Dalla Porta held P1 but heading into the fourth and final sector of the race, Arbolino got himself tucked into the slipstream and dived underneath his fellow Honda rider at Turn 16. A hard, brave and race winning move. Arbolino held on into the Geert Timmer chicane to take his second win of the season, Dalla Porta had to settle for his fourth P2 of the year. Kornfeil did brilliantly to hold on to third, the experienced Czech stands on the podium for the first time since the 2018 Czech GP, with Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) recovering from a mid-race tangle to grab P4. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) produced a sterling ride to claim P5 after starting 20th, the Brit beats Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) and Catalan GP winner Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) in P6 and P7 respectively. Behind the latter trio in the fight for the podium was poleman Antonelli, he claimed P8 after taking the long lap penalty route half-way through the race. Fellow Italian Dennis Foggia (SKY Racing Team VR46) and Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) completed the top ten. Fenati ended P11 after looking strong throughout, with Championship leader Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) having a quiet race to come home 12th.
Davide Brivio reflects on MotoGP season 2019 ahead of Assen
After seven races in the 2019 MotoGP Season (not including Assen), Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins was 3rd in the Championship (-39pt from the leader Marc Marquez, -2 from the runner-up Andrea Dovizioso) with one victory (GP of The Americas) and a 2nd place (GP of Spain) already under his belt.
Alex Rins qualified in third place for Assen this weekend
While the rookie Joan Mir, despite some ups and downs, has already scored an 8th place in Qatar and a 6th place in Catalunya, the youngster has been learning quickly and is showing stronger pace with each race.
Joan Mir is fifth on the grid for the Assen TT
But perhaps what is most impressive are the detailed statistics of Rins; to take victory in Texas, he recovered 11 places from his starting position, and so far he is the rider with the best “recovery rate” this season – with 52 places recovered from qualifying to race finishes. Another impressive statistic is that since Misano last year, he has finished in the top 5 in 12 out of the 14 races, with 5 podiums.
Alex Rins and Marc Marquez on the podium at Jerez – Image by AJRN
These solid results showcase a Team that has been capable of finding consistency, despite some troubles in qualifying. But where do these performances come from? Team Manager Davide Brivio has a privileged point of view inside the team and is the best person to explain some of the secrets behind these great comebacks.
Alex Rins on the podium at Jerez
Davide Brivio
“It is true that since Misano last year we found a positive path that led us to a series of good race results, which culminated in consistent top 5 or top 6 placements for Alex Rins. This is due to the improved performance of the GSX-RR, but also an important step that Alex made personally towards the end of last year. We should not forget that his first season was heavily affected by injuries, which delayed his apprenticeship of learning and growing, finally everything ‘clicked’ at the end of last year and he blossomed. The most important remark on this is the consistency that he achieved: he’s taken five podiums in the last fourteen races, and they were not down to luck, they are the result of his consistent presence in the leading group in the races. This was exactly our target and strategy: to grow as fast as possible and be consistently fighting in the leading positions to take advantage of any podium chances. Now, with these results, we are happy to be considered a consistent contender for the podium – or the victory – in any race, even at the tracks where in theory we should struggle more.”
Alex Rins won at COTA
The good results in races have also stemmed from difficulties, as Rins is often left to ride a ‘recovery race’ after tricky qualifying sessions.
Alex Rins celebrates victory – COTA 2019 – Image by AJRN
“Alex is proving to be a real race-animal,” Continues Brivio. “After the red lights go off he actually can find that extra performance that allows him to catch up and get into the fight for the podium. If we analyse the races of this year, it is true that he struggled in finding that killer instinct needed for the time attack, but it is also a matter of characteristics of the bike. Our objective in the development has always been to find a bike that is perfectly balanced, with excellent rideability. This translates into a machine that is perfectly set-up for race distance, with a good tyre management, which allows him to be competitive until the very last laps. Our next step will be to translate this balanced performance also in an improved efficacy in the qualifying time attack. Of course, some races have been complicated by the tricky conditions and sometimes unlucky situations in qualifying.”
