Andrea Dovizioso describes Assen MotoGP podium as a 'beautiful' result for underdog Tech 3

Dovizioso defeated factory Yamaha rider Ben Spies to secure third at Assen, claiming his second podium in a month after achieving the same result at Catalunya.

"Getting back to the podium for us is really important," said Dovizioso.

"We know it's really difficult because the level of the riders and the bikes is really high, so to get a podium for us is amazing.

"It's beautiful. It's nice to be here, and also the championship becomes better, but especially to be on the podium for us is something really big."

The Italian got ahead of Spies for a spell in the middle of the race, before losing third again but retaking it when the American ran into tyre difficulties in the closing laps.

"At the end Ben had some bad luck I think with the bike, so it was a strange fight," said Dovizioso. "But anyway we had a beautiful fight in the middle of the race."

The result moves Dovizioso to within one point of team-mate Cal Crutchlow in the battle for fourth in the championship, and pulls him clear of Ducati duo Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi, and Gresini's Alvaro Bautista.