Ready, set, race: the curtain comes up at the 'Cathedral'

Beyond the fields and tree-lined lanes of the Drenthe province in the northeastern Netherlands nestles a foothold of motorcycling history, refined today into a ribbon of asphalt that winds its way around 18 corners hewn from a combination of flat-out bravery and tight apexes. The engines fired up near the town of Assen for the first time almost a century ago, and the first foundations of the modern track were laid in 1955. Since then, a lot has changed – but the Circuit van Drenthe remains drenched in history, anchored to its past by the finish line first set down in the fifties. “The Cathedral” is itself a legend as much as it has created them, and it is the only track on the calendar to have remained a fixture since the World Championship began in 1949.

Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) has written more than a few chapters of that legend. The 'Doctor' has taken seven wins and stood on the podium nine times in the premier class Рthe most successful rider on the grid at the venue Рand took his first victory upon returning to Yamaha at the TT Circuit Assen in 2013. Since then, the nine-time World Champion has won once more Рand will have a clear goal in 2017 to stamp some authority back on the field, the standings and his teammate Maverick Vi̱ales.

Vi̱ales will have his crosshairs set on the same, however. The Championship leader remains so despite a difficult race for both Movistar Yamahas at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and Vi̱ales will need attack mode switched on if he is to grow his advantage back to what it once was. Finding the line between attacking and banking the points will be a test of his mettle with such a small gap at the top Рbut the climate and conditions could mirror more Le Mans than Barcelona. And Le Mans more than proved Vi̱ales' mettle, as well as his teammate's resolve.

Another man to have more than proved himself of late is the man on the chase behind Vi̱ales in the Championship: Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team). 'DesmoDovi' joked that he earned his name at Mugello, but the phrase rings even more true after another stunner in Barcelona to take him seven points off the top. Since the lights went out in Sepang last year Рthe first race the Italian won since 2009 РDovizioso has won a third of the races: the same number as Vi̱ales. Although a realist to the core and refusing to be drawn, that record speaks for itself in the ever-changing Championship. Teammate Jorge Lorenzo will be hoping to continue his progress, too, after a first podium in Jerez and a first front row at the Catalan GP. The 'Spartan' has a mixed history at Assen with a win and some lows, but the track also staged a definitive moment for the five-time World Champion: after his top five result with a broken collarbone in 2013, Lorenzo's grit can never be doubted.

Reigning Champion Marc Marquez and Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa also bounced back in Barcelona after a more difficult Italian GP. A podium for both men – Marquez in P2 and Pedrosa completing the rostrum from pole – made for valuable points after the Catalan GP, and both riders moved up a place in the Championship as they leapfrogged Rossi. Marquez dueled the 'Doctor' for the win in 2015 and won at Assen in 2014, and Pedrosa counts on five previous podiums at the track in the premier class.

Fellow rostrum finisher Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) could be a dark horse at Assen. Previously on pole and on the podium at the venue, the Brit has form there – and will be pushing hard to bounce back from a difficult Catalan GP. As will last year's winner in the rain Jack Miller (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), who crashed out in Barcelona but has shown some impressive top ten pace this year – and will be riding back onto the set of some incredible memories.

Another of those tipped to challenge once again is Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), as well as his teammate Jonas Folger. Zarco already has a podium finish as a rookie and is now a firm presence at the front, with Folger also getting in the mix in Barcelona to stay with the top runners for some time. Rookies have nothing to lose – and everything to gain.

Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) is another rookie with high hopes, expecting to be back on the bike after being sidelined through injury. Testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to re-familiarise himself with the MotoGPâ„¢ machine saw Rins give positive feedback about the possibility, and both him and teammate Andrea Iannone will be interesting names to watch on the timesheets. Rins as he settles back in, Iannone as he pushes on to get back to the front.

Progress is the name of the game for more than just Andrea Iannone: Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) suffered a mechanical problem in Barcelona but then enjoyed a positive test, and rookie teammate Sam Lowes will also be looking to move forward. Then there's Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, who fought for points but just missed out in the Catalan GP. The Austrian factory found huge positives in their three days of testing after the race, however – one Official Test day and then two more private sessions – and feel ready to race for the Dutch GP. Bradley Smith should also be back with the team after missing Barcelona, with his injured finger after a free practice crash in Catalonia on the mend.

The track and the timetable have changed since racing began at the Circuit van Drenthe, but the legend remains the same. No longer racing on Saturday, MotoGPâ„¢ kick into gear for 26 laps of the TT Circuit Assen at the slightly earlier hour of 13:00 (GMT +3) on Sunday – a good day to head for the 'Cathedral'.

