Francesco Bagnaia topped both MotoGP practice sessions on Friday at the Motul TT Assen, continuing his dominance at a circuit where he has won the last two races, while a major change for the MotoGP 2025 season was finally confirmed.
The biggest news was the announcement that Prima Pramac Racing signed a multi-year deal with Yamaha to run a pair of factory-spec YZR-M1s in the MotoGP category. Yamaha’s downturn in competitiveness has been due, at least in part, to the fact that the company has only two bikes on the grid.
“The new partnership with Prima Pramac Racing will take a different form than we have used in the past,” said Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing.
“Rather than a satellite team, with this new agreement Yamaha have put their trust in Pramac Racing, and we will be providing them with Factory bikes of the same specification used by the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team.”
In Moto2, American Joe Roberts broke his collarbone in a high-speed crash in Turn Seven. The break was not displaced, and Roberts hopes to race next weekend in Germany.
American based Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez continued his upturn in performance, finishing the first MotoGP practice session in third place. Fernandez, who recently underwent surgery on his right arm, showed up for his media interview with a bag of ice on a massive surgical scar on his arm.
Maverick Vinales said he decided to leave Aprilia for KTM because of the inconsistency of the machine’s performance. Vinales was on form on Friday, finishing the final practice session second.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Bagnaia slams in new lap record to edge out Viñales at the Cathedral
The reigning Champion ends both sessions fastest, edging out Viñales by 0.065 as Alex Marquez heads the chasing pack
Friday, 28 June 2024
With rumours, tension, and excitement swirling around the paddock at the Motul TT Assen as we get back in gear, the battle for direct entry to Q2 did not disappoint in the hour-long Practice session on Friday afternoon. Ending the day at the top of the timesheets it’s Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who completed a perfect day in the Netherlands. The #1 set a blistering time early on in Practice before improving later in the session, setting a brilliant 1:31.340. In a remarkable stat, Bagnaia going fastest in the first session on Friday was also the first time he’s ever done that in the premier class, despite two premier class World Championships and a full CV by nearly every metric.
Nevertheless, it was close at the top by the end of the all-important afternoon Practice session, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) claiming second after improving yet again on his final fast lap – ending the day only 0.065s shy of Bagnaia. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had a positive end to Friday after a magnificent lap allowed the #73 to round out the top three, leading the chasing pack but with a small deficit to the top duo… and one he’ll be looking to bridge on Saturday.
It was a dramatic session throughout which all came down to the final 15-minute time attack. Bagnaia was at the top as red sectors began to pop up everywhere, and it was Viñales who took over for the first time this weekend. Bagnaia soon responded on his next flying lap, however, securing that P1.
There would be drama heading into the final run elsewhere though, with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) having a close moment with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), but utlimately no hard done.
Further back, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) took fourth and showed great pace throughout the session – completing over 20 laps. However, the #41 suffered a crash in the closing minutes at the final corner, ending his session just before the flag came out. He’s been given the all clear and passed fit to race, but remains a little bruised. Behind the Spaniard was compatriot Martin, who rounded out the top five.
Sixth place went the way of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who had an incredible front-end save during the session – improving on his 22nd lap. Brad Binder was next up, flying the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing flag inside the top 10 with his teammate Miller down in 18th place at the end of Friday.
Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) held onto eighth place and a spot inside Q2 despite suffering from a crash of his own with three minutes to go. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) took ninth as his solid form continues to hold, with Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) taking the final spot inside the top 10 and the final direct entry spot into Q2.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was the rider in P11 just missing out, ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and his teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio. They’ll be some of the first looking to attack in Q1 to move through. Join us on Saturday morning for that, before the Tissot Sprint lights up the TT Circuit Assen.
FP2: 10:10 (UTC +2)
Q1: 10:50
Q2: 11.15
Tissot Sprint: 15:00
More from Friday at the Motul TT Assen
Aside from the on-track action, there was one especially headline-making breaking news story on Friday at the Motul TT Assen: Yamaha’s new multi-year partnership with Prima Pramac Racing, set to begin in 2025.
