Moto3 Assen Qualifying: Pole and record for Alcoba, Acosta injured, Fellon will start 14th

The sun was back for this third free practice session in the Moto3 category, but the track was still relatively fresh, so some managed to improve, others not. In any case, Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) retained control of the combined classification, with the time he set the day before. However, it is Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7) who was the fastest in the morning session, the Italian improving his best time from the start and remaining at the top of the timesheet throughout the session. While the usual skit in the pit lane before the final run took place, as usual, and many drivers started too late for the final run, Romano Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) was one of the few drivers to ride alone and was rewarded with second place in the session. Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) also followed suit to move into third position, while John McPhee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17) was one of the few riders not to miss the final time trial and complete a final lap that promoted him to fourth place.

After missing the top 14 on Friday, Deniz Oncu (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3, #53) was particularly determined and managed to catch up with him in the last minute of the session, climbing to fifth place. The new teammates of Team Reale Avintia, Elia Bartolini et Niccolo Antonelli, helped themselves well on the track to join the first seven of the session, followed by Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52) et Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27). Despite a fall during the last lap, Gabriel Rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2) completes the top 10. Although Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) finished 11th in the session, the Spaniard was the first to miss the final run for the combined top 14, taking the checkered flag at the end of his launch lap.

Drivers such as Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37), Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40), Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) and Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) failed to improve their times from Friday, but were fast enough on the first day to stay in the top 14 combined. With the exception of Migno, the rest of the quartet had a particularly difficult session, Suzuki et Binder falling at turn 7 at the start of the session, while Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) was involved in a violent collision at the last corner also involving Stefano Nepa (KTM, BOE Owlride, #82), Riccardo rossi (KTM, BOE Owlride, #54) and Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #6). Three of them having fallen at the exit of the chicane.

Who will be in pole position of this Dutch Grand Prix? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

Assen Moto3™	2019	2021 (New asphalt)
FP1	1'42.738 Ai Ogura	1'41.748 Dennis Foggia
FP2	1'41.782 Jakub Kornfeil	1'41.568 Tatsuki Suzuki
FP3	1'41.554 Tony Arbolino	1'41.734 Dennis Foggia
QP1	1'41.652 Lorenzo Dalla Porta	1'41.932 Jaume Masia
QP2	1'41.232 Niccolò Antonelli	1'41.194 Jeremy Alcoba
warm up	1'42.566 Arón Canet1'42.275 Tony Arbolino
Course	Arbolino, Dalla Porta, Kornfeil
All time lap record	1'41.232 Niccolò Antonelli (2019)	1'41.194 Jeremy Alcoba

At the start of the afternoon, the air temperature was 24°C and that of the track 32°C. The circuit is slightly cloudy but it is not expected to rain.

Riccardo rossi (KTM, BOE Owlride, #54) and Stefano Nepa (KTM, BOE Owlride, #82) will not take part in qualifying. They are in the hospital for medical examinations following their impressive fall this morning.

Places are expensive for Q2, because only 4 of the 16 drivers participating in this Q1 will qualify for this 2nd qualifying session, which will take place immediately afterwards. Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) is the first to enter action in this qualifying session, the other drivers waiting a few minutes before joining him on track.

Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28) achieved the first benchmark in 1'43.321, a time which was quickly improved by Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) with a time of 1'42.318. After all the drivers have completed a timed lap, both would move on to Q2, accompanied by Joel Kelso (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #66) and Ryusei Yamanaka (KTM, CarXpert PruestlGP, #6).

Alberto Surra (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #67) is the first to fall in this session.

Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) which was 9th on its first pass, moved up to 3rd position on its second lap, behind Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) and Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43), and in front Joel Kelso (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #66). The French driver seems to be improving from race to race, which bodes well for the future.

As the halfway point of the session passes, the drivers return to the pits to prepare for one last run, except Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43), Adrian Fernández (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #31) and Takuma Matsuyama (Honda, Honda Team Asia, #32) who are always trying to improve.

The drivers return to the track in a group, at the last moment, hoping not to suffer again the sketch of FP3 where a large part of the drivers passed under the checkered flag at the end of their launch lap, even before having been able to set a time during the last run. And it failed again... Alone Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) has time to complete a timed lap.

In the end, no one improves: Jaume Masià (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) maintains the best time ahead Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43), Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) and Izan Guevara (GasGas, Gaviota Aspar Team, #28).

Now for Q2, the 4 fastest drivers from Q1 joining the other 14 fastest from the 3 practice sessions. Peter Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37) is also undergoing medical examinations following the crash at the end of FP3, he will not take part in this qualifying session either. Nothing is certain regarding the start of the race which seems compromised due to the back injury he contracted.

As soon as the green flag is shown to them, the drivers join the Assen TT track to begin this session. After the first timed lap, provisional pole would go to John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17) who completed the circuit in 1'42.043, ahead Gabriel Rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2) and Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11). The first 9 drivers are within 1 second.

From the second round, Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) improves in 1'41.898, and goes in front John mcphee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17) who has already returned to his stand. Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) is 3rd and would be on the front row if the ranking did not change.

gabriel rodrigo (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #2) makes a magnificent rescue at turn 15, making up for a loss from the front, worthy of what Marc Marquez knows how to do it!

Halfway through the session, Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52) leads, in front Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27) and Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23).

5 minutes before the checkered flag was presented, almost all the drivers returned to the pits to prepare for the final run, which will determine the poleman of the Dutch GP.

Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11) is the first to take the lead, in 1'41.473, ahead Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52) and Kaito Toba (KTM, CIP-Green Power, #27). There are 1min30 left, or 1 to 2 laps.

When crossing the line, it is Jeremy Alcove (Honda, Team Gresini Moto3, #52) who took pole position from Roman Fenati (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #55) in 1'41.194, ahead Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7).

Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20) is 14st.

Standings for Q1 of the Moto3 Dutch Grand Prix at TT Assen:

Standings for Q2 of the Moto3 Dutch Grand Prix at TT Assen:

Credit Ranking: MotoGP.com