Ducati Corse Media presents: Francesco Bagnaia’s Historic Lap Record at Assen
In a remarkable display of skill and precision, Francesco Bagnaia shattered the previous lap record during the second practice session at Assen. Riding his GP24 with unparalleled finesse, the Italian racer clocked an astonishing time of 1.31.340s, leaving his competitors in awe. Maverick Vinales on his Aprilia came in a close second, but Bagnaia’s dominance was evident with a comfortable 0.065s lead.
The Gresini Ducati duo of Alex and Marc Marquez showcased their prowess, securing third and sixth place respectively. Aleix Espargaro and Jorge Martin found themselves sandwiched between the Marquez brothers. However, Espargaro’s ambitions were dashed as he lost control of his bike in the final sector, resulting in a devastating crash. The impact visibly shook him, leaving him battered and defeated.
Brad Binder emerged as the lone KTM rider to qualify for Q2, claiming a respectable seventh place. Enea Bastianini’s hopes of making it to Q1 seemed promising after a late crash. However, luck was on his side as he managed to secure eighth place due to Espargaro’s untimely incident. Raul Fernandez and Franco Morbidelli completed the Q2 qualification spots, finishing in ninth and tenth place respectively.
Despite Yamaha’s engine upgrades, both Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins fell short of securing a spot in Q2. They settled for 11th and 14th place respectively. The VR46 Ducati duo of Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannatonio were neck and neck, with a mere 0.005s separating them as they claimed 12th and 13th place. Pedro Acosta’s chances were dashed by the yellow flags that followed Espargaro’s crash, leaving him in a solitary 15th place.
Miguel Oliveria of Trackhouse Aprilia finished in 16th place, ahead of lead Honda rider Johann Zarco. Jack Miller’s performance was disappointing, trailing 1.766s behind the frontrunner and settling for 18th place. Takaaki Nakagami, a beloved favorite among LCR Honda fans, followed closely in 19th place. Lorenzo Savadori, the Aprilia test rider, secured the 20th spot, surpassing struggling Augusto Fernandez and outpacing the Repsol Honda duo of Joan Mir and Luca Marini.