Jorge Martin regained control of the Moto3 championship with victory in the Dutch TT, while title rival Marco Bezzecchi crashed on the final lap.
Poleman Martin grabbed the advantage into the first turn at the start, while Leopard duo Enea Bastianini and Lorenzo Dalla Porta, and championship leader Bezzecchi on the Prustel GP KTM slotted in behind.
Just as he did in the early stages of the Catalunya race, Martin was able to break away from the chasing pack, opening up a gap of close to eight tenths while Bastianini, Bezzecchi and Aron Canet debated second.
Canet moved into second on lap four and demolished Martin's lead, launching a successful raid into the fast Ramshoek.
Martin found himself beaten up over the next couple of laps, though the Gresini rider regrouped and hit the front again on lap 10 after Bezzecchi – who seized the lead from Canet along with John McPhee two laps prior – ran wide exiting the Struben.
CIP rider McPhee threw his KTM up the inside of Martin and Bastianini at the Ramshoek to run at the front with 11 laps remaining, and did the same several tours later after Martin retaliated at Turn 1 following his initial attempt heading the pack.
The top five continued to swap positions over the next handful of laps, and with three remaining Martin hit the front again after Bezzecchi ran wide at Turn 1.
The Gresini rider tried to break away once more, opening up an advantage of seven tenths with three laps to go, which remained intact as he started his final tour.
McPhee crashed out of contention while running at the back of the group on the penultimate tour at De Bult.
More drama would strike just a corner later on the following tour, as Bezzecchi highsided out of contention chasing the dueling Canet and Bastianini.
Martin remained unchallenged through the final sector to claim his fourth win of the season, moving two points clear of Bezzecchi in the standings.
Bastianini took second from Canet on the run into the last chicane, but the EG 0,0 Honda rider out-dragged Bastianini to the line to snatch second.
Jaume Masia stole fourth on the run to the line from Jakub Kornfeil – who came from 23rd – to head the massive second wave, with Dalla Porta coming home in sixth.
Darryn Binder came from 17th on the grid to register his best result of the year in seventh, while Gabriel Rodrigo headed Fabio Di Giannantonio – who started the race in the lead group – and Marcos Ramirez to round out the top 10.
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