Four weeks after the Italian GP, Assen, in the Netherlands, hosts the 8th round of the Championship and it got off to a flying start on Friday with a very tight free practice session. No less than 15 riders are within a second and, at the top of the timesheet, we find Francesco Bagnaia, author of the best time with his official Ducati, in 1’32″401.
But the second in the Championship is followed very closely by Marc Marquez (Ducati Gresini), just 6 hundredths behind. The Spaniard is ahead of Raul Fernandez (Aprilia Trackhouse), 3rd at 10 hundredths, and Fabio Quartararo who, with his Yamaha, finished in an encouraging 4th place, 19 hundredths behind Bagnaia, helped by a soft tire at the rear. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ducati VR46) almost set the best time but his time was cancelled for exceeding the track limits, and occupies 7th place.
Jorge Martin (Ducati Pramac), the leader of the Championship, is “only” 10th, 52 hundredths behind, two places ahead of the other official Ducati, that of Enea Bastianini. Johann Zarco (LCR Honda) was once again unable to join the fight for the top positions and finds himself 21st, 1″83 behind.
