Despite a crash Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is the fastest Moto2™ rider ahead of qualifying at the Motul TT Assen, the rookie sensation setting a 1:36.511 to beat Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) by 0.199s. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) slips to P3 after failing to improve in FP3, the Spaniard is 0.233s down on Raul Fernandez.
It's the rookie who's fastest once again! ✅@25RaulFernandez celebrates in appropriate fashion ????#Moto2 | #DutchGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/eaO0o2IcoP
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) June 26, 2021
Who’s into Q2?
It was a very busy Moto2™ session on Saturday morning at the TT Circuit Assen, with all but two riders managing to find pace. Behind the leading trio comes Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) in fourth and Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) in P5, the duo get the better of sixth place Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team). World Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is having a quiet weekend so far but is safely into the business end of qualifying, P7 for the Australian, as Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) and Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP) make it four rookies inside the top 10.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) is half a second off the pace in P11, 2019 Moto3™ World Champion Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team) claims P12 ahead of Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) and Tom Lüthi (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) – two experienced riders edging their way into Q2.
Qualifying up next...
Make sure you’re watching Moto2™ qualifying from Assen at 15:10 local time (GMT+2), with the likes of home hero Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team), Petronas Sprinta Racing’s Xavi Vierge and Jake Dixon, and German GP podium finisher Aron Canet (Aspar Team Moto2) – to name a few – battling it out in Q1.
Top 10 combined:
1. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – 1:36.511
2. Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.199
3. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marv VDS Racing Team) + 0.233
4. Jorge Navarro (+EGO Speed Up) + 0.327
5. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.381
6. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.383
7. Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.398
8. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.416
9. Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.435
10. Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP) + 0.490