All you need to know about third Assen MotoGP practice

Aleix Espargaro led Fabio Quartararo by 0.041s in the third practice session of the Dutch TT MotoGP weekend at Assen.

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Key moments:

> Espargaro falls but goes fastest

> Mir, Bastianini and all KTMs to Q1

> Numerous crashes

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Following on from a rain-affected Friday, many riders set their new best times of the weekend right away in FP3, with Maverick Vinales needing less than 10 minutes to become the first rider to dip into the 1m32s margin.

That kept the Aprilia man – still seeking to find his single-lap form on the RS-GP – top for much of the session, albeit he was ultimately dethroned once late-session qualifying simulation runs began in earnest.

It was team-mate Espargaro coming into the final stages of the session in the lead instead, his 1m32.164s keeping him top as he was among the three riders – himself, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Ducati) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) – to crash in quick succession, bringing out widespread yellow flags.

Yellow flags in sectors 1, 2 and 3! ⚠️

This might stop any further improvements! 🛑#DutchGP 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/uRkKWpeBaI

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 25, 2022

Quartararo was able to elevate himself into second late on, just 0.002s off the pace. He then had his laptime deleted due to yellow flags but still stayed second.

Alex Rins (Suzuki) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) completed the top four, followed by rookie Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati) and works Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia.

Vinales had ultimately recorded a time good enough for third but had it stricken from the record, presumably due to yellow flags, and wound up seventh.

Behind the Pramac duo of Jorge Martin and  Zarco, factory Ducati man Jack Miller was last of those booking a direct Q2 spot, suffering a laptime cancellation due to yellow flags but still advancing by 0.048s over the second Suzuki of Joan Mir.

Franco Morbidelli was 13th for Yamaha, having had a fast crash that left him bouncing through the gravel at Ramshoek earlier in the session.

A seriously fast one for @FrankyMorbido12! 😮

Thankfully, Franky's made of tough stuff! 💪#DutchGP 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/c6G6eucnl4

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 25, 2022

Morbidelli will serve a long-lap penalty in the race, having impeded a pair of Ducati riders during FP2 yesterday.

Other riders to crash were former Avintia team-mates Luca Marini (VR46 Ducati) and Enea Bastianini (Gresini Ducati), both consigned to Q1.

Another fast crash for @Bestia23! 😮

The Italian loses the front through Ruskenhoek! 💥#DutchGP 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/OkT9StYD3b

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 25, 2022

All four KTMs, led by Brad Binder in 14th, will also contest Q1 as the marque seeks to end its current streak of five races without a Q2 appearance.

With Pol Espargaro pulling out of the weekend ahead of FP3, the factory Honda team was represented by only Marc Marquez’s stand-in Stefan Bradl, who finished 22nd.

Practice 3 Results