2026 MotoGP Netherlands: Who’s leaving happy and who’s disappointed?

Winner: Raul Fernandez

Raul Fernandez also enjoyed one of his best weekends of the season. His preparation was not easy, as he had recently suffered from appendicitis, which affected his fitness and energy levels. Despite this, he arrived at Assen looking strong and focused. On Saturday, he delivered a very impressive performance by winning the Sprint race, showing sharp speed and good confidence on the bike. In the Grand Prix, he was not quite as fast as his teammate Ogura, but he still remained competitive throughout the race. He fought well in the top group and showed that he can now perform at a much higher level compared to earlier in the season. His form at Assen has also strengthened his position within the team, with many believing he is now close to securing his future in MotoGP.

Loser: KTM

KTM faced another frustrating and worrying weekend, mainly due to technical problems and reliability concerns. Pedro Acosta suffered multiple issues during Saturday, including a dangerous stuck throttle that made the bike extremely difficult to control. This problem not only affected his lap times but also limited his time on track, which made the rest of his weekend harder. KTM has already faced similar concerns earlier in the season, and these repeated issues are starting to damage confidence in the team’s reliability. Although Acosta’s retirement on Sunday was caused by a physical condition rather than a technical failure, many fans and observers initially believed it was another mechanical issue. This shows how strongly the perception of KTM’s reliability has been affected. Even with clear speed in the bike, these problems continue to hold the team back from consistent results.

Winner: Yamaha

Yamaha had one of its most positive weekends of the season at Assen. Fabio Quartararo delivered a strong qualifying performance by reaching Q2 and staying close to the top riders in terms of lap time. This was an encouraging sign, as Yamaha has struggled for speed compared to other manufacturers this year. In the race, both Quartararo and Alex Rins managed to finish inside the top ten, which showed clear progress in race consistency and tyre management. Although the riders still reported some issues with grip and overall feeling on the bike, the results were better than expected. Even Toprak Razgatlioglu showed strong early pace from the back of the grid before being forced to retire due to severe vibration problems. Overall, Yamaha left Assen with more confidence than usual.

Loser: Marco Bezzecchi

Marco Bezzecchi left Assen with another disappointing result in what has become a very difficult period for him. At the start of the weekend, things looked positive because he was extremely fast in practice sessions and even topped some timing sheets. However, once the real racing began, his performance dropped. In the Sprint race, he struggled to find confidence in the opening laps and lost positions quickly. In the Grand Prix, his race ended early after another unforced error, adding to a growing list of mistakes this season. The most worrying part is the lack of consistency, as he is either very fast or far from competitive, with little in between. This run of poor results has increased pressure on him, especially as rivals continue to score strong points.

Winner: Ai Ogura

Ai Ogura was the biggest story of the weekend. The Japanese rider took his first ever MotoGP victory in a very confident and controlled way. His win was especially impressive because he did not start from the front. After losing positions in the early laps and dropping to sixth place, he calmly rebuilt his race. He showed strong pace, good tyre management, and excellent race awareness. As the laps went on, he became stronger while others faded. In the final part of the race, he took control and pulled away to win clearly. This result confirmed what many people already believed: Ogura has the talent to become a future star in MotoGP if he continues to improve his qualifying and consistency.

Loser: Marc Marquez

Marc Marquez had a difficult and slightly unusual weekend at Assen. Although he remains one of the strongest riders in MotoGP, this circuit exposed some limits in both his current physical condition and his bike setup. From the start of the weekend, he was not as competitive as expected and struggled to fight at the front. He also had to manage his fitness carefully to avoid any risk of injury, especially on a track known for its fast corners and high risk of crashes. During the race, he showed his usual aggressive style and race intelligence, but it was not enough to move into podium contention. He finished behind several Ducati riders, which is not a common position for him. Even so, he avoided major mistakes and kept his championship situation stable.

Winner: Fabio di Giannantonio

Fabio di Giannantonio continued his strong and steady season with another solid weekend in Assen. While he did not have the raw speed to match the very front runners from Trackhouse, he once again showed excellent race craft and consistency. In the Sprint race, he stayed close to the leading group and briefly put pressure on higher-placed riders before settling into a strong finishing position. In the Grand Prix, he was involved in several close battles, including an exciting fight with Marc Marquez. Even when things did not go perfectly, he stayed calm and recovered positions well. His ability to score points nearly every weekend has now made him a serious contender in the championship fight, even with only one race win so far this season.