Bagnaia shatters lap record at Assen ahead of Quartararo

Angry after his crash at the Sachsenring last Sunday, Francesco Bagnaia wants to take his revenge at Assen. The Italian will have the opportunity to do it from pole position, won this Saturday after setting a new circuit record, in 1'31.504. Already leader of the BMW M Award, a sort of qualifying championship, the Italian consolidated his place by winning his fourth Q2 of the year.

Winner of the last Dutch Grand Prix, a year ago, fabio quartararo will be able to defend his throne by starting second, after only being 116 thousandths behind the poleman. Best time in the fourth free practice session, dedicated to the race, it has the potential to make the Marseillaise resonate this Sunday. Fabio against Pecco: the duel had already taken place here in 2021, history could repeat itself this year. Unless the rain, which already fell on Friday, comes to spoil the party.

Provisionally on pole after the first run, Jorge Martin will finally complete the first row. Best rookie of the day, Marco Bezzecchi will open the second ahead of Aleix Espargaro, runner-up to Fabio Quartararo in the championship, and who aims to reduce his deficit of 34 points this weekend.

Slightly behind the leaders, Cannes' Johann Zarco will open the third row, he who remains on two podiums in a row in Barcelona and at the Sachsenring. He will have at his heels the first KTM in the ranking, of Miguel Oliveira, and the first Suzuki of Alex Rins. For the best Honda, we have to go down to Takaaki Nakagami in twelfth place, in the absence of Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro. The latter threw in the towel this Saturday morning, due to persistent pain in his ribs after his fall in the German Grand Prix.

Fourth in the championship, Enea Bastianini is the loser of the day. Stuck in Q1, the Italian will only start sixteenth, two positions behind Joan Mir who also finished a disappointing fourteenth. The two men should, however, be able to come back on Sunday, during a race which promises to be competitive on the legendary Assen circuit.

Ranking (Q2)