Joan Mir at Jerez
So, the philosophy of development is a crucial part of this process of improvement, because…
Joan Mir
“In Suzuki the priority has always been to find a well-balanced bike” as Brivio says. “This is part of our company culture, and at the moment it is rewarding us with positive results. We are a team that is half European and half Japanese, so we have to mix the two cultures. We Europeans are more focused on the work at the circuits, while in Japan they do all the crucial behind the scenes development and deliver the base and the updates. We have struck a good balance and we have learnt to mix the two different approaches and philosophies. There is a lot of communication between the Team on track and the engineers at home, and some of the Japanese engineers come to every race, and then sometimes we go to Japan for some face-to-face meetings. Apart from that, nowadays modern technology allow us to stay in touch wherever we are, thanks to phones, messages, emails. This means the exchange of information and data is constant.”
Alex Rins and Joan Mir of the Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP Team
As in all classes, a MotoE™ race weekend comprises practice sessions, qualifying and the race(s). Free Practice for MotoE™ doesn’t count towards a Q1-Q2 format qualifying as it does in other classes. The combined FP classification decides the order riders head out of pitlane in the E-Pole qualifying session in which riders set one fast lap each to decide the grid.
Beautiful blue skies greeted the premier class riders for morning Warm Up and it was Viñales who took control, the Spaniard was the only rider to dip below the 1:34 barrier as he looks supremely confident of challenging for the race win from P2 on the grid. Dovi jumped into P2 at the end of the session, the Italian has work to do from P11 though if he’s to challenge for the podium, with Quartararo’s P3 ending his run of 12 consecutive top two MotoGP™ session finishes.
The sun was shining in the Netherlands as the intermediate class got their final race preparations underway, but it wasn’t an ideal morning for Championship leader Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS). The Spaniard finished fourth fastest, less than a tenth off P1, but a crash at Turn 8 in the latter stages of Warm Up hampered his morning. Championship rival Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) also crashed, Turn 5 for the Spaniard, he finished P20 in Warm Up as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completed the top five.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Marvin Musquin made it consecutive round wins in the 2019 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship as the series reached halfway at Southwick.
Musquin picked up where he left off to start the opening 450 Class moto by grabbing the holeshot and went on to win ahead of Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) and Zach Osborne (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing).
In moto two it was premier class newcomer Osborne who won, topping Musquin and Tomac. Overall, Musquin stood atop the podium from Osborne and Tomac, while Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was fourth and Jason Anderson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) fifth.
Australia’s Dean Ferris (Monster Energy Yamaha) was eighth overall after delivering a 8-12 scorecard. Tomac now leads the standings by 26 points over Musquin, while Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) – finishing a season-worst ninth – drops to third.
In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo added to his dominant start to the season with his fifth victory in six rounds this season.
He went 1-2 for the overall ahead of moto two winner Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha), while his teammate Justin Cooper was consistent to complete the overall podium. Australian Hunter Lawrence (Geico Honda) was 11th overall after going 9-13.
Cianciarulo was able to add to his lead in the 250MX standings, in which he now enjoys a 23-point lead over Cooper, with Ferrandis remaining solidly in third.
The second half of the 2019 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship begins next Saturday, 6 July 6, with American motocross’ own independence day tradition from Michigan’s legendary RedBud MX.
A career-first Moto2 World Championship pole has further established Remy Gardner’s position as one of the brightest prospects on the grid after storming to P1 at Assen.
Gardner’s rise to the front of the intermediate grand prix field with the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team has been a significant storyline to date in 2019.
The determined 21-year-old Australian had been the fastest rider during the morning session and, with a best lap-time of 1m36.572s, will lead the grid away during tonight’s Dutch affair.
“I am very happy with today’s results,” Gardner said. “It was a great QP, not only we have a very good pace, but we managed to get pole position. We need to keep calm and focus on the race!”
Gardner was sitting 11th heading into the final five minutes, however, that was soon about to change. Red sectors were lighting up next to his name and sure enough, Gardner went P1 and that’s where he would remain.
As a result, he became the first Australian intermediate class pole-setter since multiple MotoGP title-winner Casey Stoner took the 250cc pole at Phillip Island in 2005.
Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo posted the fastest ever lap at the Motul TT Assen on Saturday to take back-to-back pole positions in MotoGP.
Quartararo’s flying 1m32.017s saw him end Q2 with a 0.140s advantage over Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) as the pattern of the two taking it in turns at the top continued.
