MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix 2015: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

Jorge Lorenzo will head to Assen this weekend, chasing a fifth consecutive victory, as the MotoGP roadshow rocks up in the Netherlands.

The Spaniard is now just one point back of overall leader Valentino Rossi, and although he’s won at this iconic circuit on four occasions in his distinguished career, Lorenzo has endured some wretched luck at the Dutch TT since his last victory in 2010.

Can the Yamaha man conquer his Assen demons and overhaul his team-mate atop the world championship standings? Here’s a closer look at the two men most likely to savour glory this weekend and all the key viewing details ahead of the action getting underway.

Session	Date	Time
Free Practice 1	Thursday, June 25	8:55 a.m. - 9:40 a.m.
Free Practice 2	Thursday, June 25	1:05 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.
Free Practice 3	Friday, June 26	8:55 a.m. - 9:40 a.m.
Free Practice 4	Friday, June 26	12:30 p.m. - 1p.m.
Qualifying 1	Friday, June 26	1:10 p.m. - 1:25 p.m.
Qualifying 2	Friday, June 26	1:35 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.
Race	Saturday, June 27	1 p.m.

All sessions can be streamed via the BT Sport website (UK).

Valentino Rossi

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Although the legendary Italian has only won two races in 2015 compared to Lorenzo’s four, he still leads the way in the drivers' championship. It’s a measure of Rossi’s serene consistency that coming into this weekend, he still possesses a one-point lead despite his team-mate’s own sensational sequence of wins.

In Catalonia, Rossi was made to work extremely hard for his second-place finish. A poor qualifying session meant he began in seventh spot on the grid, but the Italian wove his way back through the field, showcasing plenty of composure as other riders crashed out.

It seems set to be another engrossing battle between the two Yamaha riders again, but as noted here by Indonesia VR|46 Fans, the Italian has an excellent record at the circuit known as “The Cathedral”:

While Rossi does thrive around the legendary track, his skills will be nullified if he continues to flounder in his race preparations.

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Indeed, while Lorenzo has been dominant in the last four races, he’s been duly assisted by his team-mate's inability to hook things up in qualifying; the highest Rossi has qualified in any of the last four races is fifth. As noted here, courtesy of BT Sport MotoGP, it’s an issue, which has blighted the Yamaha rider all season:

Provided Rossi can get up to the front of the grid, he has the pace to match Lorenzo around the Assen track. But at the moment it’s tough to rely on his qualifying displays and as such, a second-place finish looks most likely for the Italian, preserving his record of finishing in the top three in every race in 2015.

Prediction: Runner-Up

Jorge Lorenzo

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The Yamaha star has been imperious in recent weeks. Last time out in Catalonia, he surged from third position on the grid up to the front of the pack in the first lap and from that point on the race win was never in any doubt.

As we can see here, courtesy of BT Sport MotoGP, Lorenzo has been so dominant as of late:

But he’s been unable to overhaul Rossi at the top of the standings. Doing so in Assen, where Lorenzo is chasing his fifth career win, would be the ideal tonic for the Spaniard, who has had a torrid time of things in the Netherlands in recent years.

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In 2013 his ride bucked during a practice session, and Lorenzo sustained a broken collarbone. But he returned to compete in the grand prix just one day after surgery, and despite being in obvious pain, he was still able to finish in fifth position. Last year, after such a harrowing experience 12 months prior, he could only finish in a lowly 13th spot.

Lorenzo should be confident, however. As noted here by official MotoGP statistician Martin Raines, the Yamaha has been dominant as of late:

"

MotoGP stat: Over last 13 MotoGP races Yamaha have taken 10 wins & Honda 3 wins. Wins by rider: Lorenzo - 6, Rossi - 4, Marquez - 3

— Martin Raines (@motogpmart) June 16, 2015"

If he can conquer the mental hurdles that are naturally in situ, Lorenzo should win here. The Spaniard has been the class of the field in recent weeks and looks to be on a relentless march to the peak of the driver standings.

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It’s a crucial weekend for the Yamaha man, and if he can take the chequered flag here, Lorenzo should have the momentum to go on and seize the world title.

Prediction: Winner