This MotoGP race was an epic – Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) won it at the last turn on the last lap from Colin Edwards (Yamaha) who crashed, remounting to finish 13th, while Shinya Nakano (Kawasaki) inherited second place and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC211V) third. With two Honda riders on the podium and the factory’s 200th Grand Prix win in the premier class now established – this was a good day for the Japanese factory.

With so many competitors riding injured; Marco Melandri (Fortuna Honda RC211V) carrying neck and shoulder injuries, Loris Capirossi a bruised chest, Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) a broken foot and throttle hand and with Toni Elias (Fortuna Honda RC211V) in hospital in Barcelona receiving treatment on a broken shoulder, this was a race where taking points would be critical in terms of the World Championship.

In bright sunshine with the track at 29-degrees and air temperature at 23-degrees, all those bar Elias took to the grid in front of a capacity 91,000 crowd: Rossi from 18th and last after his crash on Thursday, Melandri from a very creditable seventh on the grid and Capirossi from 15th.

Pole man John Hopkins (Suzuki) was second into turn one from the lights as Edwards headed the field. As lap one was swiftly completed, Edwards led from Hopkins and Nakano with Nicky fourth ahead of Melandri and Pedrosa.
But by lap four Nicky set a fastest lap of 1m 37.106 seconds having moved past Nakano for third on lap two.

Edwards, Hopkins and Hayden soon established a 1.3 second lead over Nakano in fourth, with Casey Stoner (LCR Honda RC211V) now fifth ahead of Dani and Melandri, with Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki) eighth, Kenny Roberts (Roberts
KR211V) in ninth and Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda RC211V) lying tenth.

By mid-race distance of this 26-lapper around the new, tighter confines of the shortened 4.555km Circuit Van Drenthe, Edwards and Hayden had dropped Nakano and Hopkins. The leading duo held a 2.2 second advantage and they would stretch that to five seconds during the final laps.

Behind the dicing lead duo it was all action as Hopkins faded and lost ground while Nakano held station in third, just ahead of a Pedrosa, Stoner and Roberts, who were locked in combat for fourth place.

As the last three laps approached it became clear Nicky was going to get close to Edwards to heap as much pressure on the Texan as he could. And on the penultimate lap Hayden slid up next to Edwards on the brakes into the back chicane.

Edwards ran off track after the move and although he straight-lined the remainder of that chicane he was now just over a second down on the flying Hayden. It looked like Nicky’s race now.

But Edwards dug deep and had clawed his way back in touch as they fought on the last lap. Edwards moved inside Nicky as they entered the Hoge Heide kink and then squeezed Nicky to the left as the Honda man bravely tried to outbrake his rival around the outside of the final chicane as the finish line loomed.

Nicky was forced to straight-line the final chicane losing drive and the lead. But Edwards lost the rear of his machine as he put the power down while on the still on the grass of that chicane. He was spat off, his bike careering into the tyre wall. The crestfallen Yamaha rider remounted but smashed the screen of his machine in frustration as he collected 13th place instead of a possible win.

Pedrosa got the verdict from Stoner and Roberts for what he thought was fourth only to be directed towards the podium after seeing the stricken Edwards extracting his Yamaha from the run-off area. This was some race in what is turning out to be some World Championship.

Hayden has increased his lead at the top of the points table and now sits on 144 points to Dani’s 102. Capirossi is third on 100 points, and Rossi fourth on 98 after his eighth place finish here. Melandri also has 98 after his seventh place finish. Stoner lies sixth with 78, Edwards seventh on 63.

After his second career win, and his first of this season, a jubilant Nicky said, “It was a wild one today and I definitely enjoyed it – it’s just a really good day for me. I’m proud to win for Repsol Honda and really proud to score Honda’s 200th win in the top class of Grand Prix too. At the end of the race I felt really good and really strong. Going into the last chicane he was going in so deep so I used a move I used on Hopkins earlier in the race. Honestly it wasn’t going to work and I caught neutral, but he ran off the track too.”

