Extra, from a press launch issued by Dorna:
Bezzecchi denies Bagnaia to turn into thirteenth totally different polesitter in a row at Assen
The quantity 72 is again within the sport, denying Bagnaia as Marini completes the entrance row, Quartararo has his finest qualifying of the yr – and Martin takes P10
Saturday, 24 June 2023
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Staff) set a shocking new lap document to take pole on the Motul TT Assen, changing into the thirteenth totally different polesitter in a row on the monitor within the course of. And it’s fortunate for some! His 1’31.472 was sufficient to pip reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Staff) by simply 0.061 although, with Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Staff) finishing an all-Italian entrance row. And solely simply, because the quantity 10 denies Fabio Quartararo (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP™) by an infinitesimal 0.041. Nonetheless, it’s the Frenchman’s finest qualifying of the season as far as the grid at Assen units us up for a stunner!
Q1: Zarco and Oliveira shine, Bastianini and Marquez conflict
A celebrity practice rolled out for Q1 with Zarco at its head, Franco Morbidelli (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP™) tucked in behind and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Staff) shadowing each. As they crossed the road Zarco went prime and Morbidelli second, however Marquez slotted into fourth behind Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who’d additionally been simply behind the practice.
Zarco then pulled off line and Morbidelli adopted, and Marquez headed again into the pits as Bastianini lit up the timing screens with some purple sectors. The Italian misplaced out within the last a part of the lap although – after which the lap was additionally cancelled for monitor limits. By this level, Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) was main the way in which, however he was then deposed by Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Staff). Zarco then put in one other flying lap to take over – and by three and a half tenths in a present of some severe velocity kind the Frenchman.
Pitlane went quiet as the sphere ready to a different crack at it, and this time Marquez tucked in behind Bastianini – however early on the quantity 23 needed to name time on the lap early after saving an enormous second. And time was working out. In the meantime, Oliveira was setting purple sectors once more as Di Giannantonio took over in second… with all the pieces very a lot undecided. However then got here the drama.
As Bastianini dropped anchor, Marquez slowed up too, after which the 2 collided because the Repsol Honda hit the again of the Ducati rider. The quantity 93 was out, and Bastianini wasn’t going to have time for one more lap both.
That left Zarco unthreatened on the prime, with Oliveira taking the second spot in Q2.
Q2
After a flurry of quick laps on the primary runs, the primary drama – though a innocent crash – was Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) happening at Flip 5. That left him with with out a time as Bezzecchi and Bagnaia headed the desk for the second, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) third.
The primary rider to assault on a second shot at it was Quartararo, and the Frenchman shot onto provisional pole by simply over a tenth. This was it now, with the timing screens awash with purple sectors because the 12 riders in Q2 all went into full assault mode.
The primary to hit again was Bezzecchi as he pulled out three tenths and set a brand new lap document, after which Brad Binder (Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing) break up the 2. Subsequent up Bagnaia crossed the road with Marini for shut firm and so they slotted into second and third, however a crash for Marini quickly after put paid to a different lap for the quantity 10 – and introduced out the Yellow Flags. Rider completely tremendous and tt may properly have protected his entrance row too. An incident with blended penalties.
After that, there was one shot left for some, however nobody may make it rely. Bagnaia was down on Bezzecchi and that was that, the quantity 72 makes just a little slice of historical past because the thirteenth totally different rider to begin from pole over the past 13 Grands Prix on the TT Circuit Assen!
THE GRID(S)
It’s an all-Italian entrance row as Bezzecchi heads Bagnaia and Marini, with Quartararo simply lacking out on the entrance row by 0.041. Nonetheless, it’s precisely what the 2021 Champion ordered to this point at Assen – entry to Q2 and a grid place rather a lot additional ahead. He has Binder for firm in P5, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) finishing Row 2.
Viñales, arguably the rider with one of the best document at Assen, was by means of to Q2 too and he’ll begin P7, with Zarco rescuing a 3rd row begin in P8 after a harder Friday. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) completes that row.
So the place’s Martin? The early crash for the newest winner on the grid appeared to price him pricey as he solely manages tenth, with work to do when the lights exit. Oliveira takes P11, with Jack Miller (Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing) unlikely, regardless of the unbelievable begins for the KTMs of late, to be in holeshot rivalry this weekend as he traces up twelfth. The Australian might be wanting for lots extra as soon as we’re racing!