In third was Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) as he blasted from Q1 to the front row. Rins held the advantage first as the Suzuki man started Q2 on provisional pole, but on the second runs Vinales had something to say about it.
The number 12 machine put in a stunning lap with a few minutes left on the clock to cut a few tenths off Rins’ best effort, and he was the man with the target on his back as Quartararo began his assault. But then, Quartararo began his assault.
Keeping it together to perfection and able to pull out nearly a tenth and a half by the time he crossed the line, the Frenchman made some more history and celebrated so hard that it made his airbag go off in his suit!
Reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) starts fourth and misses out on the front row for the first time this season as, alongside him, rookie Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) put in an impressive effort to take a best-yet fifth, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) completing the second row.
Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) was the top Ducati in qualifying and heads up an incredibly tight third row, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) in P8 and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) locking it out in ninth. The three men are covered by just 0.032s.
Former Assen winner Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) completes the top 10 and he was also just hundredths adrift, with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) a few further tenths off the Australian in P11. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the final man in Q2 in P12, not far off the Italian ahead of him.
Before pole was decided, it was that Q1 that would prove crucial for one big name – Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). In that Q1, he eventually finished fourth and will, therefore, start from P14.
Australian Remy Gardner’s (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) 1m36.572s in Moto2 Q2 sees him join a very illustrious list of Aussie pole-setters as two late flying laps puts the Kalex rider 0.110s clear of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS).
It was Vierge who looked like he would be the man to beat in Q2 after the Spaniard was able to half a second clear of the pack with a storming time, but Binder hit back to continue the upturn for KTM. But then Gardner, the man who sat nearly six tenths clear of the rest in FP3, started to find his rhythm.
The Australian’s first attempt was 0.016s faster than the South African, but he managed to pull a bit more margin out on his second run to secure the first Australian intermediate class pole since Casey Stoner did it in the 250cc class at Phillip Island in 2005.
In Moto3, Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) brought the run of different pole-sitters in the opening rounds of the season to an end, with the Italian setting a new record of 1m41.232s to head the grid over Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) and Mugello winner Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers).
Integro Yamaha’s Jack Kennedy has collected his fifth pole position on the bounce in the 2019 Dickies British Supersport Championship at Knockhill, with Kyle Ryde and Brad Jones joining him on the front row.
It was Kennedy who started the session the strongest, leading the way at the top of the time sheets after posting a strong time early on.
The defending Champion continued to improve on his time, pulling a heathy gap over second place, making sure he secured his fifth pole position of the year.
Kyle Ryde will start from second on the grid after nicking it from Brad Jones in the dying moments of the session.
Row two will see Jamie Perrin start from fourth with local lad Rory Skinner fifth and Championship leader Seeley rounding out the second line in sixth.
Pos
Name
Entry
Time
1
Jack Kennedy
Yamaha – Integro Yamaha
49.024
2
Kyle Ryde
Kalex – Kovara projects by RS Racing
49.145
3
Brad Jones
Yamaha – Integro Yamaha
49.267
4
Jamie Perrin
Chassis Factory – Nova Racing Transmissions/Go Racing
49.413
5
Rory Skinner
Kawasaki – Watermans Team MSR
49.566
6
Alastair Seeley
Yamaha – EHA Yamaha
49.779
7
Lee Johnston
Yamaha – Ashcourt Racing
49.799
8
Richard Kerr
Triumph – Campbell Motorsport
50.011
9
Sam Wilford
Honda – IDWe Racing
50.073
10
Mason Law
ABM Triumph – ABM Quattro Racing
50.093
11
Ben Wilson
Kawasaki – Gearlink Kawasaki
50.147
12
Sam Munro
Kawasaki – Munro Racing
50.163
13
Kurt Wigley
Yamaha – Sorrymate.com Racing
50.184
14
Bradley Perie
Yamaha – Diamond H Racing
50.199
15
Jake Archer
Kalex – Kovara projects by RS Racing
50.206
16
Harry Truelove
Yamaha – Truelove Property & Construction
50.252
17
Charlie Nesbitt
Yamaha – Hisc/Rapid Fulfillment Racing
50.333
18
Ross Twyman
Kawasaki – Gearlink Kawasaki
50.409
19
Ross Patterson
Yamaha – RPMMoto.com / Mayfair Homes Ltd
50.633
20
Phil Wakefield
Yamaha – PWR
50.809
21
Thomas Strudwick
FTR Moto – Case FTR Moto / Spirit Motorcycles
50.819
22
James Mclaren
Suzuki – Fog Racing
50.829
23
Jorel Boerboom
Honda – JB50 Racing
50.870
24
Alan Naylor
Yamaha – Donkey Box Racing
53.610
British Superstock 1000
Buildbase Suzuki’s Richard Cooper notched up his eighth victory of the season, coming back from third, to extend his Championship lead over Taylor Mackenzie at Knockhill.
