The morning had already been hectic for the MotoGP on an Assen track soiled by the turpitudes of Ducati mechanics. Oil on the track, delay in progress due to a flag the color of the Borgo Panigale machines, it was enough to see red. But if the Desmosedici break, they also pass. The best time was thus the prerogative of a Petrucci known as his bike for his panache. However, that wasn't the only surprise.
The other notable fact was a leading trio composed only of satellite pilots since zarco et Crutchlow followed the Pramac pilot. Dovizioso, fourth, was the first of the officials in a top 10 where the World Champion was still missing Marc Márquez and the leader of the provisional ranking Maverick Vinales... So we weren't going to stop there. Before we continue, here is the general situation.
| #DutchGP MotoGP | 2016 |
2017 |
| FP1 | 1'34.349 Andrea Iannone (see here) | 1'34.680 Danilo Petrucci |
| FP2 | 1'33.591 Andrea Iannone (see here) | |
| FP3 | 1'33.308 Andrea Dovizioso (see here) | |
| FP4 | 1'48.628 Marc Marquez (see here) | |
| Q1 | 1'48.482 Pol Espargaro (see here) | |
| Q2 | 1'45.246 Andrea Dovizioso (see here) | |
| Warm up | 1'34.638 Andrea Iannone (see here) | |
| Course | Miller, Marquez, Redding (see here et here) | |
| All time lap record | 1'32.627 Rossi 2015 |
The first sensation of the session was the highlighting of a new Honda fairing sported by Cal Crutchlow and which brought the aerodynamic question up to date in the development of motorcycles...
Spot of aerodynamic intrigue at the #DutchGP - @calcrutchlow rolling out with a new fairing addition! pic.twitter.com/VKikEuMidK
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) June 23, 2017
A curiosity that did not disturb a Jonas Folger who established himself at the top of the hierarchy in 1'33.898, at the end of the first quarter of an hour of the exercise, spent under a cloudy sky bringing the track to 30°. So cloudy that, sometimes, the flag signaling a slippery track was waved... A symbol that quickly brought everyone back to the stand! At this time of work, zarco, Pedrosa, Red et Lorenzo were outside the top 10.
Twenty minutes from the end, the drivers returned to the Batavian track. And the first to make a mistake was Iannone. Vinales, for his part, took the lead in 1'33.821. The two Yamaha riders in the lead were the only ones under the 1'34 mark. Three Hondas stamped HRC followed with Marquez on your mind, Alex Espargaro was still surprising with the Aprilia and we were starting to worry about the Ducati. Doviozioso was tenth and Lorenzo squarely twentieth.
But everything was possible since zarco, ten minutes from the end jumped from sixteenth place to third. With two soft tires... Three Yamahas in the lead and the only three under 1'34, the message was clear for the competition... Sam Lowes fell in turn 10.
Petrucci rode a medium and a soft and took second place showing that his morning performance was not an accident. But it was only the signal for a final outburst launched three minutes from the end of regulation time.
Vinales pushed his advantage with a 1'33.130 with two softs. A sufficient advantage to leave Folger good second and Marc Marquez third. Dovizioso still manages the Ducati house and is fourth, leaving Crutchlow the task of completing the top 5. Valentino Rossi saves the essential with his sixth performance in front Petrucci et zarco. Baptist et Pedrosa complete a top 10 missed by Lorenzo, only fourteenth. Baz is sixteenth just ahead Iannone.
#DutchGP MotoGP FP2: Chronos
Ready, set, GO!🚀# MV25 sets the fastest time of the day! #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/uFm5ewvTSG
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) June 23, 2017
Results of the second free practice session:
1. Maverick Vinales
ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 33.130
2. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 33.497s +0.367
3. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 33.782s +0.652
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 33.790s +0.660
5. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 33.828s +0.698
6. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 33.830s +0.700
7. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 33.890s +0.760
8. Johann zarco ENG Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 33.986s +0.856
9. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 34.103 +0.973
10. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 34.148s +1.018
11. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 34.299
12. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 34.337s +1.207
13. Alex Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 34.491s +1.361
14. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 34.523s +1.393
15. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 34.596s +1.466
16. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 34.605s +1.475
17. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 34.617s +1.487
18. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 34.759s +1.629
19. alex rins ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 34.923s +1.793
20. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 1m 35.039s +1.909
21. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 35.185s +2.055
22. Espargaro Pol ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 35.373s +2.243
23. Bradley Smith
GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 36.334s +3.204
