2021 Dutch MotoGP, Assen - Free Practice (2) Results
Vinales enjoys a welcome boost by staying fastest during a rain-interrupted Free Practice 2 for the Dutch MotoGP at Assen, the Yamaha rider lapping a few tenths slower than his morning time before the afternoon rain arrived.
But the session will be best remembered for a shocking accident for Marc Marquez, his biggest since returning to MotoGP from last year's broken arm.
The Sachsenring winner was sent somersaulting through the air at 130km/h after the rear wheel of his Honda stepped out and launched him into a highside at Turn 11, while chasing Mir, in the opening ten minutes.
Massive highside for @marcmarquez93!
— MotoGP (@MotoGP) June 25, 2021
Thankfully the Spaniard is walking away! #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/3RA7WNeCzn
A stretcher was made ready for the eight-time world champion as he lay in the gravel, but the #93 was eventually able to stand up - fortunately without reaching for his right arm and shoulder - then returned to the paddock on the back of a scooter and limped back into the Repsol Honda garage.
Team-mate Espargaro fell shortly afterwards in far less dramatic circumstances. Both Espargaro and Marquez have a new chassis to try this weekend, which Marquez is thought to have been using when he fell.
It is not clear if rain drops contributed to the Repsol falls but the moisture intensified into steady rain soon after, sending all riders back to the pits and silencing the track during the middle stages.
By the last ten minutes the track was fully wet, allowing riders to return on wet tyres and prepare for more rain forecast on Saturday.
Around half of the riders were able to beat their FP1 times before the FP2 rain.
Garrett Gerloff is replacing the injured Franco Morbidelli at Petronas Yamaha, alongside Rossi. The 25-year-old 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?
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 (2) Results | |||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max | |
| 1 | = | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1'33.241s | 5/14 | 301k |
| 2 | ^12 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.159s | 5/12 | 307k |
| 3 | ^1 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.250s | 4/13 | 298k |
| 4 | ^5 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.319s | 4/4 | 308k |
| 5 | ^8 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.460s | 4/11 | 304k |
| 6 | ˅1 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +0.467s | 5/12 | 310k |
| 7 | ˅4 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.719s | 6/15 | 307k |
| 8 | ^3 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.825s | 6/7 | 310k |
| 9 | ˅2 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.840s | 6/8 | 306k |
| 10 | ˅8 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.855s | 5/9 | 306k |
| 11 | ˅5 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.893s | 6/11 | 299k |
| 12 | ^8 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +1.098s | 5/13 | 308k |
| 13 | ^5 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.117s | 6/13 | 308k |
| 14 | ˅4 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +1.220s | 4/14 | 299k |
| 15 | ^2 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.298s | 5/12 | 299k |
| 16 | ^3 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.417s | 6/12 | 305k |
| 17 | ˅1 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.525s | 5/11 | 302k |
| 18 | ˅3 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.536s | 6/11 | 298k |
| 19 | ˅7 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +1.591s | 4/7 | 309k |
| 20 | ˅12 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +2.485s | 3/9 | 301k |
| 21 | ^1 | Garrett Gerloff | USA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +2.503s | 4/12 | 296k |
| 22 | ˅1 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +2.975s | 6/12 | 300k |
Key:
^X Rider is X positions higher than FP1.
= Rider is same position as FP1.
˅X Rider is X positions lower than FP1.
* Rookie
| Top 10 Combined Practice Times: | |||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team |
| 1 | Maverick Vinales | ESP | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 2 | Pol Espargaro | ESP | Repsol Honda (RC213V) |
| 3 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) |
| 4 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 5 | Alex Rins | ESP | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) |
| 6 | Marc Marquez | ESP | Repsol Honda (RC213V) |
| 7 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) |
| 8 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) |
| 9 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) |
| 10 | Aleix Espargaro | ESP | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) |
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.
