2022 Dutch MotoGP, Assen - Free Practice (3) Results

Key:
^X Rider is X positions higher than FP2.
= Rider is same position as FP2.
˅X Rider is X positions lower than FP2.

* Rookie

Official Assen MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda 1m 33.617s (2015)
Fastest race lap:
Fabio Quartararo FRA Yamaha 1m 32.869s (2021)

Aleix Espargaro and Aprilia take control during Free Practice 3 for the Dutch MotoGP at a dry and sunny Assen.

The improved weather meant Friday afternoon's damp laps were soon replaced, with Maverick Vinales and Espargaro forming an Aprilia one-two ahead of Fabio Quartararo's Yamaha in the early stages.

Quartararo was sandwiched between the RS-GPs by the halfway mark, while Vinales remained on top until Espargaro - stripped of his fastest Friday laps after Aprilia failed to remove the rear swingarm rain spoiler after switching to slicks - used a new soft rear tyre to return to the top with 12 minutes to go.

The Aprilia show continued with Vinales briefly retaking P1, before Espargaro snatched it back.

Despite a late fall, Espargaro remained fastest to the chequered flag, finishing just 0.041s ahead of Quartararo with Vinales completing a top three covered by just 0.057s on his final lap.... until being stripped of his best time after the session, dropping him to seventh.

The injured Alex Rins was best of the rest for Suzuki, 0.156s from the top in what became third, with Takaaki Nakagami also impressing as top Honda in fourth and Marco Bezzecchi the lead rookie for VR46 Ducati in fifth.

The top ten riders after FP3 (combined times) receive direct access to the second and final part of qualifying, with Rins' team-mate Joan Mir among those heading for Qualifying 1.

Luca Marini fell in the opening minutes, with countryman Franco Morbidelli - already facing a long lap penalty in the race for obstructing other riders on Friday - lucky to escape uninjured from a high-speed accident at Turn 15.

Enea Bastianini suffered a fast accident at Turn 7 on the edge of the last ten minutes, but was back out for the final stages. Gresini team-mate Fabio di Giannantonio then made it four Italians on the floor, before Johann Zarco and finally Espargaro also brought out the yellows.

Medium tyres were the favoured choice for race pace work in FP3, with a scattering of softs.

After severe pain from his injured ribs on Friday, Pol Espargaro has withdrawn from the remainder of the Assen weekend.

Fabio Quartararo starts the Dutch TT at Assen, the final event before the MotoGP summer break, holding a 34-point lead over Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro and 61-point advantage over Pramac Ducati’s Johann Zarco.

That means, whatever happens on Sunday, the Yamaha star will remain at the head of the world championship table during the holidays, but the young Frenchman would no doubt love to close the opening ‘half’ with a repeat of last year’s Assen victory.

While Quartararo has built up breathing room at the top, the likes of Gresini Ducati’s Enea Bastianini (-72 points) and especially factory Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia have suffered badly in recent rounds and will be desperate to steady the ship with a podium return in The Netherlands.

A dark horse could be Espargaro’s team-mate Maverick Vinales, who finished second to then team-mate Quartararo (from pole position) at Assen last season and arrives fresh from his best race showing on the RS-GP, until hitting ride height problems in Germany.

Alex Rins is returning to action after being forced to abandon a comeback from his fractured wrist at Sachsenring last weekend.

Meanwhile, the notorious Assen weather is set to keep riders and teams on their toes throughout the weekend.

Dutch MotoGP race weekend schedule (UK time)

Friday 24 June

8am-8.40am - Moto3 Free Practice 1

8.55am-9.40am - MotoGP Free Practice 1

9.55am-10.35am - Moto2 Free Practice 1

12.15pm -12.55pm - Moto3 Free Practice 2

1.10pm-1.55pm - MotoGP Free Practice 2

2.10pm-2.50pm - Moto2 Free Practice 2

Saturday 25 June

8am-8.40am - Moto3 Free Practice 3

8.55am-9.40am - MotoGP Free Practice 3

9.55am-10.35am - Moto2 Free Practice 3

11.35am-11.50am - Moto3 Qualifying 1

12pm-12.15pm - Moto3 Qualifying 2

12.30-1pm - MotoGP Free Practice 4

1.10pm-1.25pm - MotoGP Qualifying 1

1.35pm-1.50pm - MotoGP Qualifying 2

2.10pm-2.25pm - Moto2 Qualifying 1

2.35pm-2.50pm - Moto2 Qualifying 2

Sunday 26 June

8am-8.10am - Moto3 warm-up

8.20am-8.30am - Moto2 warm-up

8.40am-9am - MotoGP warm-up

10am - Moto3 race

11.20am - Moto2 race

1pm - MotoGP race