MotoReview

The day also marked Honda's 200th victory and Kawasaki's joint best ever result, with Shinya Nakano taking second. Olivier Jacque's second place at the rain-soaked Shanghai circuit in 2004 was hugely impressive, but Kawasaki have never been this competitive in the dry since beginning their MotoGP project.

Dani Pedrosa rounded out the podium, following a dramatic fight for second with Casey Stoner which went on for most of the race. When the two riders eventually crossed the finish line they were seperated by just 3 hundredths of a second.

The walking wounded that seem to gradually be taking over the MotoGP paddock all put in good performances, with Marco Melandri and Valentino Rossi managing 7th and 8th respectively despite being a mile away from full fitness. A struggling Loris Capirossi did manage to pick up a single point in 15th, despite the fact that after the race he described the pain in his chest following his crash last weekend at Catalunya as 'unbearable'.

2006 Assen TT Race Results

1) Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team 42'27.404
2) Shinya Nakano Kawasaki Racing Team + 4.884
3) Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team + 7.525
4) Casey Stoner Honda LCR + 7.555
5) Kenny Roberts Jr Team Roberts + 8.078
6) John Hopkins Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 17.065
7) Marco Melandri Fortuna Honda + 18.09
8) Valentino Rossi Camel Yamaha Team + 23.951
9) Carlos Checa Tech 3 Yamaha + 29.027
10) Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 31.627
11) Makoto Tamada Konica Minolta Honda + 32.841
12) Alex Hofmann Ducati Marlboro Team + 34.143
13) Colin Edwards Camel Yamaha Team + 40.412
14) Randy De Puniet Kawasaki Racing Team + 1'03.648
15) Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team + 1'17.303
16) Ivan Silva Pramac d'Antín MotoGP + 1 lap
17) Jose Luis Cardoso Pramac d'Antín MotoGP + 3 laps
18) James Ellison Tech 3 Yamaha DNF + 23 laps