MotoGP World Championship Classification
1 РMaverick Vi̱ales (SPA РYamaha) 111 points
2 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA – Ducati) 104 points
3 – Marc Márquez (SPA – Honda) 88 points
4 – Dani Pedrosa (SPA – Honda) 84 points
5 – Valentino Rossi (ITA – Yamaha) 83 points

Going Dutch: who can break the Marquez-Morbidelli domination?

Pasini did it in Mugello but so far this season the EG 0,0 Marc VDS riders have been splitting the bill
After the dust settles in the wake of an uncatchable Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) at the Catalan GP, the paddock heads for the Motul TT Assen with the title fight close at the top. With Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) proving himself the rider to beat in the first races of the year and Marquez unstoppable on home turf, twice, both will be confident ahead of the Dutch GP. In 2017, they're getting used to splitting the bill.

Morbidelli has already visited the podium in the Netherlands, so he will surely be in the fight for the win. On his part, Marquez won the Catalan GP and then doubled down in the Dutch for his first ever back-to-back wins on the way to his Moto3â„¢ crown in 2014. So the EG 0,0 Marc VDS dominion could well continue.

The only man to have stopped the duo thus far is Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team), who was the hero of Mugello before coming home best of the rest behind Marquez in Barcelona. With raw pace now converting into podiums for the Italian, Pasini has experience and confidence ahead of the Dutch GP – one of those ready to fight at the front to break the VDS stranglehold once more.

There are more big names lining up to try their hand, too. Last year the TT Circuit Assen saw Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) take his first ever Moto2™ win, and the Japanese rider will have good memories to give him a serious confidence boost as he arrives at the venue this year. Tom Lüthi (CarXpert Interwetten) is another who will have his crosshairs trained on the win from the outset, with a solid record at Assen. Lüthi is now only seven points off the top of the Championship and if the Swiss veteran were to win, the worst-case scenario would be a deficit of only two points. The best-case would see him take over at the top.

However, the path to victory never did run smooth. The difference between hero and zero can be mere tenths of a second – and the grid in Moto2â„¢ is deep. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) has become a constant threat, last year's Moto3â„¢ winner Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) will want to hit back in the battle for Rookie of the Year and Dominique Aegerter (Kiefer Racing) is an experienced frontrunner and winner. Then there's Forward Racing Team riders Lorenzo Baldassarri and Luca Marini, Xavi Vierge (Tech 3 Racing), Simone Corsi (Speed Up Racing) – all having shown impressive pace this year.

Free Practice begins for Moto2â„¢ on Friday at 10:55 (GMT +2), as the race begins to become the next winner of 2017. The race is at 14:30 in an altered schedule for the Dutch GP.

Moto2 World Championship Classification
1 – Franco Morbidelli (ITA – Kalex) 123 points
2 – Thomas Lüthi (SWI – Kalex) 116 points
3 – Álex Márquez (SPA – Kalex) 103 points
4 – Miguel Oliveira (POR – KTM) 83 points
5 – Mattia Pasini (ITA – Kalex) 69 points

Hit Mir with your best shot

Championship leader has a definite target on his back as Assen awaits

After another stunning and studied victory for Championship leader Joan Mir (Leopard Racing) in the Catalan GP, the Majorcan is squarely in the sights of his rivals as they bid to stay in touch with him. The gap at the top is now 45 points – so to start reeling him in, it's now or never.

Next in the standings after a well-fought P2 in Barcelona is Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers). With two top fives at the venue before, the Italian is confident ahead of the event – as are his rivals. Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) got another podium in Catalunya, too – and claimed another pole – and will be reset and ready to push once more for his first win.

Most of the top ten last year at the Dutch GP have been some of the key challengers this season so far. Behind race winner Francesco Bagnaia – now in Moto2â„¢ – Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini Moto3), Mugello winner Andrea Migno (Sky Racing Team VR46), Fenati, Mir and Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) all had good races, making good reading for the grid ahead of the 2017 event. Wet it may have been, but wet is something Assen always can be.

Estrella Galicia 0,0 riders Aron Canet and Enea Bastianini will be joining John McPhee (British Talent Team) looking to improve last year's results after they had tough races, as will RBA BOE Racing Team's Juanfran Guevara and Gabriel Rodrigo. Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will also be a key contender looking for more, despite an impressive rookie P9 at his home GP last year. Now a sophomore, Bendseyder will want to make a bigger impression in 2017.

It's now an uphill climb for those on the chase – but the task is at least simple to define: beat Joan Mir. They'll be heading out to try and do that on Friday at 9:00 (GMT +2) for FP1, with the race on Sunday at 11:00.

Moto3 World Championship Classification
1 – Joan Mir (SPA – Honda) 133 points
2 – Romano Fenati (ITA – Honda) 88 points
3 – Aron Canet (SPA – Honda) 85 points
4 – Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA – Honda) 80 points
5 – Andrea Migno (ITA – KTM) 76 points

Photos courtesy of motogp.com