Bagnaia takes pole and record at Assen in the MotoGP qualifying of the Dutch GP, ahead of Martin and Vinales. Marquez crashed while risking an overtaking on Espargaro: he will be seventh on the grid. 15th Bezzecchi, who crashed two minutes from the end of Q1.
MotoGP qualifying for the Dutch GP ends under the banner of Francesco Bagnaia. At Assen the #1 gave his best, printing a sensational 1’30”540improving by nine tenths the absolute record set by Bezzecchi in the 2023 qualifying. Bagnaia’s strategy, which this afternoon and tomorrow he will start from pole, was to anticipate the second and final run, avoiding traffic but above all the attempt of other drivers to follow. Which Martin didn’t manage to do, forced to overplace two laps in the last run, stuck in a small group of riders waiting in his wake.
Martin has still managed to carve out his own space at the end of Q2, finishing in second position at 81 thousandths from Bagnaia. Completing the front row in today’s MotoGP Sprint and tomorrow’s race Maverick Vinalesthird on the Aprilia that he will leave at the end of the season despite paying more than four tenths to Bagnaia.
Finale thriller per Marc Marquez, caduto alla Ruskenhoek risking a useless overtaking on Espargaro in the final stages of Q2. The #93 did not improve much and had to settle for an acceptable seventh position, in the third row. Starting from the second row of the Dutch GP will instead be his brother Alex, fourth today in qualifying a few mileisms from Vinales. Fifth time for Aleix Epsargarowho risked not taking part in the second run due to a technical problem with his RS-GP, and sixth for Di Giannatonio. The Roman from the VR46 team, who arrived in Q2 thanks to the second best time in Q1, was helped by Bagnaia in his only run with new Softs.
In the third row, in addition to Marc Marquez, there will also be room Franco Morbidelli e Brad Binder. Tenth time for Acosta, who after the lead in Q1 was unable to find the right spark in Q2also resulting two tenths slower. The Rookie Maravilla will thus start from the fourth row, in the company of a dull Bastianini e Raul Fernandez.
Regardless of the result, Saturday was positive for Quarterly, who narrowly missed out on getting through to Q2. The Yamaha rider from Nice finished Q2 in 3rd position and will be able to start from 13th place on the two starting grids. Behind the Diablo he placed himself Jack Millertaking advantage of its own traction, and Marco Bezzecchiwho crashed two minutes from the end of Q1, losing the chance to fight for access to Q2 until the end.
Q2 Ranking
Starting grid