Just minutes before the start of the race drops of rain began to fall, but not enough for the riders to change tyres and set-ups on the grid.
Taylor Mackenzie leads Richard Cooper – Image Dave Yeomans
From the lights it was Cooper who grabbed the holeshot, but the end of the opening lap Mackenzie led from Rouse with the Championship leader Cooper in third.
By half-race distance Cooper had caught Mackenzie, who had cleared off at the front, in the process setting a new lap record. It only took ‘Coopes’ a lap to pass the Bathams Racing BMW man and he quickly cleared off.
The Nottinghamshire man controlled the lead until the flag, taking his eighth victory of the season, with Mackenzie and Rouse rounding out the podium.
British Superstock 1000 Podium – Knockhill 2019 – 1. Dan Cooper – 2. Taylor Mackenzie – 3. Chrissy Rouse – Image Dave Yeomans
Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) just won’t stop breaking records. At the Motul TT Assen the Frenchman put in the fastest ever lap of the track in qualifying to take his third pole position overall, and in doing that he also becomes the youngest ever rider to take back-to-back poles in the premier class, and he looked so smooth doing it….
Fabio Quartararo – P1
“There’s not much to say; it’s just incredible. Assen is one of the most legendary circuits in the World Championship, and taking pole position and breaking the track record is amazing. I’m very proud of what the team have done. I thought it would be very difficult to beat the time in the final part of the session, but I managed two very fast laps and was able to do it. The feeling we have at this circuit, especially on the last sector, is awesome. Both yesterday and today we worked on race pace, and I think we are good in that regard. It’s a tougher circuit than Barcelona, so my arm is suffering a bit more here, but I was able to get pole position. I’m very happy.”
Fabio Quartararo
0.140s is the young Frenchman’s advantage over Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) as the pattern of the two taking it in turns at the top continued. Where Quartararo’s fast laps looked precise and smooth, Vinales was visibly wringing the neck of his YZR-M1 to set his quick laps in a scintillating display of aggression and physicality.
“I’m really satisfied. We worked really hard throughout the whole weekend, especially in FP3, when we worked more for the race than focusing on one lap, so this means we have a good set-up. It’s important for tomorrow to have a ‘normal’ and clean race, so I can push from the first lap until the end. I have nothing to lose, so I’ll be pushing 110%. It’s also very important to be consistent and precise on the track, so you don’t miss any corners. I will try to be at my best level tomorrow and get out in front, because it’s important for me to ride my own lines. I’m going to start from the front row and fight hard.”
Maverick Viñales
Alex Rins had to fight his way through from the second batch of riders in the opening Q1 session but the Suzuki man showed his determination and topped that session by almost half-a-second before then holding out Marquez in Q2 to put the Suzuki GSX-RR on the front row.
Alex Rins
Alex Rins – P3
“Coming from Q1 was difficult, I had to give my absolute all to get into Q2. I feel quite strong, especially as I was using a used rear tyre and still set a fast lap. Tomorrow will be a tough race for sure, there will be a lot of riders close together I think, but I’m starting in a good position – on the front row. We’ve done a lot of good work so far this weekend and I’m ready to fight for a win.”
Alex Rins
Qualifying Report
Before pole was decided, it was that Q1 that would prove crucial for one big name: Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). The ‘Doctor”s difficult day at the office began earlier in FP3 as his lap that would have seen him move through to Q2 was cancelled for exceeding track limits, and that left him fighting it out in Q1. In that Q1, he eventually finished fourth and will therefore start from P14, with Rins and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) the two men moving through.