Dani, in third, said, “I lost a lot of time at the beginning of the race, especially battling with Melandri. On the last lap Stoner tried to overtake me and in the last section I re-overtook him and we almost touched once so it was pretty close. Nicky and Colin’s pace was a bit faster than mine so I think third position is good for the team, and I was also lucky because Colin crashed at the last corner and gave me the final place on the podium.”

Fourth-placed Stoner said, “I made a good start but got blocked by another rider. Then I got a good pace going and got fifth and then Dani came past so I was happy to sit in behind him for few laps. Dani was a little slower than me but hard to pass, then I made a mistake on the final lap, which allowed Dani to get past again. The positive is that we had a good race package and were racing for a podium.”

I just tried to keep working my way up after a poor start,” said Kenny Roberts, who finished fifth. “I felt I had a bit better pace than Pedrosa and Stoner but whenever I tried something on them, they tried it back on me. I need to make sure I now get better grid positions and stay out of trouble on the first five laps.”

Melandri, in seventh, said, “That’s a great result considering my physical condition, even if I wanted to do better. I got a great start, but the bike didn’t feel that good. Then the bike felt a bit better after three laps, but I began to lose strength. When I lost contact with the leaders I just tried to defend my position and finish the race.”

Tamada, 11th, said, “The problem was with the front-end. I used the same 16-inch tyre that I’ve been using for the last two days, but after five laps I lost feeling under braking into the corners. I can’t understand it because everything was exactly the same as it was during qualifying.”

A somewhat processional 250cc race was won by Jorge Lorenzo with Alex de Angelis second (both Aprilia) and current series points leader Andrea Dovizioso (Humangest Racing Honda RS250RW) third. This is Lorenzo’s fourth pole to flag win of the season so far.

Lorenzo peeled into turn one across the rest of the field’s noses from the far right of the track from the lights. It was clear he was in no mood to bother himself fighting when he had the speed to run clear right from the off. Even by the end of lap one he had a 1.6 second advantage over second-placed de Angelis.

Most of the action revolved around a five-bike first lap crash, which claimed Martin Cardenas (Repsol Honda RS250RW) among others and seriously affected the chances of both Yuki Takahashi (Humangest Racing Honda
RS250RW) and Shuhei Aoyama (Repsol Honda RS250RW). Both riders were forced off track trying to avoid the carnage.

By lap three Lorenzo, de Angelis and Dovi were 3.2 seconds ahead of Roberto Locatelli (Aprilia) in fourth and the order at the front would remain the same until the flag 21-laps later. Fourth place would become the domain of Alex Debon (Aprilia) on lap 15 and the gap between the podium three and Debon would be 23.63 seconds at the finish.

Not even when de Angelis and Dovi tangled with a backmarker did the race order change – plainly nothing was going to make this a race to remember for anything other than its tedious nature. Although Lorenzo was delighted with his win, fans could only just muster a feint round of applause after this somewhat lacklustre contest.

But the World Championship is very much alive. The points standings show Dovi leading with 149 points from Lorenzo second on 133 and then Yuki Takahashi (Humangest Racing Honda RS250RW), who finished sixth here today, in third with 99 points.

Dovi said, “I’m not very happy about today even though I took another podium. I wanted to stay behind de Angelis on the last lap because with his speed if I overtook him he could pass me easily on the last part of the track. I thought about the last turn – but I was too far away. Anyway it’s Donington Park next week which is a good track for the Honda.”

“It’s a shame I lost time in the first lap collision,” said Takahashi, in sixth. “I touched with de Angelis and Aoyama hit my brake lever. I came back in 14th position and found a good rhythm, but the gap to the leading riders was too big.”

Mika Kallio (KTM) prevailed in a hard-fought 125cc race from Sergio Gadea in second and series points leader Alvaro Bautista (both Aprilia) in third.
This is Kallio’s second win of the season so far. Reigning World Champion Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) finished eighth after crashing heavily in the morning warm-up.

