Marc Márquez fell 3:25 from the end of P2 and still can’t push
BARCELONA, 23 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Italian rider Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati) in MotoGP, the British Jake Dixon (GasGas) in Moto2 and the Spanish Jaume Masià (Leopard Racing) in Moto3 were the fastest in free practice on Friday for the Dutch Grand Prix, which takes place at the historic Assen circuit, with another crash for Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda).
Bezzecchi, who signed a podium as a ‘rookie’ in last year’s race in Assen, showed in both P1 and P2 that he is very comfortable in ‘La Catedral’. He was the fastest in both sessions and closed the day with a best time of 1: 32.063, almost two tenths better than in the morning.
The Italian was the best in the Ducati fleet on a track where, at the moment, they don’t have that much superiority. Jorge Martín (Ducati), winner of the last German GP, is still strong and was second, at 130 thousandths, and the current world champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) was fourth.
But among the best places there are other brands that hope to break the dominance of the Italian brand. Third was the Australian Jack Miller with his KTM and fifth the Spanish Maverick Viñales with his Aprilia, with Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) sixth and the other Aprilia, that of Aleix Espargaró, in seventh position.
They completed the ‘Top 10’ and with this they gained direct access to Q2 the South African Brad Binder (KTM), the Italian Luca Marini (Ducati) and the Spanish Álex Márquez (Ducati), tenth. It was surprising to see Johann Zarco (Ducati), eleventh, stay out.
For his part, Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda) continues to suffer on the back of his Honda and unable to push or go to the limit. The man from Cervera, who announced that he would slow down after his multiple falls and injuries at the Sachsenring, went to the ground again this Friday, with 3:25 minutes to go from P2, with a slide (without a rollover) in turn 3.
It had no physical consequences, perhaps on a mental and motivational level for a winning driver who is currently struggling to try to avoid Q1 and, for the second time in a row, fails to do so. The best Honda, in fact, was that of Takaaki Nakagami, in fourteenth position and 9 tenths of the time of Bezzecchi.
DIXON AND MASIÀ LEAD MOTO2 and MOTO3
In the intermediate and small categories, as in the queen category, there was no change in domain between the two sessions. In Moto2, the best of the day was the British Jake Dixon from the GasGas Aspar Team, who dominated the day with a 1:36.463 ahead of the Spanish Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Alonso López (CAG Speed Up).
In Moto3 a Spaniard did dominate; Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing). The man from Algemesí marked a 1:41.579 that was more than 3 tenths better than the second time of the day, set by the Italian Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) in P1. Third was also Italian Romano Fenati (Rivacold Snipers Team).
In a P2 marked by relatively low times, even worse for many riders than those set in the morning, the current World Championship leader, Spanish Daniel Holgado (KTM) was tenth, 752 thousandths behind Masià, second in the World Championship.