Round 8 of the 2015 FIM MotoGP World Championship from TT Circuit Assen will be shown LIVE beginning Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 a.m. PT on FOX Sports 1.
Here are five things to watch during the race:
Marc Marquez - A Point to Prove
Marc Marquez has a point to prove in Assen, especially to his team bosses at Honda. Having publicly blamed the Honda V4 motor for his loss of form since his win in Texas, he must now show that his switch back to a hybrid RC213V based on his title-winning 2014 chassis is the right call. There is a positive sign from his very impressive race pace in final practice and it is increasingly obvious that it was chassis balance and front feel that was the central issue, not the RC213V motor.
Jorge Lorenzo - Patience Needed
This 26-lap race will test Jorge Lorenzo's patience. For that is what he will need starting from eighth on the grid if he is to win a fifth consecutive race this season. Valentino Rossi and Marquez will be the pacesetters starting from the front row and Lorenzo will have to produce a fast, mistake-free race with some daring overtakes to pull this one off.
Valentino Rossi - The Title Fight
Valentino Rossi can take the title fight against Yamaha teammate Lorenzo to a new level here. If he wins, he will end Lorenzo's winning streak and extend his lead from the slim single-point advantage he now holds. This will be crucial in slowing the momentum of a refreshed Lorenzo whose confidence is booming after leading all 103 laps of the past four races.
Yamaha M1 - A Step Forward
While Honda have gone back to the future for Marquez, both Rossi and Lorenzo believe that Yamaha have made a step forward with the updated M1 chassis delivered for this race. It provides improved rear grip on used tires and has "lighter and more agile handling feel" according to Rossi. The 2015 M1, now with fully seamless shift gearbox, has evolved into a worthy challenger to the once unbreakable Honda dominance.
Weather And Pit Stops
The notoriously fickle weather at Assen often has a big influence on this race. The 2014 event was a classic example, run in a tricky combination of wet and dry conditions that produced a clever win by Marquez. Rain showers can suddenly roll in at one end of the 4.5-km layout, with the opposite end of the elongated circuit staying dry. This is why all top factory riders have been rehearsing the bike change pit stops during practice sessions over the past two days.
