Maverick Vinales keeps unbeaten practice streak alive with fastest FP3 time

Maverick Vinales’ impressive form at this weekend’s Dutch MotoGP continued as he topped a third straight practice session. 

The Spaniard’s fastest time of 1:32.336s, was two tenths quicker than team-mate Fabio Quartararo managed. 

The top three consisted of the same three riders from FP1 but with Quartararo ahead of Pol Espargaro. 

The two factory Yamaha riders were first to begin the time-attacks, as Vinales set a first sub 1m 33s time of 1:32.686s. Quartararo then went quicker by half a tenth, before Vinales regained top spot - a position he kept through to the checkered flag. 

It had looked like a tougher weekend was in store for Aleix Espargaro and Aprilia during Friday’s running, however, the 31 year-old put in a good final lap to claim fourth position. 

Fifth and sixth were the Suzuki pair of Joan Mir and Alex Rins, as speed over one-lap seems to be much improved this weekend. 

Takaaki Nakagami was the second fastest Honda as he leapt up the order late on after several laps were deleted for exceeding track limits. The Japanese rider’s quickest effort came while running in 17th position. 

Miguel Oliveira was eighth fastest, while Valentino Rossi secured automatic progression to Q2 for only the third time this season with ninth. Rounding out the top ten was Jack Miller for Ducati. 

Johann Zarco was the first rider to miss out on a top ten spot as the Frenchman had to recover from an early crash at turn 3. Garrett Gerloff was the other rider to fall which came at the end of FP3. 

German GP winner Marc Marquez was on course for a time good enough to put him tenth, before running wide at the final corner - instead finishing 15th.