Assen MotoGP: Spies takes maiden GP win

Factory Yamaha rider Ben Spies has taken his first ever MotoGP victory in dominant fashion at the Assen circuit, winning by 7.697secs ahead of championship leader Casey Stoner.

Spies led from the second corner on the first lap, after overtaking team-mate Jorge Lorenzo. The factory Yamaha team could have had both bikes on the podium, were it not for San Carlo Honda rider Marco Simoncelli.

Simoncelli was involved in yet more controversy after passing Lorenzo on the first left hander on lap one. The Honda rider got passed Lorenzo cleanly to take second place, but then high-sided on the exit. Lorenzo had nowhere to go and was collected by Simoncelli’s Honda.

Both riders managed to get back on their machines, Lorenzo finishing in a remarkable sixth position, with Simoncelli in ninth.

Repsol Honda rider’s completed the podium, Stoner in second and Andrea Dovizioso in third, although neither rider was able to run the same pace as Spies. Despite struggling with the new Ducati GP11.1 machine, Valentino Rossi was able to finish fourth, three seconds behind Dovizoso.

Brit Cal Crutchlow got a good start from sixth on the grid, circulating in fourth behind the Repsol Honda’s until Rossi passed the Tech 3 rider. With 15 laps remaining Crutchlow entered the pits due to a problem with the right side of the front tyre.

The crew changed the tyre and Crutchlow rejoined the race to finish 14th.

1. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 41m 44.659s
2. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda 41m 52.356s
3. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda 42m 12.165s
4. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Marlboro 42m 15.343s
5. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro 42m 27.831s
6. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing 42m 29.195s
7. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 42m 52.771s
8. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Repsol Honda 42m 55.412s
9. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 43m 9.584s
10. Toni Elias ESP LCR Honda 43m 10.875s
11. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki 43m 23.125s
12. Hector Barbera ESP Mapfre Aspar 42m 11.012s
13. Kousuke Akiyoshi JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 42m 58.437s
14. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 43m 7.755s