MotoGP Assen LIVE: Sprint updates as Fernandez leads Trackhouse 1-2

Live coverage of Sprint race at the 2026 Assen MotoGP. The Sprint is scheduled for this afternoon at 15:00 local time.

Key Moments

• Ogura beats Di Giannantonio to second as Fernandez proves uncatchable for Dutch Sprint win
• Bagnaia gets position penalty after finish, promoting Marquez to sixth
• Bezzecchi takes fourth from Martin as Fernandez starts to up the pace
• Martin starts dropping back as Fernandez hits the front
• Martin leads early laps as Bezzecchi drops back

Marco Bezzecchi came into Saturday having been fastest in both sessions on Friday and looking to rebound from his Czech disaster this weekend at Assen. The Italian pointed to stability as an area to improve with the RS-GP as he sought a first pole since the Italian Grand Prix. He ultimately came up short, but will start third today.

Jorge Martin said yesterday that Bezzecchi has a step on the field at Assen, but that it's more pronounced in time attack trim than race pace. It was the 2024 champion who came out on top in Q2, though, with Martin taking an "emotional" pole position.

 The Spaniard was also the rider who was most outspoken about the heat, saying it would be "not really healthy" to do a full-distance grand prix on Sunday if the weather doesn't cool, which it is due to, to some extent.

Ai Ogura starts between the two factory Aprilias today, meaning a second front row lockout in four rounds for the Noale marque. Raul Fernandez qualified fourth, giving Aprilia its first lockout of the top-four positions in MotoGP qualifying.

Martin was also one of several crashers in Practice yesterday, going down at turn 12 and coming away unharmed. Two others were the two Gresini Racing riders, who both went down at turn 11. Fermin Aldeguer was taken to hospital and this morning has been declared unfit, while Alex Marquez skipped Q2 in the hopes of being in the best possible condition for the remainder of the weekend.

Marquez's crash yesterday brought out the red flags towards the end of Practice, after which Marc Marquez did not return to the track. He admitted afterwards that he didn't enjoy Friday, but he got directly into Q2 from Practice in sixth. Qualifying was underwhelming for the reigning champion, though, and he'll start seventh, just behind Fabio Di Giannantonio and Francesco Bagnaia who qualified on the second row.