Assen MotoGP pole for Bezzecchi as Marquez hits Bastianini

VR46 Ducati rider Marco Bezzecchi took MotoGP pole position for the Dutch TT at Assen, as Marc Marquez crashed again – this time ramming into the back of Enea Bastianini’s Ducati in qualifying.

Marquez had chosen Johann Zarco as his target rider to follow in the opening Q1 runs but didn’t get anywhere near a Q2-worthy laptime in the Frenchman’s tow, pulling into the pits right before Zarco uncorked a session-topping lap.

The six-time champion then tucked in behind Bastianini for the second exit, but when Bastianini made an error and rolled out of a flying lap late on, Marquez had to back out, too.

And, sticking behind Bastianini as they toured round the outside of the sweeping Ossebroeken corner, Marquez ran into the back of the Desmosedici GP23 as the Italian slowed and looked over his right shoulder while preparing to rejoin the racing line.

A bizarre incident! 😮

Both riders looking to file back onto the racing line and @marcmarquez93 rides up the back of @Bestia23! 💥#DutchGP 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/bS8e5v2EGR

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 24, 2023

The crash, Marquez’s seventh across the Sachsenring and Assen weekends, confirmed his first Q1 exit of the season as he qualified 17th – one place ahead of Bastianini, who couldn’t regroup and string together a strong final flyer after the collision.

The pole shootout was the fourth session Bezzecchi has participated in and topped this weekend at Assen, after sweeping Friday practice and going quickest in the 30-minute pre-qualifying practice session on Saturday morning.

But though Bezzecchi led comfortably after the initial Q2 runs and then posted the new Assen MotoGP lap record, a 1m31.472s, he was run closer for pole than he may have expected.

Championship leader Pecco Bagnaia lapped just 0.061 seconds off, and towed fellow Valentino Rossi protege – and Bezzecchi’s VR46 team-mate – Luca Marini to third place and an ‘all-Rossi’ front row.

Marini then crashed on the next lap at Stekkenwal, bringing out yellow flags that seemed to effectively cement the positions out front.

Qualifying over for @Luca_Marini_97! 🛑

He won't be able to improve on his front row! 😮#DutchGP 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/4qQZ6f9sCH

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 24, 2023

Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo was a sublime fourth in by far his best qualifying of the season, just 0.199s off pole.

KTM’s Brad Binder, tucking in behind Bezzecchi on his first run and behind Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) on his second, managed to snatch fifth place, while Aleix Espargaro narrowly beat Aprilia team-mate Maverick Vinales to the last place on row two.

Zarco had progressed through Q1 but only improved his laptime by a tenth in Q2, which was good enough for eighth, ahead of Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) and Martin – the latter ruing a minor early-Q2 crash at Strubben but still making it five Ducatis in the top 10.

Early drama for the in-form rider right now! 😮@88jorgemartin has slipped off at the slowest corner on the track! 💥#DutchGP 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/7tT2l2zPHQ

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 24, 2023

RNF Aprilia’s Miguel Oliveira, who had come through Q1 alongside Zarco, was 11th ahead of Binder’s KTM team-mate Jack Miller.

Gresini Ducati’s Fabio Di Giannantonio was fastest of those eliminated in Q1, a tenth away from advancing.

He is to be joined on row five by LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami – again the best of the Hondas – and Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli.

Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori won the battle of the four wildcards and stand-ins – all split by just under three tenths – as he claimed 18th place on the grid.

Qualifying Results