The 22-lap race was the first to get underway on the new Assen track and it was Kallio from pole who lead the pack into the new turn one and beyond.
Mike di Meglio (FFM Honda RS125R) was among the front-runners in the early stages until the Frenchman faded from the halfway point.

By lap ten Kallio, Bautista and Gadea had separated themselves from the field and led Mattia Pasini (Aprilia) in fourth by 2.4 seconds. By lap 16 Lukas Pesek (Derbi) had overhauled Pasini for fourth but the top trio was now more than five seconds in front.

It was a last lap burst of brilliance from Kallio that secured the win. The Finn lay third until the entry to the final turn before the chicane where he carved through the two Aprilias under braking and then squeezed Bautista at the chicane to broach the line 0.122 seconds ahead of Gadea.

Kallio has now clawed back some points on series leader Bautista who has 160 points to Kallio’s 113, with Gadea on 103. Luthi lies seventh with 62 points.

The Swiss World Champion said, “My start was great and the first few laps also. I could stay with the group I was in and it wasn’t too difficult. I am happy with the points after my problems in qualifying and the crash in the warm-up. That was a real high high-side caused by chatter. The team worked hard to fix that problem and gave me a good bike for the race.”

Gabor Talmacsi (Humangest Honda RS125R), who finished 11th, said, “Conditions today were a bit different from the previous two days of practice and the bike was sliding more. In the final part of the race, I tried to stay close to Pasini and Luthi but I lost the front with three laps to go in a left-hand turn and I risked a crash. So, I lost ground on my rivals and I couldn’t fight for ninth place.”

Honda rider quotes

MotoGP:
Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda 1st: It was a wild one today and I definitely enjoyed it its just a really good day for me. Im proud to win for Repsol Honda and really proud to score Hondas 200th win in the top class of Grand Prix too. My start wasnt the best and I saw Colin up there and thought Ive really got to try and get on the back of him because his race pace has been so good all weekend. I was just holding on for the whole race and knew I had to do something different. So I changed my lines a little bit in the middle part of the track that made a huge difference. At the end of the race I felt really good and really strong. Going into the last chicane he was going in so deep so I used a move I used on Hopkins earlier in the race. Honestly it wasnt going to work and I caught neutral, but he ran off the track too. Huge thanks to my team and everyone working around me at Repsol Honda, and also to Michelin. Ive been wearing my tyre on the rear pretty hard this weekend, but in the race they came through perfectly for me.

Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda, 3rd :”I lost a lot of time at the beginning of the race, especially battling with Melandri. At the start, on new tyres and with a full tank, it was very difficult for me to brake late. I will have to improve at the beginning of races because I am often struggling a little there. On the last lap Stoner tried to overtake me and in the last section I re-overtook him and we almost touched once so it was pretty close. Nicky and Colins pace was a bit faster than mine so I think third position is good for the team, and I was also lucky because Colin crashed at the last corner and gave me the final place on the podium. It wasnt a perfect result for me today, but the Michelins worked well today so Im happy about that.
The championship is more open this year than normal, Im new in this class so being in second place is very good, but I still have a lot to learn.”

Casey Stoner, LCR Honda 4th:"I made a good start but got blocked by another rider and everyone went around the outside of me in turn one. But I had a good pace going and got into fifth and when Dani came past I was happy to sit in behind him for a few laps. Dani was a little slower than me but it was difficult to pass, I was losing some rear grip in the left-handers. Then I made a mistake on the final lap which allowed Dani to get ahead and while I'm not happy about that, the positive is that again today I had good race package was racing for the podium."
Kenny Roberts Jnr, KR211V 5th: “I just tried to keep working my way up after a poor start. I felt I had a bit better pace than Pedrosa and Stoner but whenever I tried something on them, they tried it back on me. I need to make sure I now get better grid positions in qualifying and then stay out of trouble on the first five laps.”

