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

Despite a good launch, Bezzecchi came under immediate pressure as Bagnaia took t✨he lead into turn one.

Bezzecchi tried to ride around the outside of Bag﷽naia but paid 🌊the price as Brad Binder swooped through on the run to turn two.

With Bagnaia beginning to pull clear, Bezzecchi put the hammer down and overtook Binder iဣnto turಌn eight.

The Mooney 🍎VR46 Ducati rider closed up immediately on Bagnaia before a mistake at the beginning of lap four gav🍷e Bezzecchi the chance to claim the lead.

Bagnaia fought back straight away at turn five, but Bezzecchi was not to be denied as he out-dragged the reigning world champion on the run to tu♏rn six. 

With his lead up♎ to nearly a se🅠cond 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 on the Pramac rider for P♐9 and P1🍨0.

Zarco, who responded by ⭕getting through on Miller for ninth, then dropped down to 13th following a mistake. 

Enea Bastianini, Miller and Takaaki Nakagꦦami all made their way through the struggling Frenchman. 

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

But just when 𓃲it looked as tho🍌ugh Bagnaia was mounting a challenge for victory, Bezzecchi put in a superb lap 11 to answer straight back.

With his lead back over a second, Bezzecchi was unchallenge thꦜrough to the checkered flag as the battle for P3 heated up.

Quartararo was pushing his Yamaha to the absolute limit whi🍃ch 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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