Rossi back to his old magic at Assen

YAMAHA’S Italian great Valentino Rossi made history and returned to the top of the MotoGP podium for the first time in more than a year on Sunday after winning a thrilling Dutch TT at Assen by a fraction of a second.

The evergreen 38- year- old beat compatriot Danilo Petrucci, on a nonworks Octo Pramac Ducati, to second place by a mere 0.063 secs with rain midway through the race making conditions tricky.

Triple world champion Marc Marquez was third for Honda.

Rossi has now been a winner across all classes for longer than any other rider in the history of motorcycling, Sunday’s victory coming 20 years and 313 days since his first in what was then the 125cc category.

Fellow Italian Andrea Dovizioso finished fifth for Ducati to take over at the top of the standings, four points clear of Yamaha’s Spaniard Maverick Vinales who crashed out after starting in 11th place.

Rossi is now third overall and seven points off the lead.

He now has 115 grand prix wins across all classes, second only to compatriot Giacomo Agostini’s 122 victories between 1964 and 1977.

“This place is always special,” said Rossi of a circuit known as the ‘Cathedral’ of motorcycling. “I am so happy for me and my team because I’m back in first place after one year and it was a great race.”

- Reuters