Marco Melandri, Fortuna Honda, 7th: “Seventh place is a good result considering my current physical condition. I got a good start but after a few laps on the bike I really started to suffer. I had a lot of pain in my neck, shoulders and legs. I wanted to stay with the lead group but as the laps went by my strength disappeared. My main objective was to try and finish the race so I have to be satisfied. Now Im going home to England I need a rest!”

Makoto Tamada, Konica Minolta Honda: 10th. "I had a problem with the front end. I ran the 16-inch tyre I have used for the last two days, which I had a good feeling with. But today after five laps of the race I completely lost feeling with the front end while braking into the corners, I could not be aggressive. We can't understand why, everything was virtually the same as in qualifying "

Toni Elias, Fortuna Honda: dnr - due to shoulder injury sustained in practice.

250cc:

Andrea Dovizioso, Humangest Honda: 3rd. Im not very happy about today even though I took another podium. I knew I was less competitive than Lorenzo here but not with this kind of difference. He did a good job, congratulation to him. I hoped to beat at least De Angelis on the last lap but my best lap wasnt enough. Here the setting of the bike wasnt perfect and I was loosing in acceleration compare to Aprilia. I wanted to stay behind De Angelis on the last lap because with his speed if I overtook him he could pass me easily in the last part of the track. So, I thought to try on the last turn, but I was too far. Anyway, the third place is fine for the championship and next week there is Donington Park, which is a good circuit for Honda.

Yuki Takahashi, Humangest Honda: 6th. "Its a shame I lost time in the collision at the first lap. I touched with De Angelis and Aoyama hit my brake lever. I went wide in order to avoid Guintoli, who was involved in the incident as well. I came back on track in 14th position and made a good rhythm, but the gap with the top riders was too big. The positive think is that I took sixth place at the photo-finish with Simoncelli and for the championship this is good."

Shuhei Aoyama, Repsol Honda: 12th. ""What a lost chance. I made a good start but a rider touched me from behind on the first lap, he touched the left side of my bike and forced me off the track. Then, when I had managed to rejoin the race, another rider crashed right in front of me and I had to get off the track again. And during the touching and crashing the leading group had escaped and I was in a back position after the first laps. I only had the option to try to make up positions and that's what I've been doing throughout the race. I hope to be luckier in England next weekend. Assen is already forgotten."

Arturo Tizon, Wurth Honda BQR: 14th. "My start was good today and I made up for my low grid position. I was just behind the fast group and could follow them for a few laps but then I made a mistake at the chicane and lost a lot of ground. When I regained my rhythm I rode out the race and managed to beat my team mate (Aleix Espargaro) on the last lap."

Aleix Espargaro, Wurth Honda BQR: 15th. "I started very good but some of the fast riders came passed me in the first couple of laps. I tried to race at my own rhythm but this is my first 250cc race and my first with so much fuel in the tank and I found it difficult. In the middle part of the race I pushed really hard and was enjoying the race. Arturo (Tizon) passed me on the last lap but I still got a point. I'm very happy. I just wanted to finish the race. I really like racing this bike. The big difference is the 250 slides a lot more and I have to be confident and ride the bike hard while its sliding. "

Fabrizio Perren, Stop and Go Racing: 16th. "From the start I was racing with a good group and at the beginning felt comfortable for about 10 – 12 laps. Then they started to pull away. My bike was good today and I was confident so I pushed hard and caught them again. But as the race went on I started to tire a little and had to let them go."

Martin Cardenas, Repsol Honda: dnf - crash. "I made a good start, but in the fourth corner, a very narrow corner there was some confusion in front of me so I reduced speed and entered the corner to slow. I touched the clutch and crashed over the bike without touching any other rider. It was a good start but unfortunately it didn't last long. Now we'll see if I can be operated from the injury to recover as quickly as possible. I hope to be able to come back in England."

