A full wrap from Thursday MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 practice ahead of the Dutch TT at Assen

THE Espargaro brothers, Aleix and Pol, lead the way after the opening day of MotoGP practice for this weekend’s Dutch TT at Assen.

THE Espargaro brothers lead the way after the opening day of MotoGP practice for this weekend’s Dutch TT at Assen.

Pol Espargaro headed older brother Aleix in the morning session before the NGM Forward Racing rider turned the tables in the afternoon.

Aleix’s quickest time was a sensational 1m33.653s, fractionally under Casey Stoner’s pole record set back in 2012, albeit on the soft-compound Bridgestone tyres afforded to Open class runners.

“I was not expecting that,” the elder Espargaro said.

“To go in the 1m33s on the first day is really fast. I love this track, it’s one of my favourite on the calendar. I’ve had good results here before.”

Right behind him in the afternoon session was world championship leader Marc Marquez and Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa.

Watch all the MotoGP qualifying and race action from this weekend’s Dutch TT LIVE on SPEED (All times AEST).
FRI 05:45pm — Free Practice 3
FRI 09:20pm — Qualifying
SAT 05:30pm — Warm Up
SAT 06:05pm — SPEED Pre-race show
SAT 09:30pm — Race

Marquez felt more comfortable than last year aboard his bike as he chases his eighth-straight victory of the season, although he did survive a brief scare around the high-speed sections of the circuit mid-session.

“(Yamaha) were better here last year but maybe this year we have taken a step forward and I feel very comfortable and happy with the pace that I have,” Marquez said.

“We’ll see tomorrow, because it seems that we’re not so strong in the low temperatures, but I am convinced that we can match the competitors level.”

Jorge Lorenzo was the quickest of the factory Yamahas in fourth while teammate Valentino Rossi was seventh at the site of his most recent MotoGP victory 12 months ago.

Splitting the pair were Andrea Iannone’s Pramac Ducati with an impressive lap set tucked into Marquez’s slipstream, and the ever-improving Bradley Smith.

Pol Espargaro was unable to replicate his early form, posting eighth fastest time ahead of Stefan Bradl, with Andrea Dovizioso rounding out the top 10 on a day where all 10 factory-class bikes lapped within 0.602s of each other.

Broc Parkes, finally returning to a circuit he knows well, was 19th fastest aboard his Open-class Paul Bird Motorsport machine.

COMBINED RESULTS — MotoGP Thursday Practice, Dutch TT
1. Aleix Espargaro (Forward Yamaha) 1m33.653s
2. Marc Marquez (Honda) +0.211s
3. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) +0.416s
4. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) +0.495s
5. Andrea Iannone (Ducati) +0.624s
6. Bradley Smith (Yamaha) +0.633s
7. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) +0.633s
8. Pol Espargaro (Yamaha) +0.755s
9. Stefan Bradl (Honda) +0.804s
10. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) +0.807s
11. Alvaro Bautista (Honda) +0.813s
12. Scott Redding (Honda) +1.792s
13. Cal Crutchlow (Ducati) +1.816s
14. Yonny Hernandez (Ducati) +1.884s
15. Colin Edwards (Forward Yamaha) +1.937s
16. Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda) +2.134s
17. Nicky Hayden (Honda) +2.238s
18. Karel Abraham (Honda) +2.272s
19. Broc Parkes (PBM) +2.393s
20. Hector Barbera (Avintia) +2.617s
21. Michael Laverty (PBM) +2.627s
22. Danilo Petrucci (ART) +3.004s
23. Mike Di Meglio (Avintia) +3.071s

Rabat was once again on top.

MOTO2
Tito Rabat picked up where he left off at Barcelona, heading the Moto2 class in Thursday practice at Assen.

Only just, mind. British Moto2 rookie Sam Lowes ended the day only 0.081s behind the title-leading Spaniard, the reigning World Supersport champion making full use of finally having prior experience at a circuit.

Dominique Aegerter, Jonas Folger and Jordi Torres rounded out the top five, while title challenger Mika Kallio could do no better than eighth.

Anthony West ended the day down in 25th aboard the QMMF Racing Team’s Kalex at the circuit where he picked up his sole 250cc GP win in 2003.

Watch all the Moto2 qualifying and race action from this weekend’s Dutch TT LIVE on SPEED (All times AEST).
FRI 11:00pm — Qualifying
SAT 08:05pm — Race

Miller was right on the pace in practice.

MOTO3
The news is all good for Australian world title hope Jack Miller, who finally feels comfortable again aboard his KTM.

The Townsville-born teen was fastest in the morning session before slipping to second behind young Italian Enea Bastianini, but Miller feels confident ahead of the weekend.

“I am able to ride as I want and we have shown how comfortable I am, setting a good pace by myself,” Miller said.

“In the second session we only used one new rear tyre to save things for tomorrow, and the time lap was very good.”

Miller, leading the world championship by seven points heading into the weekend, had suffered from chatter at previous races. A two-day test at Aragon appears to have largely solved the problem.

“Some of the chattering problems we had at the last race came from my riding, and we have solved this,” he explained.

“I am very confident about the rest of the weekend and now I’m also very happy.”

Isaac Vinales, Efren Vazquez and Miller’s main title rival Romano Fenati filled out the top five, while Arthur Sissis ended the day 19th but second-fastest of the Mahindra bikes.

Watch all the Moto3 qualifying and race action from this weekend’s Dutch TT LIVE on SPEED (All times AEST).
FRI 08:30pm — Qualifying
SAT 06:45pm — Race

Bensneyder will start his home race on pole.

RED BULL ROOKIES CUP
Australia’s Olly Simpson will line up in sixth place for this weekend’s Red Bull Rookies Cup races, behind polesitter Bo Bensneyder.

The 15-year-old Dutchman was electric in qualifying, holding off a determined Manuel Pagliani and Stefano Manzi to take pole position in front of his home crowd.

The ever-cheerful Simpson will start from the outside of the second row, but is confident of his chances in the twin 16-lap races across Friday and Saturday.

“Not too bad at all,” Simpson summed up the session. “We got the bike working well, I just didn’t get myself in the right position for a really good tow towards the end there but the second row will work okay.”

Watch all the Red Bull Rookies Cup race action at the Dutch TT after the MotoGP race on Saturday night on SPEED.

Originally published as A full wrap from Thursday MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 practice ahead of the Dutch TT at Assen