After Marc Marquez’s emotional eleventh victory in a row at the Sachsenring, the Repsol Honda Team has focused on a new and different challenge at The Cathedral.
The TT Assen, which takes place in June every year, is an iconic Grand Prix – Assen was the only circuit on the calendar that has hosted a round of the motorcycle world championship every year from its inception in 1949 to 2019. The route has seen a number of changes over time. Its life and current incarnation are 4.5 kilometers long with six left corners and 12 right corners. After a scorching weekend in Germany, the Dutch circuit looks a lot wetter when it returns to the calendar.
Marc Marquez is soaring after returning to the top step of the podium for the first time since the 2019 Valencia Grand Prix, but the eight-time world champion has no illusions that the weekend at Assen will be a new battle for himself and the Honda RC213V. Marquez took victory twice in the premier class in Assen, first in 2014 when he won the first 10 rounds, and again in 2018. To date, each visit has resulted in a podium finish with a single third place in his worst premier class result. Marquez is currently tenth in the World Cup with 41 points.
On the other side of the Repsol Honda team garage, Pol Espargaro is prepared for another work weekend with his team. Unsatisfied with his final result in Germany after a positive weekend, Espargaro is eager to show his speed again and put together a strong weekend. Saturday remains a focus, a higher starting place one of the keys to opening up on Sunday.