Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP hits the TT Circuit Assen for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix this week, with Marco Bezzecchi looking to bounce back from his ban by ending Marc Marquez’s momentum.
Aprilia ace Bezzecchi saw his lead at the top of the riders’ standings shrink last Sunday while watching from the sidelines, after he was suspended for the Czech Grand Prix for slapping a marshal. The Italian hit the marshal who was recovering his bike after crashing in the Sprint.
Marquez refused to waste the chance to punish his title rival after the FIM banned Bezzecchi for the Czech GP. So, despite his exhaustion around Brno, Marquez forced an overtake on his Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia and halted Trackhouse’s Ai Ogura to win the Czech GP.
Now, Marquez sits just 40 points behind Bezzecchi heading into round 10 out of 22 at Assen this weekend. Bezzecchi also now only leads his Aprilia teammate Jorge Martin in second by eight points, while Fabio Di Giannantonio of VR46 in third is 23 points shy of his compatriot.
Bezzecchi’s ban capped off a torrid time for the Italian, who has not scored a point since the Sprint at Balaton Park. Marquez, in contrast, won the Balaton Park Sprint, the Hungarian GP and now the Czech GP. So, Bezzecchi will be desperate to try to get back on track at Assen.
With that in mind, MotoGP News’ expert team of writers have offered their predictions for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix – from who will score pole to who will win both races at Assen…
What is your one bold prediction for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix at Assen?
Is it a surprise winner? A shock podium? Or a horrendous result?
Who will score pole position for the 2026 MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix at Assen?
Kyle Archer – Francesco Bagnaia: “MotoGP saw six different polesitters over the first nine rounds, but there will not be seven in 10 as Francesco Bagnaia will add to his pole position from Le Mans by topping qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix. The Italian loves Assen and is starting to get more confident with the front-end of his Ducati with every race that passes.”
READ MORE: How to watch the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix on TV, plus Assen weather forecast
Marcus Chan – Marco Bezzecchi: “After a horrible Czech Grand Prix for Marco Bezzecchi, I expect he will be more fired up than ever and will take pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix – beating Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin to top qualifying.”
Tyler Rowlinson – Marco Bezzecchi: “Marco Bezzecchi needs to get rid of the demons of Brno as soon as possible, and Assen is the perfect place to do that. He and Aprilia will be rapid this weekend, and pole position is on the cards for the championship leader.”
David Comerford – Ai Ogura: “Ducati seemed wary after the Czech GP that Aprilia would be particularly strong at Assen. And while Marco Bezzecchi is Ducati’s main focus, I would actually make Ai Ogura the favourite for pole on the back of his breakout qualifying at Brno.”
Ashley Hambly – Jorge Martin: “It was a bit of an off-week in Czechia for the riders that were in-form at the beginning of the year, including Jorge Martin. He is still on the hunt for his first pole with Aprilia, and a bounce back at Assen could definitely provide him with it.”
Who will win the Assen Sprint Race at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix?
Kyle Archer – Francesco Bagnaia: “While Francesco Bagnaia is still struggling to nurse his rear grip during Grand Prix races, the Ducati rider scored his first Sprint Race win of 2026 at Brno. Now, Bagnaia may even go back-to-back with another Sprint win at Assen this week.”
Marcus Chan – Marc Marquez: “After securing back-to-back Grand Prix wins, I think Marc Marquez will win the Sprint Race at Assen by getting a good launch off the line to overtake polesitter Marco Bezzecchi.”
Tyler Rowlinson – Marc Marquez: “Marc Marquez has openly admitted that Assen is not a strong circuit for him, even when he is fit. The Ducati might also not be as fast as the Aprilia this weekend, but to rule him out of contention would be foolish. Given Marco Bezzecchi’s terrible result in Sprint Races and Marquez’s brilliant record, the Sprint King from last year will strike again and win on Saturday at Assen.”
David Comerford – Marc Marquez: “I need to see something from Aprilia, because they’re at risk of blowing this championship. Until they show it, I will be backing Marc Marquez for each race, because he’s entering that title-chasing flow state at the moment.”
Ashley Hambly – Jorge Martin: “If Jorge Martin starts from the front of the pack, a victory in the shorter race format should be a done deal if he can also hang onto the lead at Turn 1. Of course, Marc Marquez remains a threat no matter what, so Martin may have to earn it.”
Who had the better racecraft, Valentino Rossi or Marc Marquez? Let us know why in the comments
Rossi often sparked controversy battling Marquez, like at Assen and Sepang in 2015
Which rider is the favourite to win the 2026 MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix?
Kyle Archer – Marc Marquez: “Predicting the winner of the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix is very straightforward, provided that the race at Assen also proves to be a straightforward affair, as Marc Marquez will head to the Netherlands as the clear favourite for his third win in a row.”
Marcus Chan – Marco Bezzecchi: “It is well documented that Marco Bezzecchi has struggled in Sprint Races this season. But the Italian brings his best on a Sunday, and I think he will win his fifth Grand Prix of the year in the Netherlands.”
Tyler Rowlinson – Marco Bezzecchi: “I predicted that Marco Bezzecchi would win at Brno and, well, we all know how that went. But I see Assen as a great opportunity for Bezzecchi to bounce back, and put all the noise around him firmly in the past. Victory for the Aprilia rider at Assen, you heard it here first.”
David Comerford – Marc Marquez: “After Marc Marquez won in Hungary, there were some doubts about whether he could replicate it on a more demanding layout. But he’s now put those doubts to bed with his win at Brno, and is back to being the best rider on the grid.”
Ashley Hambly – Marc Marquez: “The floodgates have now opened for Marc Marquez, and it is just a matter of racking up the Grand Prix wins until he is among the frontrunners in the MotoGP standings. He proved everyone wrong by sailing to victory on the clockwise Brno circuit, and I do not doubt that he can do it again this weekend at Assen.”
Who will be on the 2026 MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix podium at Assen?
Kyle Archer – Marquez, Bagnaia, Bezzecchi: “The 2026 title and a record-equalling eighth premier class championship is now very much within reach for Marc Marquez. So, even if the Ducati star still does not feel 100% fit with his right arm, he will leave Francesco Bagnaia and Marco Bezzecchi fighting with Ai Ogura over the final podium positions in the Dutch GP.”
Marcus Chan – Bezzecchi, Marquez, Di Giannantonio: “Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez will likely share a brilliant battle at the front, with the Italian just about managing to hold off the seven-time MotoGP champion. Fabio Di Giannantonio, meanwhile, will score his fourth podium finish of the campaign to complete the podium at Assen.”
Tyler Rowlinson – Bezzecchi, Marquez, Bagnaia: “Marc Marquez will give Marco Bezzecchi a big run for his money in the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend. But the Aprilia will get the edge over the Ducati, and the Ant of Cervera will have to settle for second. And then, Francesco Bagnaia will finish in third (see the last four races for the reason why).”
David Comerford – Marquez, Ogura, Bezzecchi: “Ai Ogura will not convert his pole but will repeat his second-place result, and I also expect Marco Bezzecchi to respond after he was forced to sit out the Czech GP.”
Ashley Hambly – Marquez, Bezzecchi, Fernandez: “I am expecting more shenanigans from Jorge Martin in the Dutch Grand Prix, which will be lapped up by Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez to claim the final two spots on the podium.”
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