More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Raul Fernandez heads Gardner and Lowes at the Cathedral
The rookie is back on top with another pole position, with the Championship leader alongside as Bezzecchi gets shuffled down to P17
Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took his fourth pole of his rookie Moto2™ season at the Motul TT Assen, the Spaniard edging out teammate Remy Gardner in another Red Bull KTM Ajo 1-2. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) took third, the Brit back on the front row as he looks to gain back some ground.
Q1
Home hero Bo Bendseyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) headed through first, shadowed by German GP podium finisher Aron Canet (Aspar Team Moto2) and Canet’s teammate Albert Arenas as the reigning Moto3™ World Champion continues to make solid progress in Moto2™. Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40), on the comeback from injury, was the final graduate… with Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) just missing out.
Q2
World Championship leader Gardner was the first rider to dip into the 1:36 bracket in Q2 to briefly lead the way, but teammate Raul Fernandez quickly took the initiative. The rookie landed a 1:36.567 to beat Gardner by over three tenths, as Lowes and Q1 graduate Canet placed provisional P2 and P3.
Having been demoted to P7, Gardner then came back out of the box with gritted teeth. The three-time 2021 winner returned to top spot but once again, Raul Fernandez struck back to go just 0.010 away from the all-time lap record. On his final flying lap, Augusto Fernandez seemed like he’d snatched a front row away from teammate Lowes too,but a yellow flag infringement for the Spaniard sees him demoted back to P8.
The Grid
Raul Fernandez, Gardner and Lowes line up on the front row, with Canet taking P4 in the end and a fantastic result after finishing Free Practice in P21. The same can be said for Garzo as he took fifth and a best qualifying result since the 2020 Valencia GP. Rookie Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) starts sixth in yet another impressive result from the Japanese rider.
Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) was a late crasher but lines up seventh on the Assen grid, and just 0.460 splits the fastest seven riders in Q2. Augusto Fernandez will be more determined than ever to try and fight for the podium having had his lap cancelled, the Spaniard down in eighth ahead of Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team) – his best Moto2™ qualifying result – and rookie Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP).
Third overall, Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) had his last lap cancelled and will start from P17.
That’s it from Saturday, with Raul Fernandez turning the tables in qualifying once again. Can he get some revenge on his Sachsenring misfortune on Sunday this time round? Find out at 12:20 (GMT +2)!
More, from a press release issued by Itatrans Racing:
Best Qualifying in Moto2 for Lorenzo Dalla Porta with the top ten in Assen.
Ninth and last round of the MotoGP World Championship before the summer break at TT Assen, in the Netherlands.
A great opportunity for Lorenzo Dalla Porta and Joe Roberts after an unlucky German GP.
Dalla Porta had an excellent pace and went straight into Q2 thanks to a time of 1’37”048 set in FP3, finishing in a promising ninth position with a best lap of 1’36”951. That’s the best qualifying in Moto2 for the Tuscan rider, who is also the best Italian on the grid: tomorrow he will start the Dutch GP from the third row fighting for the top positions.
Roberts missed out on a possible Q2 spot by just a few thousandths and will start the final race ahead of the summer break from the 19th position with a best time of 1’37”041.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta
9° | 1’36”951
“My best qualifying. We did a great job and an important step forward. I’m happy, but the race is tomorrow and we have to stay focused. The pace is good and I think we can do well. Thanks to the guys for the great job done together”.
Joe Roberts
19° | 1’37”041
“Tough Saturday. We are all very close and I just missed Q2. Anyway, I feel I have a good pace and I will try to do the best result before the summer break”.
Giovanni Sandi, Technical Director
“Great qualifying for Lorenzo, who put to good use the work done with the team and finally reach the top ten. I’m happy with this result and hope he can have a good race. It’s a shame for Joe, who missed the Q2 by just a few thousandths: the goal for tomorrow is to recover positions”.
