The green flag dropped on Friday morning's Practice 1 and the 2023 MotoGP™ grid got their first taste of the Assen TT circuit. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) took a firm hold of proceedings and remained untouched at the top of the timesheets after a series of hot laps saw the Italian set a 1:32.246 to take P1. Assen saw the VR46 man take his first podium in MotoGP™ in 2022 as he took 2nd place ahead of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), and it was the Spaniard who was on his tail again as the Aprilia man finished the session 0.314s back in P2. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) also looks strong after P1 as he starts his weekend in P3.
Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) suffered a crash in the first session of the weekend, but a good run from the Frenchman saw him take 4th place. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) threatened the top 3 at times and started his weekend with a top 5 as the fast-flowing nature of the Assen circuit suited the Quartararo/Yamaha pairing. The big test for the 2021 World Champion will fall on whether he and his team can continue this form as the weekend goes on.
An off for @JohannZarco1 and of course the @jackmilleraus taxi is ready and waiting ????#DutchGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/E6kjJEoEHN
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) June 23, 2023
Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) couldn't quite match the pace of his teammate and finished P6, 0.635s off the pace ahead of Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda IDEMITSU) in P7.
It's not going exactly to plan for @ducaticorse so far! ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) June 23, 2023
Frustration for @PeccoBagnaia and a crash for @Bestia23! ????#DutchGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/oeMQgCH2e0
With Bezzecchi looking strong at the top of the timesheets, the pressure is on for his two title rivals Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing Ducati). It's not going completely to plan so far for the Sachsenring 1-2, as Martin finds himself 0.842s adrift from Bezzecchi in P8, and Bagnaia shows signs of frustration as he struggles to find the perfect setup for factory Ducati around the Assen course, and currently sits outside of Q2 contention in P12.
The World Champ is not a happy boy right now! ????#DutchGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/tknV0wsFiR
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) June 23, 2023
Practice 2 for MotoGP™ commences at 15:00 local time (GMT +2) so make sure not to miss any of the action on motogp.com!
Top 10:
1. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – 1:32.246
2. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) - +0.314
3. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) +0.368
4. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) +0.516
5. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) +0.558
6. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) +0.635
7. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda IDEMITSU) +0.735
8. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) +0.821
9. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) +0.841
10. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) +1.175