2021 Dutch MotoGP, Assen - Free Practice (3) Results
Vinales stays fastest during a dry and sunny Free Practice 3 for the Dutch MotoGP at Assen, with Yamaha team-mate and title leader Quartararo slotting into second.
Pol Espargaro, who like Vinales has found a struggling Sachsenring bike to be dramatically on form at Assen, held off brother Aleix for third place.
Another rider given a boost his morning was Rossi, who ran as high as fifth in the final stages on his way to ninth and - like Suzuki riders Mir and Rins - now gets rare direct access to Qualifying 2.
A limping Marc Marquez was back on track after yesterday's huge highside, but the Sachsenring winner couldn't break the top ten despite a tow behind Oliveira, the #93 running through the gravel at the final chicane. Both Marquez and team-mate Espargaro have a new Honda chassis to try this weekend.
Zarco, Bagnaia and Binder will be among those joining Marc Marquez in Qualifying 1.
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? The American had his second fall of the weekend this morning, but was within two-seconds of Vinales at a track he hasn't ridden at before this weekend.
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.
All riders set their best times of the weekend so far this morning.
| Dutch MotoGP, Assen - Free Practice (3) Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1'32.336s | 17/23 | 306k |
| 2 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.197s | 20/21 | 304k |
| 3 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.305s | 19/21 | 311k |
| 4 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.411s | 19/19 | 308k |
| 5 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.412s | 20/21 | 308k |
| 6 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.509s | 22/23 | 309k |
| 7 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.517s | 19/20 | 308k |
| 8 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.535s | 15/20 | 308k |
| 9 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.558s | 17/19 | 302k |
| 10 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.571s | 18/20 | 313k |
| 11 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +0.602s | 15/16 | 312k |
| 12 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.605s | 17/22 | 315k |
| 13 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +0.638s | 15/19 | 314k |
| 14 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.690s | 20/20 | 303k |
| 15 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.733s | 16/18 | 313k |
| 16 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.751s | 22/22 | 310k |
| 17 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.914s | 19/21 | 312k |
| 18 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.020s | 17/18 | 305k |
| 19 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +1.032s | 13/18 | 306k |
| 20 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.129s | 20/21 | 307k |
| 21 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.517s | 20/22 | 309k |
| 22 | Garrett Gerloff | USA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.918s | 21/21 | 301k |
* Rookie
| Riders directly to Qualifying 2 - Top 10 Combined Practice Times: | |||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team |
| 1 | Maverick Vinales | ESP | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 2 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 3 | Pol Espargaro | ESP | Repsol Honda (RC213V) |
| 4 | Aleix Espargaro | ESP | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) |
| 5 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) |
| 6 | Alex Rins | ESP | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) |
| 7 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) |
| 8 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) |
| 9 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 10 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) |
Fastest Friday time:
Maverick Vinales SPA Yamaha 1m 33.072s (FP1)
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.
