Above, the charge down to Turn 1 saw Rossi claim the lead from Pole. Please click on the above image to view it larger.

Soon it became a two-man race as Rossi and Marquez pulled away from the rest, Lorenzo trying to keep up.

Lorenzo settled into third place, steady as ever, just slightly slower than Rossi and Marquez.

Andrea Iannone turned in a solid fourth place and more importantly, earned the honor of starring in this month’s PhotoGP desktop calendar!

Bradley Smith fought with Andrea Dovizioso until the Duacti’s seat unit failed and Dovi dropped back, ending up in twelfth. Smith claimed seventh and is now sixth in the championship.

Pedrosa changed places with Crutchlow et al but finally ended the day in eighth while Curtchlow claimed sixth.

The high speed chess match at the front changed leaders, and neither rider could escape the other.

The grandstand full of Rossi fans waited for the story to reach its climax. The battle would end famously at the GT chicane, and the result was to their delight.

I expected a triumphant wheelie from Rossi, but instead he seemed relieved rather than jubilant as he rode by. Perhaps we was distracted by trying to figure out how many times he has won at Assen…

Photographs: ©2015 by Scott Jones / PHOTO.GP – All Rights Reserved

Camera Info: Nikon D4 with Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 and Nikon 500mm f/4.0

[mgallery keyword=”Assen”]
Dutch TT 2015