Cal Crutchlow believes 2019 has been his most difficult in MotoGP with Honda “by far” after finishing the Dutch Grand Prix in seventh place, and that the general public is unaware “how hard” Marc Marquez is riding to lead the championship.

After watching Pol Espargaro struggle with a right-hand injury from post-race testing in Barcelona during practice at Assen, Red Bull KTM team manager Mike Leitner doubted the Spaniard had any chance of completing the Dutch MotoGP race.

While Fabio Quartararo, who recently underwent arm pump surgery, was on his way to a podium finish in the Dutch MotoGP, countryman Johann Zarco was pulling out of the race due to the same condition.

Marc Marquez might be leaving Assen with the runner-up trophy tucked under his arm, but it is very much mission accomplished by the reigning MotoGP world champion as he makes the 2019 crown look a definite fit.

Yamaha's unpredictable MotoGP season took a further twist at Assen with a clear split in the performance of its four riders in qualifying and the race.

Fabio Quartararo's rocketing MotoGP career blurred past another milestone at Assen when he not only claimed back-to-back podiums but was put to the test as a race leader for the first time.

The Ducati and Suzuki are two of the most contrasting machines on the MotoGP grid. While the Desmosedici is famed for its stop-and-go performance, the Italian factory has long battled with turning difficulties.

Ducati may have a holeshot device, but it was the Suzukis of Alex Rins and Joan Mir that bolted to first and second at turn one of the Dutch MotoGP. And when Rins fell on lap three, his rookie team-mate took the lead of a MotoGP race for the very first time.

Valentino Rossi and Takaaki Nakagami were fortunate to escape serious injury after a highspeed accident in the early stages of the Dutch MotoGP race.

Fabio Quartararo says the combination of crosswinds and taking the wrong line down the Assen back straight caused his Petronas Yamaha to suffer high-speed wobbles during the Dutch MotoGP as he took the blame for the problem.

Marc Marquez says he opted to give up fighting for victory at the Dutch MotoGP to maximise his advantage in the championship, while picking the soft rear tyre to steer clear of his direct title rivals at Assen.

Maverick Vinales believes he had winning potential at Assen from the last round in Catalunya and was thrilled to pull together a complete weekend to take his and Yamaha’s first MotoGP win of 2019.

Alex Rins is convinced he had the pace to battle Maverick Vinales for victory in Sunday's Dutch MotoGP round. But the Suzuki rider will never know after crashing out of the lead on lap 3.

Vinales takes Yamaha's first victory of the season at the Dutch MotoGP, after edging clear of Marquez in the closing stages at Assen.

Assen: MotoGP Championship standings Pos   Rider Nat Team Points Diff. 1 =

Full Dutch MotoGP race results Maverick Vinales has secured an overdue Yamaha victory after seeing off Marc Marquez and Fabio Quartararo at the Dutch MotoGP.

Race results from the 2019 Dutch Moto2 Grand Prix at Assen, round 8 of 19.

Vinales continues Yamaha's strong Assen form by being fastest during morning warm-up for the Dutch MotoGP. Can the factory go on to claim its first win of the season this afternoon?

Race results from the 2019 Dutch Moto3 Grand Prix at Assen, round 8 of 19.

Warm-up results from the 2019 Dutch Moto2 Grand Prix at Assen, round 8 of 19.

Full Dutch MotoGP warm-up results Maverick Vinales has made his claim for victory at the Dutch MotoGP by topping morning warm-up by a useful margin over a resurgent Andrea Dovizioso on the Ducati.

Warm-up results from the 2019 Dutch Moto3 Grand Prix at Assen, round 8 of 19.

Petronas Yamaha rookie Quartararo becomes the youngest rider to claim back-to-back MotoGP poles, with a new lap record at Assen. The jubilant Frenchman then set his airbag off as he punched the air in celebration!

Maverick Vinales concedes he’s struggling to understand why his form and pace changes dramatically compared to Monster Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi as he qualifies on the front row at Assen with the Italian rider down in 14 th place.