Alex Rins
Rins held the advantage first as the Suzuki man started Q2 on provisional pole, but on the second runs Viñales had something to say about it. The number 12 machine put in a stunning lap with a few minutes left on the clock to cut a few tenths off Rins’ best effort, and he was the man with the target on his back as Quartararo began his assault. But then, Quartararo began his assault.
Keeping it together to perfection and able to pull out nearly a tenth and a half by the time he crossed the line, the Frenchman made some more history – and celebrated so hard, it made the air-bag go off in his suit!
Behind that little slice of history, there’s one habitual front row starter missing from the top three: Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). The reigning Champion starts fourth and misses out on a place in the fastest trio for the first time this season, and he’ll be looking to slice through early off the line. This is the first time Marquez has failed to qualify on the front-row on the grid since Valencia last year.
Marc Marquez – P4
“I’m happy with the race pace and we knew before the Qualifying that it would be tough as there is more competition than normal. It looks like in the morning it is a little tricky but then in the afternoon when the conditions get warmer we are there. I think it’s going to be a very close race tomorrow and there are four or five of us with good pace. Normally it’s a circuit where we struggle, but in Mugello normally we struggle and we got second and in Montmelo we struggled and won.”
Marc Marquez
Alongside Marquez is rookie Joan Mir, the Suzuki rider put in an impressive effort to take a best-yet fifth, just into the 1m33s, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) completing the second row.
Joan Mir – P5
“I’m happy about today’s qualifying, the team and I have worked really well during the weekend and I’ve been getting faster and closer to the top guys. I made some mistakes today so I feel my lap time could have actually been better. This is my first time starting on the second row, so I’m really pleased about that; thanks to the team.”
Joan Mir
Cal Crutchlow – P6
“I qualified sixth, but I didn’t really have the pace for sixth, it was just lucky that nobody had the pace to get past me on the second run. We’re working hard, but the reality is we’re probably about the tenth quickest guy, but last year it was a ten-man battle at the front at one point so we’ll have to try and make some improvements in the morning. I didn’t feel much better on the bike today even though we tried more or less everything as always, from my point of view it’s clear where we’re losing time and we are working on it. We’re trying our best and I’m pleased to be on the second row”.
Cal Crutchlow
Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team), third on Friday, is the top Ducati in qualifying and heads up an incredibly tight third row, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) in P8 and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) locking it out in ninth. The three men are covered by just 0.032.
Danilo Petrucci – P7
“I tried to push as hard as I could, taking also some big risks, but the higher temperatures troubled us a bit, as both the grip and the overall stability diminished. Undoubtedly we expected to be able to do better. It’s a pity, because this morning in FP3 I felt so comfortable that I told the team I had the best bike I’ve ever ridden here at Assen, and I posted the provisional lap record. To be honest, it has also been a bit chaotic out there in Q2 because all riders were sort of guarding one another closely. Tomorrow it shouldn’t be as hot, or at least I hope so: we’ll analyze the data to make sure we can express our full potential during the race.”
Danilo Petrucci
Takaaki Nakagami – P8
“I’m quite happy, because it’s quite a big improvement from yesterday from FP2. Of course the track condition was better, there was more rubber on the track and so everybody was much faster than yesterday which helps. Our set-up of the bike was much easier to ride today, but we still have to improve for the race because it still takes a lot of energy to ride this bike. I’m a little disappointed because I think qualifying was there to attack and when I saw the chequered flag I was P6, but after that I checked the second screen and I was P8 which I didn’t understand. But we spoke with race direction to see where I cut the track limit and I understand maybe the last chicane, on the right. But I am really close to the second row and we are improving all the time. It’s a really long race tomorrow and hopefully we can make no mistakes and be very focused during the race.”
Franco Morbidelli – P9
“We’ve been able to improve a lot compared to yesterday, so that’s very positive. I was able to go faster both in terms of my pace and my flying lap. Even so, we’re still lacking something if we compare my time with the fastest riders. My pace in FP4 wasn’t bad and I think we can fight for the top five. We still have the warm-up tomorrow to come, where we will be able to see where we are. If the race has a large group, I think I can be up at the front.”
Franco Morbidelli
2016 Assen winner Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) completes the top ten with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) a few further tenths off the Australian in P11.
Jack Miller – P10
“I can’t be satisfied with the qualifying. To be honest, I thought I could do better. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any grip on the soft tyres. The race pace with the hard tyre, however, is very good. We can have a good race tomorrow.”
