The leader of the World Championship was not very comfortable during qualifying for this Assen Grand Prix and he only set the eleventh time – the penultimate – in Q2.
The first free practice session was an opportunity for Maverick to confirm what he had learned from the post-Barcelona GP tests. It was a rather studious ride, and discovery of the Assen circuit with the Yamaha. This FP1 ended with the twelfth fastest time, an average position, but despite this a good time 0.5 behind that of the leader Danilo Petrucci.
With better knowledge of the circuit with the M1 and now a well-tuned bike, Vinales achieved an excellent best time in the afternoon, faster than the lap record set by Marc Marquez. On a track with finally decent grip, after the dilapidation of Jerez and Barcelona, the great Maverick was back.
The Yamaha was again effective during FP3 on a uniformly wet track. Vinales set the fourth time, while his teammate Valentino Rossi placed second and Johann zarco fifth.
In qualifying, Maverick didn't seem very comfortable in the wet. Despite his efforts, he could only achieve the eleventh time. He will thus start from the fourth row of the starting grid for the Dutch Grand Prix.
For Maverick Vinales, “In FP3, I felt really good, even if the conditions were tricky. I felt good on the bike, but during qualifying I had no feeling and I couldn't attack.
“It wasn't a problem with the tires because I think they were absolutely fine. I don't know why, but it was just my feeling and I couldn't push more.
“Starting eleventh will be difficult, especially in the first corners. It will be important to be focused.
“I will try to make quick overtakes and catch up with the drivers in front at the start of the race. »
Qualification results:
1. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 46.141
2. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 46.206s +0.065
3. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 46.526s +0.385
4. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 46.705s +0.564
5. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 47.574s +1.433
6. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 47.663s +1.522
7. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 47.812s +1.671
8. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 48.042s +1.901
9. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 48.079s +1.938
10. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 1m 48.128s +1.987
11. Maverick Viñales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 48.266s +2.125
12. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 49.623s +3.482
13. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 47.217
14. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 47.234
15. Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 47.277
16. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 47.649
17. Alex Rins ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 47.804
18. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 47.947
19. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 47.957
20. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 48.080
21. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 48.219
22. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 48.448
23. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 48.700
Provisional ranking of the World Championship:
1 Maverick VIÑALES-Yamaha 111 points
2 Andrea DOVIZIOSO-Ducati 104
3 Marc MARQUEZ-Honda 88
4 Dani PEDROSA-Honda 84
5 Valentino ROSSI-Yamaha 83
6 Johann ZARCO-Yamaha 75
7 Jorge LORENZO-Ducati 59
8 Jonas FOLGER-Yamaha 51
9 Cal CRUTCHLOW-Honda 45
10 Danilo PETRUCCI-Ducati 42
11 Alvaro BAUTISTA-Ducati 34
12 Scott REDDING-Ducati 33
13 Jack MILLER-Honda 30
14 Loris BAZ-Ducati 23
15 Andrea IANNONE-Suzuki 21
16 Hector BARBERA-Ducati 21
