Joan’s best finish since his P5 finish at the Indian Grand Prix in 2023. After a few hard years, Honda now seems to be getting back to fighting for points more consistently. They would hope to continue this fight and soon move up the ladder.

Championship Standings

As things stand, Marc currently sits 32 points clear of his brother Alex Marquez at the top of the standings.

Up Next

MotoGP heads to Mugello next from 20-22nd of June for the Round 9 of the world championship.

Desi Racing Co.Ā is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us onĀ Twitter/X/,Ā Instagram, andĀ LinkedInĀ to keep up with the latest motorsport newsĀ andĀ updates.

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MotoGP Heads to Marquez’s Backyard in Aragon

MotoGP returns after a weeks break, this time in Marc’s backyard in Aragon. Will we see him return to the top step or will we get another unpredictable winner?

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MotoGP Heads to Marquez's Backyard in Aragon
Marc Marquez after winning the Aragon GP in 2024. Credits: MotoGP

The FIM MotoGP 2025 championship takes us to Spain for the Aragon GP, the eighth round of the Championship. Spaniard Marc Marquez, who won the 2024 Aragon GP, is heading back to what people call his backyard, currently leading the championship by 24 points. Marquez, famously known as ā€œel tro de Cerveraā€ (Thunder of Cervera), has won 7 races at the iconic track since its inception, once for Moto 2 and 6 times for Moto GP, including 6 poles.

Marc Marquez Looking to Get Back to the Top Step at his backyard

Marc Marquez last won a Grand Prix back in April in Qatar. Since then, he has finished outside the points once and on the podium twice in the 3 races that followed. Coming to Aragon, he would be looking to return to the top step. This is also Marquez’s spiritual home GP, as turn 10 has also been named after him to suggest his dominance at the track with his 7 wins and 4 consecutive wins in the years 2016, ā€˜17, ā€˜18, ā€˜19.

Marc Marquez at MotoGP GP of the Americas
Image credits: MotoGP

Can Fabio get his first win of the year in Aragon?

Fabio Quartararo is on an insane qualifying run, the Frenchman has scored 3 pole positions in the last 3 rounds. Sadly for him, he has converted 0 of them to race wins, even retiring in the last 2. He comes to Aragon after a heartbreak in Silverstone, where he had to retire from a comfortable lead in the Grand Prix due to a technical issue with his holeshot device. Fabio will be looking to finally get himself on the top step of the podium this weekend.

MotoGP Heads to Marquez's Backyard in Aragon

Luca Marini’s Absence in Aragon

Honda Rider Luca Marini, who crashed and sustained multiple injuries during the testing for 8H of Suzuka and was left in intensive care, will not be returning for the Aragon GP. Honda has also decided not to call in any of their reserve drivers, instead, the team will run only Joan Mir for the Aragon GP.

Bagnaia continues to struggle

Pecco Bagnaia is yet to match Marc’s pace in the factory Ducati, but for the last 2 GPs, he is not matching his own standards. Bagnaia’s results in the previous 2 GPs are a 16th-place finish in Le Mans and a DNF in Silverstone. Bagnaia has struggled with the GP25 from the start of the year and is yet to find his feeling back with the bike again, as he mentioned to the press earlier. But, Bagnaia is still full of confidence as he mentions 2022 when he was 91 points behind the leader and still won the championship eventually. He would be looking to get back to the front this weekend.

MotoGP Heads to Marquez's Backyard in Aragon
Image credits: MotoGP

Unpredictable as ever: 5 Different Riders have won the last 5 races

When the season started, everyone thought it would be a walk in the park for Marc Marquez after looking at his utter domination early on this year. But, MotoGP has lived up to its unpredictable nature, and we have seen 5 different riders take the win in the last 5 races. It is also important to note that we have also seen 3 different manufacturers take the win as well, including a satellite Honda, something not a lot of people would have placed their bets on. As we head into Aragon, will we get a 6th different winner?

Where to Watch MotoGP in India

You can watch all the action live in India on Fancode or Eurosport. The detailed schedule in IST is given below:

MotoGP Heads to Marquez's Backyard in Aragon

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X/, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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