2021 Dutch MotoGP, Assen - Free Practice (4) Results
World championship leader Quartararo ends team-mate Vinales' free practice dominance by topping FP4 for the Dutch MotoGP at Assen.
The Frenchman went straight to the top on medium-medium tyres, then even quicker after fitting a hard rear.
Vinales popped ahead of KTM's on-form Oliveira for a late second place on medium-medium tyres, the same tyres as used by Aprilia's Espargaro for fourth.
But the most popular choice was medium front and hard rear with Marquez, limping from yesterday's huge highside, and Repsol Honda team-mate Espargaro the only riders in the top 10 to finish on the soft rear. Both have a new chassis to try this weekend.
Qualifying 1, for those outside the top ten after third free practice, including Sachsenring winner Marquez, will now get underway.
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 (4) Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1'32.513s | 15/16 | 304k |
| 2 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.204s | 17/17 | 306k |
| 3 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.432s | 13/17 | 308k |
| 4 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.436s | 17/17 | 307k |
| 5 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.528s | 16/17 | 306k |
| 6 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.590s | 17/17 | 310k |
| 7 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.621s | 10/15 | 306k |
| 8 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.651s | 13/15 | 311k |
| 9 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.742s | 15/15 | 309k |
| 10 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +0.752s | 14/15 | 311k |
| 11 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.765s | 8/14 | 313k |
| 12 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.767s | 16/17 | 303k |
| 13 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.164s | 14/16 | 313k |
| 14 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +1.165s | 14/15 | 311k |
| 15 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.169s | 7/11 | 307k |
| 16 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.299s | 5/13 | 304k |
| 17 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +1.343s | 14/17 | 311k |
| 18 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.648s | 6/10 | 311k |
| 19 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.752s | 7/13 | 308k |
| 20 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +1.908s | 4/8 | 304k |
| 21 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.934s | 9/13 | 308k |
| 22 | Garrett Gerloff | USA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.986s | 11/16 | 299k |
* Rookie
Fastest Practice time:
Maverick Vinales SPA Yamaha 1m 32.336s (FP3)
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.
