Round eight of the MotoGP Championship gets underway this weekend at the legendary Circuit TT Assen. Last years race winner Marc Marquez is going for a fifth win of the season after a dominant performance at the Catalunya GP two weeks ago.

Last year at The Cathedral of Speed we were given one of the best races during the 2018 season and a truly unforgettable battle at the front which saw Marc Marquez take victory.

Now we have Quartararo and Petrucci coming to the foreground this season and cannot rule them out of being in the battle at the front.

Reigning world champion Marquez admits that the Honda had struggled at the circuit before their win last time out and aim for a podium this Sunday. He said: “Yeah of course last year we arrive with some doubts. We normally struggle a bit here, Suzuki and Yamaha normally ride in a good way. It was a big group, it was the best race for me and the fans. We won, but more importantly, we had the pace. This was the most important thing, we will try to find this special feeling again. This racetrack is very nice, especially sector 3 and 4 and yeah, try to do the best job Sunday that can be the podium or victory.”

Alex Rins has shown this season how much Suzuki have made a step forward. The Spaniard finished second in the race last season and is confident he can be on the podium again this year: “The key is just go full gas. This track looks a good track for Suzuki but also for Yamaha. As you saw last year the group was massive, a lot of riders at the front. We will try our 100%, I enjoy a lot this track and overtaking at the fast corners, but we’ll try do a good job.”

Danilo Petrucci got his third podium in a row last time out at the Catalunya GP. He is hoping to make it four this weekend and said: “Yeah, this is one of my favourite circuits. Last year the race didn’t go in our better way but anyway we are in a positive moment, for sure in Barcelona we struggled a bit more than Jerez, Mugello, Le Mans.

“We managed to score a podium which was important. I have been lucky to escape the big crash but I was quite good to manage the race with Alex (Rins) and Fabio, it was very fast, very difficult to stay there. I think we can fight for the podium.”

Fabio Quartararo impressed everyone last time out with his first premier class podium. He said: “For sure we have gained a lot of experience from now to Qatar. It is going on a really good way, we will make the same work here - make a good Friday, to be in the Q2 and bring a good result home.”

Jack Miller won his first MotoGP race at Assen back in 2016 and is aiming for a podium this time out: “It’s a track I’ve had success at in the past and I’ve always been pretty quick here, so I like it a lot. Last year was an awesome race, we were just hanging off the back of the group, couldn’t quite bridge the gap, but I got to watch it all unfold. I had front row tickets so hopefully this year we can be involved in it and rub some paint.”

The weekend gets underway tomorrow with FP1 at 09:55 local time.