Editor-In-Chief's Note: We hope our readers are enjoying the superb photography and insider's perspective of MotoGP racing by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore. MotoGP has become my personal favorite form of motorsport, and to have someone with Whit's talent share his visual art and deep knowledge of MotoGP is truly special for us and we really appreciate it. -PMD 
(Photo by Special AE contributor Whit Bazemore)
While Maverick Vinales won the Assen TT, one of the most popular and demanding races on the MotoGP calendar, if not the outright fastest, the real winners of the weekend were the other podium finishers, Marc Marquez (2nd) and the rookie sensation, Fabio Quartararo (3rd). Marquez (above) has reached a new maturity as a five time MotoGP Champion - racing now in the style of great motorsport Champions such as Alain Prost or Niki Lauda, and past MotoGP greats like Wayne Rainey and Freddie Spencer. This is to say, he no longer races to win every race at “all costs” but rather races to the limit of the day - meaning, he is constantly analyzing his Championship lead relative to his closest competitors throughout the race and his own risks vs. reward in relation to the said championship situation. And while this might make him slightly less exciting to watch (there is still no one today, in any form of global motorsport, more exciting to watch than Marc Marquez), it does now make him perhaps the fastest AND the most intelligent MotoGP racer on the grid. -WB

(Photo by Special AE contributor Whit Bazemore)
But that label, at least the fastest part, as hard as it is to believe, might soon change. Enter Fabio Quartarao (above), the French rookie who has excelled far beyond anyone’s expectations. In Assen, Fabio had his third pole position of the year (in only his eighth MotoGP start) and led the early laps (his first time leading a MotoGP race), but was slowed only by his arm surgery from two weeks ago. Assen is wicked fast, and the physical effort to turn the bike quickly through the high speed sweeps caused pain and fatigue to Quartararo’s recovering right forearm. He still managed third. Fabio thus far is the leading Yamaha rider this season, and one can not help but realize that it is now Fabio who is the future for Yamaha, and not the moody and inconsistent Vinales. As for Vinales, it is widely accepted that he is an amazingly fast rider, but also that he might lack the mental strength to fight for a Championship against the likes of Marquez, and now obviously, Quartararo. At 20, Quartararo already seems to have the necessary mental strength and a championship-contending demeanor, not to mention a silky smooth and ultra, ultra quick style. Andrea Dovizioso, whose 2019 championship challenge is all but over, is also a fast and consistent racer. Vinales, however, is more known for struggling mightily in the opening laps of races. Assen was no different, but here the fall down the order was not as great - only 2nd to 5th by the second lap - and his usual mid- and late-race speed allowed him to recover for the victory in front of a massive 100,000-plus race day crowd. -WB