The Dutch GP will mark a year without a win for the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team , the longest streak without a Grand Prix win since Sepang in 2002 and South Afica 2004. Rossi commented on this on his podium finish in Barcelona :

“It’s very bad news because it’s a long time since my last victory, but also from Yamaha’s last victory, so we need to work,”

The speed is there though with Rossi claiming his third podium in a row at Barcelona and his fourth in the 2018 season, and Vinales scoring points in all seven rounds one of onlytwo riders to do this.

So can the doctor end this streak :

“Assen is a fantastic track and usually we are quite competitive there,” says the number 46, who has eight premier class wins at the ‘Cathedral of Speed’, including three in the last five years. motogp.com

With Lorenzo’s improvement in form and Rossi’s need for a win it should be an exciting Grand Prix.