Ducati Corse Media presents: Francesco Bagnaia’s Historic Lap Record in Assen
In a remarkable display of skill and precision, Francesco Bagnaia broke the previous lap record during the second practice session in Assen. Piloting his GP24 with unparalleled dexterity, the Italian rider set an impressive time of 1.31.340s, leaving his competitors in awe. Maverick Vinales on his Aprilia came in second, but Bagnaia’s dominance was evident with a comfortable lead of 0.065s.
The Gresini Ducati duo, Alex and Marc Marquez, showcased their abilities, securing third and sixth place, respectively. Aleix Espargaro and Jorge Martin found themselves between the Marquez brothers. However, Espargaro’s ambitions were thwarted when he lost control of his bike in the final sector, resulting in a devastating crash. The impact visibly shook him, leaving him injured and defeated.
Brad Binder emerged as the only KTM rider to qualify for Q2, earning a respectable seventh place. Enea Bastianini’s hopes of making it to Q1 seemed promising after a late crash. However, luck was on his side as he managed to secure eighth place due to Espargaro’s untimely incident. Raul Fernandez and Franco Morbidelli completed the Q2 qualifying spots, finishing in ninth and tenth place, respectively.
Despite improvements in the Yamaha engine, both Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins failed to secure a spot in Q2. They finished in 11th and 14th place, respectively. The VR46 Ducati duo, Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannatonio, were neck and neck, with only 0.005s separating them as they claimed 12th and 13th place. Pedro Acosta’s chances were thwarted by the yellow flags that followed Espargaro’s crash, leaving him in a lonely 15th place.
Miguel Oliveria from Trackhouse Aprilia finished in 16th place, ahead of Honda’s main rider, Johann Zarco. Jack Miller’s performance was disappointing, finishing 1.766s behind the leader and settling for 18th place. Takaaki Nakagami, a beloved favorite among LCR Honda fans, closely followed in 19th place. Lorenzo Savadori, Aprilia’s test rider, secured 20th position, surpassing fighter Augusto Fernandez and leaving behind the Repsol Honda duo, Joan Mir and Luca Marini.
