2021 Dutch MotoGP, Assen - Free Practice (4) Results

Free Practice (4) results from the Dutch MotoGP at Assen, round 9 of the 2021 world championship.
Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP, Dutch MotoGP 25 June 2021
Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP, Dutch MotoGP 25 June 2021
© Gold and Goose

World championship leader Quartararo ends team-mate Vinales' free practice dominance by topping FP4 for the Dutch MotoGP at Assen.

The Frenchman went straight to the top on medium-medium tyres, then even quicker after fitting a hard rear.

Vinales popped ahead of KTM's on-form Oliveira for a late second place on medium-medium tyres, the same tyres as used by Aprilia's Espargaro for fourth.

But the most popular choice was medium front and hard rear with Marquez, limping from yesterday's huge highside, and Repsol Honda team-mate Espargaro the only riders in the top 10 to finish on the soft rear. Both have a new chassis to try this weekend.

Qualifying 1, for those outside the top ten after third free practice, including Sachsenring winner Marquez, will now get underway.

Garrett Gerloff is replacing the injured Franco Morbidelli at Petronas Yamaha, alongside Rossi. The 25-year-old American, currently sixth (one podium) in this year's World Superbike championship for GRT Yamaha, previously took part in (wet) Friday practice at last year's Valencia MotoGP while Rossi was awaiting a PCR result.

With Rossi due to announce his racing future during the summer break, could this weekend effectively be an 'audition' for Gerloff?

Assen is returning to the MotoGP calendar for the first time since 2019, having been absent from last year's Covid-reduced line-up. It has been resurfaced since MotoGP's last visit.

Dutch MotoGP, Assen - Free Practice (4) Results
PosRiderNatTeamTime/DiffLapMax
1Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)1'32.513s15/16304k
2Maverick ViñalesSPAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.204s17/17306k
3Miguel OliveiraPORRed Bull KTM (RC16)+0.432s13/17308k
4Aleix EspargaroSPAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)+0.436s17/17307k
5Joan MirSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.528s16/17306k
6Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)+0.590s17/17310k
7Alex RinsSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.621s10/15306k
8Marc MarquezSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.651s13/15311k
9Pol EspargaroSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.742s15/15309k
10Johann ZarcoFRAPramac Ducati (GP21)+0.752s14/15311k
11Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Team (GP21)+0.765s8/14313k
12Valentino RossiITAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.767s16/17303k
13Alex MarquezSPALCR Honda (RC213V)+1.164s14/16313k
14Jorge MartinSPAPramac Ducati (GP21)*+1.165s14/15311k
15Iker LecuonaSPAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+1.169s7/11307k
16Danilo PetrucciITAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+1.299s5/13304k
17Jack MillerAUSDucati Team (GP21)+1.343s14/17311k
18Enea BastianiniITAAvintia Ducati (GP19)*+1.648s6/10311k
19Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)+1.752s7/13308k
20Lorenzo SavadoriITAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)*+1.908s4/8304k
21Luca MariniITASky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)*+1.934s9/13308k
22Garrett GerloffUSAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.986s11/16299k

* Rookie

Fastest Practice time:
Maverick Vinales SPA Yamaha 1m 32.336s (FP3)

Official Assen MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Fabio Quartararo FRA Yamaha 1m 32.017s (2019)
Fastest race lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda 1m 33.617s (2015)

By Peter McLaren
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