Arnaud Vincent, Molenaar Honda: Did not race.

125cc:

Thomas Luthi, Elit Honda: 8th. "My start was great and the first few laps also. I could stay with the group I was in and it wasn't too difficult. I am happy with the points after my problems in qualifying and the crash in the warm up. That was a real high side caused by chattering. The team worked hard to fix that problem and gave me a good bike for the race."

Gabor Talmacsi, Humangest Honda: 11th. "Conditions today were a bit different from the previous two days of practices and the bike was sliding more. In the final part of the race, I tried to stay close to Pasini and Luthi but I lost the front at three laps to go in a left-hand turn and I risked to crash. So, I lost space with my rivals and I couldn't fight for ninth place".

Sandro Cortese, Elit Honda: 14th. "Great start today and I was 13th into the first corner. I was racing in a god group but when Olive came passed I could not hold him the bike was good, especially the engine but I was starting to slide around. My pit board told me I had a big advantage over the riders behind so I rode the bike home to take the points."

Mike Di Meglio, FFM Honda: 13th. " “I’m quite satisfied of the race; I really enjoyed on the bike and it made me feel very confident. After the first lap I was 10th and then I overtook some riders to reach the 5th position. But since the start of the race I was disturbed by a problem with the engine which became lap after lap more and more present. I did all my best to stay with Hector Faubel but the engine had some cut and I couldn’t keep the 5th place. At the end I arrived in 13th place and I scored 3 points. It’s a very positive race for the team and myself because we have made a step forward especially with the chassis; I’m quite confident for the next event that will take place in Donington, a track I particularly like and where I finished in 2nd position last year.”

Bradley Smith, Repsol Honda: 16th. "Another sixteenth I'm happy for the sixteenth position but I'm not happy because I missed out on the points again. I was really excited on the first three laps trying to get away with the group. Then I run into the back of a rider which just upset me and then my mind was completely away, I was really nervous and frightened and tried to pass people and more and more people came past and suddenly I decided that I just got to go. And then as soon as I sat down to do it I got in front of the group and went straight into the forty-sixes, putting consistent lap times. It's actually about all what could have been.
Obviously finishing among the top fifteen is not easy but it would have definitely been possible looking at the riders that actually did. I'm a bit disappointed but I hope to get my first points at the home Grand Prix."

Joey Litjens, Molenaar Honda: 19th. "That was a great race for me, I'm really happy. My start was very good and I was with a group of fast riders racing at a high tempo, I really learned a lot today. The bike was steering well and I had good top speed. My only problem was acceleration you have to be quick to get on the gas of the slow corners and I needed more acceleration, particularly at the Strubben. I made a lot of progress today and have grown in confidence."

Michele Conti, Seedorf Racing World:20th. "I made a prudent start because in the back there is always the risk of crashes, as in Le Mans. Then I got a good pace and I made a good race. I’m satisfied of the improvement and the good feeling with the bike".

Lorenzo Baroni, Humangest Honda: 24th..
"I did a good start today but I struggled in the straight and couldn't keep the pace of the other riders. I did my best trying to recover in the turns what I was loosing in speed. It hasn't been easy also because I feel pain at my right arm injured on Thursday during the practices".

Tito Rabat, Wurth Honda BQR: 25th. "I got a very good start and was with a big group of fast riders running about 16th to 24th. My bike was very good and I stayed with them for about nine laps but at the fist slow corner after the start finish I had a big slide when I got on the gas and many riders passed me. Then Conti touch me and pushed me wide and I couldn't catch the group. At the end my rear tyre was sliding and I was passed by Baroni on the last lap. But I enjoyed my first race at Assen."

Fabrizio Lai, Seedorf Racing World: dnf – "I am very good in braking and I try, in this way, to make up for the lack of power of this Honda. But during the race, after few laps, I hadn’t grip on the rear tyre and I couldn’t do good braking in corners. I preferred to retire and not to take more risks".