Aleix Espargaro outgunned the MotoGP prototypes of Ducati pair Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden plus Bradley Smith's Tech 3 Yamaha M1 to earn a magnifi𒁏𝔍cent eighth place in the Dutch MotoGP.

Espargaro has been by far the dominant force in the CRT class this season on the Po𝓰wer Electronics Aspar and set the tone for the weekend as he qualified in seventh place at Assen - the best-ever result for a CRT machine.

The S😼panish rider hailed the result as 'fabulous' as he continues to raise the level for the CRT class🐻.

Espargaro, who finishe𓆏d 32 seconds down on race winner Valentino Rossi, said: "Today I feel really happy. I had a very nice race - probably my best in MotoGP and certainly the best as a Power Electronics Aspar Team rider.

"From Thursday I knew that this circuit was favourable to my bike, so I focused on✱ trying 𓄧to find the fastest pace possible.

"At the start I stuck with the frontrunners for a 🐟few laps, which was an extraordinary feeling," he add♉ed.

"After [Stefan] Bradl moved three seconds ahead, I managed to keep him from incꦬreasing the difference and I hꦅave battled with [Alvaro] Bautista.

"This eighth place, finishing ahead of the Duca🌳ti riders and Smit🦩h, is fabulous."

"We are doing a great job and every Grand Prix brings with it a new achievement. I꧑ want to t꧟hank the team for making this dream possible."

Espargaro is currently tenth in the championship standings on 44 points, thr♎ee ahead of Bradley Smith and 29 in front of nea𒀰rest CRT rival and team-mate, Randy De Puniet.