Jack Miller
Andrea Dovizioso – P11
“It’s been a bit of a strange day, with really high temperatures. After starting off on the right foot in free practice, unfortunately we couldn’t be as competitive during qualifying. It’s a shame because starting from fourth row complicates our plans a bit, but I wasn’t able to complete a ‘clean’ lap. We’re more competitive in terms of pace, we still have to improve but I believe we can ride a solid race. A lot will depend on what weather conditions we’ll find tomorrow. At any rate, we won’t give up and we’ll try to be fast in any condition.”
Andrea Dovizioso
Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the final man in Q2 in P12, not far off the Italian ahead of him.
Pol Espargaro – P12
“For sure I am not riding as I want or I wish but it is what I have right now. It is better than in Barcelona where I could not move two fingers or my wrist up or down. We expect the race tomorrow to be really hot and very tricky for everyone. The whole grid might slow the rhythm and I will feel a bit more comfortable. Let’s see what lap-time I can hold.”
Pol Espargaro
Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) starts just ahead of Rossi, with the number 46 facing down a few of his VR46 Riders Academy proteges in his mission to move forward on Sunday. He’s won ten times at Assen, and he is the Sunday miracle maker. Can he get in the fight at the front?
Valentino Rossi – P14
“It’s a great shame, because this morning I wasn’t so bad. I set a very good time on my last lap to get directly into Q2, which is always crucial. But unfortunately I touched the green exit on the last chicane and they cancelled the lap, so I had to go through Q1. I was still quite optimistic, because I was quite strong this morning, but with the higher temperatures I had more problems and less grip. Unfortunately, I was slower, so it was not enough to get into Q2.”
Valentino Rossi
MotoGP Combined Times
Pos
Rider
Bike
Q
Time
1
Fabio QUARTARARO
YAMAHA
Q2
1m32.017
2
Maverick VIÑALES
YAMAHA
Q2
1m32.157
3
Alex RINS
SUZUKI
Q2
1m32.458
4
Marc MARQUEZ
HONDA
Q2
1m32.731
5
Joan MIR
SUZUKI
Q2
1m33.085
6
Cal CRUTCHLOW
HONDA
Q2
1m33.228
7
Danilo PETRUCCI
DUCATI
Q2
1m33.282
8
Takaaki NAKAGAMI
HONDA
Q2
1m33.295
9
Franco MORBIDELLI
YAMAHA
Q2
1m33.314
10
Jack MILLER
DUCATI
Q2
1m33.323
11
Andrea DOVIZIOSO
DUCATI
Q2
1m33.692
12
Pol ESPARGARO
KTM
Q2
1m33.762
13
Francesco BAGNAIA
DUCATI
Q1
1m33.221
14
Valentino ROSSI
YAMAHA
Q1
1m33.466
15
Aleix ESPARGARO
APRILIA
Q1
1m33.547
16
Karel ABRAHAM
DUCATI
Q1
1m33.583
17
Miguel OLIVEIRA
KTM
Q1
1m33.706
18
Johann ZARCO
KTM
Q1
1m33.776
19
Hafizh SYAHRIN
KTM
Q1
1m33.869
20
Andrea IANNONE
APRILIA
Q1
1m33.960
21
Tito RABAT
DUCATI
Q1
1m34.580
Moto2
Remy Gardner’s (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) 1:36.572 in Moto2 Q2 at the Motul TT Assen sees him join a very illustrious list of Australian Grand Prix polesitters as two late flying laps puts the Kalex rider 0.110 clear of second place Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The KTM rider kept his Friday form to beat Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) to second by hundredths despite needing to put in a stunner of a save at Turn 5.
It was Vierge who looked like he would be the man to beat in Q2 after the Spaniard was able to half a second clear of the pack with a storming time, but Binder hit back to continue the upturn for KTM. But then Gardner, the man who sat nearly six tenths clear of the rest in FP3, started to find his rhythm.
The Australian’s first attempt was 0.016 faster than the South African, but he managed to pull a bit more margin out on his second run to secure the first Australian intermediate class pole since Casey Stoner did it in the 250cc class at Phillip Island in 2005.
