Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo set the pace on a crash-filled Friday as two heavy spills disrupted Marc Marquez’s weekend at the iconic TT Circuit Assen.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) closed out a chaotic Day 1 at the Motul Grand Prix of the Netherlands on top of the timesheets, thanks to a commanding 1:31.156 lap. It was a welcome return to form for both the Frenchman and Yamaha, who outpaced Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and rising star Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in what turned out to be a dramatic opener at the historic “Cathedral of Speed.”
However, while Quartararo celebrated a strong start, all eyes were on World Championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), who endured a bruising day. The six-time premier class champion suffered two big crashes — one in Free Practice 1 and another at Turn 7 late in the afternoon session. Though he walked away from both incidents, Marquez appeared shaken and ended the day in sixth place.
Chaos and Red Flags: Assen Delivers a Wild Start
The weekend got off to a turbulent start, with tricky conditions contributing to multiple crashes across the opening 30 minutes of Practice. Alex Marquez went down at Turn 1, followed shortly after by his teammate Fermin Aldeguer at Turn 7. Aleix Espargaro (Honda HRC Castrol) also crashed at the same corner, adding to the early drama.
Further incidents followed. Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) both came unstuck in the Geert Timmer chicane, while Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) had a fall at Turn 12.
The most alarming moment came from Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), who crashed at Turn 11. His RS-GP caught fire post-crash, prompting a red flag and briefly halting the session. Thankfully, Ogura walked away unharmed.
A Rollercoaster Battle for the Top 10
Once riders returned to the circuit, the battle for the top ten resumed in earnest. Quartararo initially reclaimed P1, but Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Alex Marquez were quick to leapfrog him with 25 minutes remaining.
Yet more red flags interrupted proceedings when Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) crashed at Turn 8. With time ticking down, the grid finally got underway with the traditional Friday afternoon time attacks.
Marc Marquez briefly climbed to the top of the timing sheets, showing grit despite his earlier fall. But it didn’t last long — teammate Francesco Bagnaia edged ahead with a 1:31.410, before Marco Bezzecchi snatched the lead. Alex Marquez responded in kind, briefly reclaiming the top spot — but it was Fabio Quartararo who had the final say.
With five minutes left, Marc Marquez’s day went from bad to worse. A second crash at Turn 7 — again due to front-end washout — left the Ducati rider visibly sore. He managed to walk away once more, but the cumulative impact of the crashes raises questions about how fit he’ll be for Saturday.
Friday’s Top Performers
Quartararo’s late flyer not only topped the charts, but also disrupted Ducati and Aprilia’s early dominance. Bezzecchi eventually settled for fourth after his brief spell in first, while Bagnaia held onto fifth. A battered but determined Marc Marquez finished the day sixth.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) pulled off a strong late run to secure seventh, followed by Viñales in eighth. Franco Morbidelli also recovered from his early crash to finish ninth. Zarco rounded out the top ten — edging out Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) in the dying seconds of the session — to clinch the final automatic Q2 spot.
Looking Ahead: Will Saturday Bring More Twists?
As the paddock braces for Saturday’s qualifying and Tissot Sprint, all eyes remain on Marc Marquez. Can he bounce back physically and mentally from two crashes in one day? Or will Saturday bring another shake-up to the World Championship picture?
With Quartararo back in the mix, Alex Marquez showing pace, and surprises like Di Giannantonio in form, Saturday is shaping up to be just as unpredictable as Friday.
Moto2: Salač Steals the Spotlight
The chaos continued in Moto2™ as Czech rider Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) emerged as the standout performer in a session that included yellow flags, mechanical issues, and late drama. His record-breaking lap earned him the top spot by over three-tenths of a second.
Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) slotted into second, while Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) secured third. Tony Arbolino (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) showed strong Friday form in fourth, with 2024 Assen Moto3 winner Ivan Ortola also moving into Q2.
Briton Jake Dixon’s day was cut short due to mechanical issues, but his early pace ensured he still made the Q2 cut in eighth place. Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) had a close call with David Alonso late in the session but ended up sixth, while Alonso heads to Q1.
A flurry of late crashes from Jorge Navarro, Barry Baltus, and Albert Arenas (along with Darryn Binder earlier) brought the curtain down on an action-packed session. Thankfully, all riders were uninjured.
Moto3: Lunetta Surprises as Big Names Miss Q2
In Moto3™, Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) put in a statement performance with a 1:40.053 in the dying minutes to lead the session. His margin over second-place David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) was a healthy 0.209 seconds, with Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) rounding out the top three.
Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) landed in fourth, just ahead of rookie standout Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3). However, it wasn’t all good news: Maximo Quiles and Alvaro Carpe — the top two at Mugello — both missed the top 14 and will have to fight through Q1. They’ll be joined by familiar names like Taiyo Furusato and Ryusei Yamanaka.
Saturday at Assen: A Must-Watch Day
With practice sessions done and qualifying looming, Saturday promises another full slate of drama across all three classes. Will Quartararo carry his momentum into pole position? Can Marc Marquez rebound after a punishing Friday? Will Moto2 and Moto3 title contenders step up or fall short?
The Cathedral of Speed never disappoints — and Round 10 is already living up to its billing.
Official MotoGP Press Release
