Ogura seals landmark Dutch MotoGP win, Bezzecchi crashes out

ASSEN (Agencies): Trackhouse Racing’s Ai Ogura claimed a dramatic Dutch MotoGP victory at Assen on Sunday, passing teammate Raul Fernandez late on to secure his first premier-class ​win and become the first Japanese rider to triumph in 22 years, while Aprilia’s ‌Marco Bezzecchi crashed out early, losing his lead in the championship race. Fernandez completed a landmark day for the American team by finishing second, 2.004 seconds behind, sealing Trackhouse’s first 1-2 in a grand prix a day after they locked ​out the top two in the sprint. Ogura’s victory is the first by a Japanese rider ​since Makoto Tamada at the 2004 Japanese Grand Prix. “It’s just fantastic. I am ⁠happy to get a win for my people. I wish to thank my people,” Ogura said, before ​sending a message to home fans in Japanese. Pole-sitter Jorge Martin led for much of the race but ​was overhauled by both Trackhouse riders in the closing laps and finished third, completing an all-Aprilia podium. The result lifted Martin to the top of the standings, seven points clear of his teammate Bezzecchi. “The most important thing for me ​today was that I did better than yesterday. I am always trying to improve,” Martin said. “I ​have to congratulate Ai and Raul, I tried my best to keep up with them until the end, but ‌I had ⁠reached my limit.”

Further back, Ducati’s Marc Marquez came under pressure from teammate Francesco Bagnaia and KTM’s Pedro Acosta in the fight for fourth before Acosta retired with a problem in his right hand. Bagnaia then encountered technical trouble a lap later, allowing VR46 Racing Team’s Fabio Di Giannantonio and Gresini’s Alex ​Marquez to move ahead. Marquez ​finished sixth on the ⁠road but was penalised for exceeding track limits on the last lap and dropped to seventh behind KTM’s Enea Bastianini. Di Giannantonio, despite serving a ​long-lap penalty after running off track following contact with Marquez, finished fourth ahead ​of Alex ⁠Marquez. Bezzecchi crashed out on lap two, a week after he was banned in Brno for slapping a marshal following a sprint crash, marking his third successive scoreless Sunday. Aprilia later said the Italian was conscious with ⁠no ​major physical or neurological damage and was taken to hospital ​for further examinations. Ogura moved to within 25 points of new leader Martin, while reigning champion Marc Marquez is 40 points back after ​a difficult weekend for the Ducati rider.