After years of sluggish qualifying performances, going back to 2010, current world championship leader Valentino Rossi not only scored his first pole position in four years, but set a new lap record at the sinuous TT Assen circuit in Holland.
Unlike previous races this season, where the 36 year old had to expend great energy and effort to catch up to the front from the second or third row on the starting grid, Rossi will have a chance to command a race from flag to flag, something he has not done in more than 7 years.
Joerge Lorenzo, Rossi’s factory Yamaha teammate and the only man seriously threatening him for the world championship, had a difficult time in qualifying, managing eighth place. He will start in the third row.
Second fastest and consistently getting faster was factory Suzuki rider Aleix Espargaro, followed by the factory Honda’s of Dani Pedrosa and defending world champion Marc Marquez. Aleix’ brother Pol Espargaro rounds out the second row on his Tech 3 Yamaha on row two.
Like a man possessed, Rossi devastated the field. The Dutch round, known since its debut in 1949 as the Dutch TT, has been held every year at a track near the city of Assen, and remains the last of the original race tracks from the dawn of Grand Prix motorcycle road racing. It is known for its speed, and natural flow as it follows the natural topography of the countryside.
Pos. | Rider | Team | Bike | KM/H | Time | Diff. |
1 | Valentino ROSSI | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 313.0 | 1’32.627 | – |
2 | Aleix ESPARGARO | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | 300.5 | 1’32.858 | 0.231 |
3 | Marc MARQUEZ | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 314.5 | 1’32.886 | 0.259 |
4 | Dani PEDROSA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 314.2 | 1’32.987 | 0.360 |
5 | Pol ESPARGARO | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 311.2 | 1’33.013 | 0.386 |
6 | Andrea IANNONE | Ducati Team | Ducati | 315.8 | 1’33.016 | 0.389 |
7 | Cal CRUTCHLOW | CWM LCR Honda | Honda | 311.8 | 1’33.028 | 0.401 |
8 | Jorge LORENZO | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 308.3 | 1’33.042 | 0.415 |
9 | Maverick VIÑALES | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | 304.4 | 1’33.076 | 0.449 |
10 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | Ducati Team | Ducati | 317.9 | 1’33.112 | 0.485 |
11 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Octo Pramac Racing | Ducati | 308.9 | 1’33.126 | 0.499 |
12 | Bradley SMITH | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 311.8 | 1’33.236 | 0.609 |
“This isn’t the old Assen, with the northern loop cut off it’s only a one-and-a-half-minute lap so the improvements are truly staggering.”