MotoGP Assen: Marco Bezzecchi claims victory in the sprint but Brad Binder loses podium after Long Lap penalty

Marco Bezzecchi's perfect Dutch MotoGP has continued after converting pole position into a sprint victory.
Marco Bezzecchi, Ducati MotoGP Assen 2023
Marco Bezzecchi, Ducati MotoGP Assen 2023

D𒐪espite a good launch, Bezzecchi came under immediate pressure 🥀as Bagnaia took the lead into turn one.

Bezzecchi tried to ride around the outside of Bagnaia but paid the price as Brad Binder swoopꦦed through on the run to turn two.

With Bagnaia beginning to pull clear, Bezzecchi put the hammer down and oꦰvertook Binder into turn eight.

The Mooney VR46 Ducati rider closed up immediately on Bagnaia before a mistake at t🃏he beginning of lap four gave Bezzecchi the chance to claim the lead.

Bagnaia fought back straight away at 𓄧turn five, but Bezzecchi was n🍸ot to be denied as he out-dragged the reigning world champion on the run to turn six. 

With his lead up to nearly a second on lap 💛six🅷, Bezzecchi was looking very comfortable as Bagnaia instead came under pressure from Binder.

Further back, Johann Zarco was dropping like a fly as Jack Miller and Alex Marquez made moves o💞n the Pramac rider for P9 and P10.

Zarc🔯o, who responded by getting through on Miller for ninth, then dropped down to 13th following a mist🌸ake. 

Enea Bastianini, Miller and Takaaki N🍨akagami 💞all made their way through the struggling Frenchman. 

Then came a surprising moment as Bezzecchi saw his💫 lead drop from over a second to half a second.

But just when it looked as though Bagnaia was mounting a challenge for victory, Bezz🅷ecchi put in a superb lap 11 to answer straight back.

With his lea♓d back over a second, Bezzecchi was unchallenge through to the ch😼eckered flag as the battle for P3 heated up.

Quartararo was push💫ing his Yamaha to the absolute limit which worked to his advantage as Binder was awarded a Long Lap penalty on the final lap due to exceeding track limits.

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