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 🍌the lead into turn one.

Bezzecchi tried to ride around the outside of Bagnaia but paid the price as Brad Binder s🃏wooped through on the run to turn two.

W♒ith Bagnaiaꦆ beginning to pull clear, Bezzecchi put the hammer down and overtook Binder into turn eight.

The Mooney VR46 Ducati rider cloꩵsed up immediate𝄹ly on Bagnaia before a mistake at the beginning of lap four gave 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 th✤e run to turn six. 

With his lead up to nearly a second on lap six, Bezzecchi was looking very comfortable as Bagnaia instead came under pre🍌s♕sure from Binder.

Further back, Johann Zarco was dropping like a fly as Jack Miller and Alex Marquez made moves on the Pramac r🦩ider for P9 and P10.

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

Enea Bastianini, Miller and Takaaki Nakagami all made their way through thꦗe struggling Frenchman. 

Then came a surprising moment as Bezz🅺ecchi ⛎saw his lead drop from over a second to half a second.

But just when it looked as though Bagn♌aia 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 through to the checkered flag as the battle for P3🐈 heated up.

Quartararo was pushing his Yamaha to the 🌱absolute limit which worke𓃲d to his advantage as Binder was awarded a Long Lap penalty on the final lap due to exceeding track limits.

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