#DutchGP J.2 Valentino Rossi “It was very important to understand if we could be competitive and the feeling was quite positive”

It is from fourth place that Valentino will start on the starting grid at Assen this Sunday, after having fought remarkably hard during the qualifying session despite unfavorable weather conditions.

The first day went rather better than usual for Vale, with a good fifth time in the morning, just 0.161 behind Petrucci's best time. The first times were very tight, with Johann zarco second in 1'34.806 and Rossi fifth in 1'34.841, that is to say that there were only four hundredths of a second separating the French rookie from the Italian champion.

Friday afternoon also went very well, with the sixth time for Valentino, 0.700 behind the best time of Maverick Vinales. Once again, the gaps were minimal, with Marc Marquez third in 1'33.782 and Valentino sixth in 1'33.830, therefore five hundredths between the Spaniard and the Transalpine.

On a wet track on Saturday morning, Rossi placed excellent second behind Scott Redding, a bit of a kamikaze, but just ahead of Marc Marquez and Maverick Vinales. It therefore boded very well for the second qualifying session, scheduled for the same weather conditions.

He took the lead from the start of Q2, then gradually moved into fifth position. He returned to second place, then was overtaken again. At the end of the session, he was on a fast lap when he was hampered by Sam Lowe's Aprilia which had just broken its engine. He finally set the fourth time, 0.564 behind Johann Zarco.

For Valentino Rossi, “It's a shame that I didn't make the first row, but it's very important to start in the top 5. I'm in fourth position and it's a good result.

“It was also a positive day because I was always competitive from this morning and I felt good on the bike. We had two more or less wet sessions, we were able to work on the new chassis.

“It was very important to understand if we could be competitive and the feeling was quite positive. Now we have to see what the weather and climatic conditions will be like. Here in Assen it's always a big surprise. We are hoping for either a completely dry race or a fully wet 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 Vinales 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