Doohan regains title-race lead

Motorcycling

Motorcycling

Michael Doohan, the world champion, swept to victory in the 500cc Dutch Grand Prix at Assen for the second successive year to regain first place in the title standings.

The Australian, in third place on the grid, took the lead three laps from the end when he cut inside his fellow Honda rider, Alberto Puig. Alex Criville, Doohan's team-mate, compounded Puig's misery by robbing him of second place with a hair-raising manoeuvre on the final lap.

Doohan's victory lifted him top of the table on 120 points, one point clear of Daryl Beattie, who missed the race after falling from his Suzuki during Friday's free practice.

In the 250cc race, the world champion Max Biaggi cruised to his third consecutive win and took a 25-point lead over Tetsuya Harada, joint leader with Biaggi before Assen, who did not compete following a crash in practice.