 Rossi continues to dominate MotoGP this season |
Defending champion Valentino Rossi clinched his fifth-successive MotoGP race this season with victory in Assen. The Italian held off compatriot Marco Melandri, who placed second and Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards, of the United States, who finished a distant third.
Rossi started on pole but dropped to sixth before working his way through the field and went inside Melandri for the lead on lap 10 of 19.
The 26-year-old has now won six of this season's seven rounds.
Rossi also set the fastest lap to cap another fine display which leaves him on the verge of a fifth world title, with Movistar Honda's Melandri 63 points adrift after seven rounds.
 |  I can't believe that I am the first Yamaha rider to win five races in a row |
Sete Gibernau's challenge faded and the Movistar Honda rider had to make do with a fifth place which leaves him 86 points off the pace in the title race.
Max Biaggi recovered from yet another poor qualifying display to earn sixth for Repsol Honda, while Londoner Shane Byrne just missed out on points in 17th for Roberts KTM and Cumbria's James Ellison finished 19th for Blata WCM.
Rossi said he found it hard to comprehend that he had made MotoGP history by winning in Holland.
Victory in Assen means the Italian has now won more consecutive races than any other Yamaha rider.
"I can't believe that I am the first Yamaha rider to win five races in a row," he said.
"When you look at the company I am in with Yamaha's former world champions - Giacomo Agostini, Eddie Lawson, Kenny Roberts and Wayne Rainey - it's great."
Results from the Netherlands MotoGP, Assen:
1. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 38:41.808
2. Marco Melandri (Italy) Honda 38:43.391
3. Colin Edwards (United States) Yamaha 38:49.451
4. Nicky Hayden (United States) Honda 38:51.936
5. Sete Gibernau (Spain) Honda 38:56.603
6. Max Biaggi (Italy) Honda 39:03.383
7. Alex Barros (Brazil) Honda 39:04.533
8. Shinya Nakano (Japan) Kawasaki 39:08.285
9. Carlos Checa (Spain) Ducati 39:12.029
10. Lris Capirossi (Italy) Ducati 39:12.273
Selected others:
17. Shane Byrne (GB) Roberts 39:48.747
19. James Ellison (GB) Blata 40:25.576
MotoGP Championship Standings:
1. Velentino Rossi 170pts
2. Marco Melandri 107
3. Max Biaggi 87
4. Sete Gibernau 84
5. Alex Barros 74
6. Colin Edwards 73
7. Nicky Hayden 60
8. Loris Capirossi 49
9. Shinya Nakano 48
10. Carlos Checa 40
MMIX
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