Moto3 Netherlands Assen P3: What a session! Stefano Nepa in front, the favorites in Q1

Second day of competition for the Moto3 competitors on the Assen circuit, and already, a dynamic is emerging. Yesterday, Jaume Masiá (Honda Leopard Racing) dominated the two free practice sessions, and above all, did not fall. All the other favorites can't say the same. Indeed, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), current leader of the championship, made two mistakes. Iván Ortolá (KTM Angeluss MTA Team), Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Diogo Moreira (KTM MT Helmets MSi), among others, all crashed. Strange, but will these weaknesses of the tenors be confirmed in the third session? Answer in this article!

Before you know it, here is the table that summarizes the facts known so far.

Assen Moto3™	2022	2023
P1	1'52.406 David Munoz	1'41.667 Jaume Masia
P2	1'49.491 David Munoz	1'41.579 Jaume Masia
P3	1'41.526 Izan Guevara	1'41.713 Stefano Nepa
QP1	1'41.633 Daniel Holgado
QP2	1'41.296 Ayumu Sasaki
Warm up	1'42.162 Daniel Holgado	XXXXXXX
Course	Sasaki, Guevara, Garcia (See here)
All time lap record	1'41.194 Jeremy Alcoba (2021)	1'41.194 Jeremy Alcoba (2021)

 

Like yesterday, the sun is out and that's a good thing, because the rain in Assen makes the track particularly treacherous.

 

 

David Alonso (Gaviota GasGas Aspar Moto3), first Colombian on a podium in Jerez, took the best time at the end of his first flying lap. The pilots push, and Deniz Oncu failure to fall (again). The first real fall is to the credit of Kaito Toba (Honda Sic58 Squadra Corsica), who had already tasted bitumen yesterday. This time he hooked the back of Joshua Whatley (Honda VisionTrack Racing) in the last enfilade, at very high speed. Andrea Migno (KTM CIP Green Power) took the opportunity to steal first position in the provisional ranking. However, the time of Jaume Masia made yesterday afternoon seems untouchable.

 

 

This P3 is crucial because it determines who goes directly to Q2. Even if they all fell yesterday, the favorites are all there 15 minutes from the presentation of the checkered flag. Jaume Masia continues its effort, and seems able, here in Assen, to make Honda win in Moto3 for the first time in nine months. He went back to first in front of Migno during his 10th flying lap.

New fall for the rookie Philip Farioli (KTM Red Bull Tech3). The pilot remains on the ground, and doctors surround him, before taking him on a stretcher. Images that we don't like to see. Obviously, this is an error of judgment on the part ofAdrian Fernandez (Honda Leopard Racing), who attempted to overtake at a very fast, very dangerous place. A penalty for the replacement of Tatsuki suzuki wouldn't surprise us.

 

 

Pay attention to Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), which panics the clock in the final moments, followed by Stefano Nepa (KTM Angeluss MTA Team) with less than 30 seconds to go! In the last lap launched, the danger may come fromAyumu Sasaki, but obviously it won't improve. Amazing ! The action at the end of the session causes the “elimination” of Deniz Öncü, Daniel Holgado et Diogo Moreira, three of the favorites who will have to go through Q1. A big session awaits us soon, there is no doubt about it.

 

 

Results from P3 of the Moto3 Dutch Grand Prix at TT Assen:

 

 

Credit Ranking: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Angeluss MTA Team