2021 Dutch MotoGP, Assen - Free Practice (3) Results

Free Practice (3) results from the Dutch MotoGP at Assen, round 9 of the 2021 world championship.
Maverick Vinales, MotoGP, Dutch MotoGP 25 June 2021
Maverick Vinales, MotoGP, Dutch MotoGP 25 June 2021
© Gold and Goose

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
PosRiderNatTeamTime/DiffLapMax
1Maverick ViñalesSPAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)1'32.336s17/23306k
2Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.197s20/21304k
3Pol EspargaroSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.305s19/21311k
4Aleix EspargaroSPAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)+0.411s19/19308k
5Joan MirSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.412s20/21308k
6Alex RinsSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.509s22/23309k
7Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)+0.517s19/20308k
8Miguel OliveiraPORRed Bull KTM (RC16)+0.535s15/20308k
9Valentino RossiITAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.558s17/19302k
10Jack MillerAUSDucati Team (GP21)+0.571s18/20313k
11Johann ZarcoFRAPramac Ducati (GP21)+0.602s15/16312k
12Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Team (GP21)+0.605s17/22315k
13Jorge MartinSPAPramac Ducati (GP21)*+0.638s15/19314k
14Danilo PetrucciITAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+0.690s20/20303k
15Marc MarquezSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.733s16/18313k
16Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)+0.751s22/22310k
17Alex MarquezSPALCR Honda (RC213V)+0.914s19/21312k
18Iker LecuonaSPAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+1.020s17/18305k
19Lorenzo SavadoriITAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)*+1.032s13/18306k
20Luca MariniITASky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)*+1.129s20/21307k
21Enea BastianiniITAAvintia Ducati (GP19)*+1.517s20/22309k
22Garrett GerloffUSAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.918s21/21301k

* Rookie

Riders directly to Qualifying 2 - Top 10 Combined Practice Times:
PosRiderNatTeam
1Maverick VinalesESPMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)
2Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)
3Pol EspargaroESPRepsol Honda (RC213V)
4Aleix EspargaroESPAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)
5Joan MirSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
6Alex RinsESPSuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
7Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)
8Miguel OliveiraPORRed Bull KTM (RC16)
9Valentino RossiITAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)
10Jack MillerAUSDucati 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)

By Peter McLaren
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