Behind the top three, Championship leader Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) will start from P4 and he spearheads a second row that consists of Q1 graduate Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio (Beta Tools Speed Up). It’s Di Giannantonio’s second consecutive second row start after a P5 in Barcelona, and Marquez won from P6 in Catalunya…
Seventh is Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up), just behind his rookie teammate and looking to move forward, with second in the Championship Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) down in P8 and with a little more work to do than key rival Marquez. He has rookie Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) for company completing Row 3, another newcomer who bested his teammate as second Italtrans rider Andrea Locatelli starts tenth.
Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) will want more than P11 on race day, as will Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) just behind him. Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) is a similar story after the Barcelona polesitter took P13 ahead of Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo), but it’s more true of former Championship leader Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) than any as he faces a fight back from P16.
Moto2 Qualifying
Pos
Rider
Bike
Q
Time
1
Remy Gardner
KALEX
Q2
1m36.572
2
Brad Binder
KTM
Q2
1m36.682
3
Xavi Vierge
KALEX
Q2
1m36.716
4
Alex Marquez
KALEX
Q2
1m36.771
5
Sam Lowes
KALEX
Q2
1m36.855
6
Fabio Di Giannantoni
SPEED UP
Q2
1m36.979
7
Jorge Navarro
SPEED UP
Q2
1m37.076
8
Thomas Luthi
KALEX
Q2
1m37.078
9
Enea Bastianini
KALEX
Q2
1m37.084
10
Andrea Locatelli
KALEX
Q2
1m37.171
11
Luca Marini
KALEX
Q2
1m37.171
12
Marcel Schrotter
KALEX
Q2
1m37.233
13
Augusto Fernandez
KALEX
Q2
1m37.340
14
Jorge Martin
KTM
Q2
1m37.405
15
Tetsuta Nagashima
KALEX
Q2
1m37.413
16
Lorenzo Baldassarri
KALEX
Q2
1m37.456
17
Iker Lecuona
KTM
Q2
1m37.592
18
Nicolo Bulega
KALEX
Q2
1m37.604
19
Dominique Aegerter
MV AGUSTA
Q1
1m37.529
20
Somkiat Chantra
Kalex
Q1
1m37.626
21
Stefano Manzi
MV AGUSTA
Q1
1m37.789
22
Marco Bezzecchi
KTM
Q1
1m37.805
23
Jonas Folger
KALEX
Q1
1m38.063
24
Bo Bendsneyder
NTS
Q1
1m38.103
25
Jake Dixon
KTM
Q1
1m38.118
26
Simone Corsi
KALEX
Q1
1m38.121
27
Lukas Tulovic
KTM
Q1
1m38.462
28
Joe Roberts
KTM
Q1
1m38.510
29
Steven Odendaal
NTS
Q1
1m38.967
30
Xavi Cardelus
KTM
Q1
1m39.474
Moto3
Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) has brought the run of different polesitters in the opening rounds of the Moto3 season to an end, with the Italian setting a new record in qualifying at the Motul TT Assen to head the grid for Sunday’s race. He’ll be joined on the front row by Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) in second, with Mugello winner Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) taking third and just 0.013 in further arrears.
It was a frantic, manic Moto3 Q2 and Toba sat atop the timesheets before the final flyer came in from Antonelli, but it’s nevertheless a good start down the path to redemption for the Japanese rider after a heartbreaking crash on the final lap in Barcelona that saw him slide out the lead. And the last time he was on the front row, he won the race…and all three men on the front row have the best chance to become the first repeat winner of the year.
Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was fourth fastest and is one of the men best-placed to try and keep the record-breaking run of different winners going, joined on Row 2 by rookie duo Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia), both of whom are also looking for their first Grand Prix wins.
Friday’s fastest Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PrüstelGP) heads the third row, another to have not yet taken to the top step, but he’s in serious company as the men first and second in the standings line up alongside him. Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) is P8 after coming through Q1 and the man he’s chasing, Championship leader Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), was just 0.014 off him in ninth.
Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) was tenth quickest but has a six-place grid penalty to serve, so it’s Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) who starts in P10, with rookie Raul Fernandez (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) and Catalan GP winner – and Q1 graduate – Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) joining him on the fourth row.
It’s already a record-breaking run in the lightweight class with 12 different winners in a row. Antonelli is now a repeat polesitter, can he become the first repeat winner?
