2021 Dutch MotoGP, Assen - Free Practice (1) Results
Just days after his worst ever MotoGP result, Vinales begins the 2021 Assen event on top of the timesheets during FP1.
The Yamaha rider arrived in The Netherlands 'very upset' after finishing last at Sachsenring and claimed he would 'copy' team-mate Quartararo's set-up this weekend after a lack of answers from Yamaha.
Pol Espargaro, who also plans to try and use his Honda team-mate Marc Marquez's settings following the Sachsenring win, likewise made an appearance at the top on his way to second place.
Both Marquez and Espargaro have a new chassis to try on one of their RC213Vs this weekend. Marquez using the frame on his final run, when he set the ninth fastest time but also ran off track at the final chicane.
Garrett Gerloff is replacing the injured Franco Morbidelli at Petronas Yamaha, alongside Rossi. The American, currently sixth (one podium) in this year's World Superbike championship for GRT Yamaha, previously took part in (wet) Friday practice at last year's Valencia MotoGP while Rossi was awaiting a PCR result.
With Rossi due to announce his racing future during the summer break, could this weekend effectively be an 'audition' for Gerloff?
The 25-year-old began the weekend with a sizeable fall during the middle stages of FP1, but returned on his spare bike and was able to finish within half-a-second of fellow Assen MotoGP rookie Marini.
Assen is returning to the MotoGP calendar for the first time since 2019, having been absent from last year's Covid-reduced line-up. It has been resurfaced since MotoGP's last visit.
| Dutch MotoGP, Assen - Free Practice (1) Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1'33.072s | 22/23 | 304k |
| 2 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.111s | 20/21 | 309k |
| 3 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.429s | 18/21 | 305k |
| 4 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.561s | 18/19 | 300k |
| 5 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +0.815s | 19/19 | 308k |
| 6 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.867s | 18/20 | 301k |
| 7 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.921s | 19/19 | 308k |
| 8 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.932s | 19/21 | 310k |
| 9 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.976s | 20/21 | 308k |
| 10 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +1.026s | 16/19 | 303k |
| 11 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +1.173s | 21/21 | 308k |
| 12 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +1.193s | 22/23 | 308k |
| 13 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +1.227s | 12/19 | 304k |
| 14 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.350s | 20/21 | 308k |
| 15 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.359s | 22/22 | 303k |
| 16 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.419s | 20/21 | 307k |
| 17 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.438s | 19/20 | 307k |
| 18 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.844s | 20/22 | 308k |
| 19 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +2.181s | 20/20 | 304k |
| 20 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +2.220s | 17/19 | 308k |
| 21 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +2.434s | 18/20 | 304k |
| 22 | Garrett Gerloff | USA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +2.889s | 14/15 | 297k |
* Rookie
Official Assen MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Fabio Quartararo FRA Yamaha 1m 32.017s (2019)
Fastest race lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda 1m 33.617s (2015)
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
