Rossi wins dramatic Dutch GP after collision with Marquez

Valentino Rossi won a tight duel with reigning world champion Marc Marquez to win Saturday's Motul TT Assen and stretch his lead atop the MotoGP standings.

It was the Italian nine-time world champion's ninth MotoGP victory on the Assen track in the northern Netherlands.

Marquez tried to overtake the Italian nine-time champion on the final chicane of the race and the pair appeared to touch, forcing Marquez to slow down and sending Rossi through the gravel before he crossed the line ahead of Marquez.

Rossi's Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo, who had won four straight MotoGP races coming into Assen, settled for third place after starting from eighth on the grid.

It was Rossi's third victory of the season and took him 10 points clear of Lorenzo in the season standings.

Marquez is now fourth, behind Andrea Iannone, but with 89 points to Rossi's 163, Marquez's grip on the world title appears tenuous even with 10 races of the season to go.

Rossi started from pole and the race quickly developed into a two-rider tussle. Lorenzo swiftly made up five places from his disappointing grid position, but then appeared satisfied to settle for third place.

Marquez overtook Rossi with seven laps to go, but four laps later the veteran Italian got past Marquez and managed to hold on to his lead.