What went on in first Assen MotoGP practice

VR46 Ducati rider Marco Bezzecchi dominated the opening practice session of the Dutch TT weekend at Assen, heading Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales.

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Key moments:
> Bezzecchi in superb form
> Five Ducatis in top eight
> Falls for Bastianini and Zarco among others
> Injured Marquez subdued

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Bezzecchi, who had enjoyed his best weekend of his rookie MotoGP season at the track last year, led throughout the 45-minute practice and re-established a gap to his pursuers when swapping to a fresh soft rear late on.

He wound up three tenths of a second clear of Vinales, who has claimed heading into the weekend that his Mugello and Sachsenring struggles were conditioned by a faulty engine – which finally gave up the ghost in the German Grand Prix, meaning the situation should now be resolved.

Gresini Ducati’s Alex Marquez and Pramac Ducati’s Johann Zarco made it three Desmosedicis in the top four, with Zarco the best of the 2023-spec Ducatis.

Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo was seen limping throughout, having sustained a fractured toe in a fall in the lead-up to the weekend, but did ultimately score fifth place, ahead of Bezzecchi’s VR46 team-mate Luca Marini.

Takaaki Nakagami (LCR) was the best of the Honda riders, with Marc Marquez – far from fully fit yet after his bruising Sachsenring weekend – only 21st, a quarter of a second up on his stand-in team-mate Iker Lecuona.

Behind Nakagami and also currently on course to progress to Q2 were Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati), Jack Miller (KTM) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia), but no weather disruption is expected for the hour-long afternoon session, meaning it will almost certainly end up determining places in the coveted combined top 10 instead.

Championship leader Pecco Bagnaia – who didn’t bother with a soft rear tyre – had a scrappy session, vising the run-off on several occasions and getting visibly incensed on his bike and off it after a big shake coming out of Hoge Heide and Ramshoek.

The World Champ is not a happy boy right now! 👀#DutchGP 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/tknV0wsFiR

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 23, 2023

But he did stay on, unlike team-mate Enea Bastianini, who had fall at Mandeven – the right-hander also catching out rookie Augusto Fernandez (Tech3 Gas Gas).

A bruising early tumble for @Afernandez37! 💥

He's back to his feet quickly 👏#DutchGP 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/FxyIx6PQvq

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 23, 2023

There was also a fall at Turn 1, Haarbocht, for RNF Aprilia’s Miguel Oliveira and a fast off at Ramshoek for Zarco, who was unhurt and got a lift back to the pits on the back of Miller’s KTM.

An off for @JohannZarco1 and of course the @jackmilleraus taxi is ready and waiting 🤝#DutchGP 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/E6kjJEoEHN

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 23, 2023

Practice 1 Results