Maverick Vinales struck back after a tough Catalan GP to top Day 1 at the ‘Cathedral’ – the TT Circuit Assen – by over three tenths.

The weather threatened in the afternoon after a fully dry FP1, but track conditions remained good enough for the field to improve in FP2.

The rider from Roses was followed by Jonas Folger on the combined timesheets as the German rookie impressed once again, with reigning Champion Marc Marquez shooting back up the order in FP2 to complete the top three overall on Friday.

The day began with drama in FP1 as Andrea Dovizioso suffered a problem that subsequently brought out the Red Flag, with teammate Jorge Lorenzo and Folger both crashing out in the incident but both riders ok. Mugello and Barcelona winner ‘DesmoDovi’ nevertheless kept his momentum and form in fine order in fourth by the end of action, ahead of Cal Crutchlow completing the top five despite a run off in the afternoon.

The most successful rider on the grid at the TT Circuit Assen, Valentino Rossi, was sixth quickest on Day 1, with FP1’s fastest Danilo Petrucci  for close company in P7.

Rookie sensation Johann Zarco was eighth quickest as another Independent Team rider to populate the top ten, ahead of Pull&Bear Aspar’s Alvaro Bautista. Repsol Honda Team’s Dani Pedrosa completed the top ten.

Karel Abraham was in the top ten in FP1 and ended the day only one place lower in eleventh, just pipping 2016 Dutch GP winner Jack Miller. Aleix Espargaro, Jorge Lorenzo and Scott Redding locked out Friday’s top fifteen.

With weather more of a question mark for Saturday and qualifying, Friday could prove decisive in the grid for the TT Assen.

FP2 Result:

source: motogp.com

Saying he didn’t suffer any pain, Rins did a good day’s work with 62 laps and was uninjured in a crash, feeling good once again as he got back on the bike on Tuesday to continue testing:

"I’m very happy to be back on my GSX-RR. The truth is that we didn’t try many new things on Monday since my first priority was to get back the feel of riding a MotoGP machine after injury." He said

"It didn’t hurt or give me any trouble, so I’m very positive. I’m not at 100%, but I feel fit and don’t feel as though I will have further problems because of this injury. I feel quite good, we were testing different things on the bike and I’m happy about that."

"It’s really positive that I didn’t hurt my hand on Monday because the crash was fast. But I’m happy to be here and work with my team, and hopefully be back in Assen. We’re trying to work on the front of the bike and be more consistent." He added

Pramac Ducati Danilo Petrucci topped FP1 for the MotoGP grid at the TT Assen, ahead of rookie superstar Johann Zarco  and two-time GP winner Cal Crutchlow after a flurry of activity towards the end of the session.

There was drama early on as crashes for Jonas Folger and Jorge Lorenzo signaled some problems out on track – with the Red Flag then brought out for suspected oil on the circuit dropped by Andrea Dovizioso as the winner at Mugello and Assen suffered a problem.

There were no further incidents in the therefore delayed session until Petrucci suffered a late mechanical issue after the flag, quickly moving off the track and the Italian then heading back to pitlane.

FP1 Result:

source: motogp.com