Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales gave a strong performance today at a hot TT Assen Circuit and ultimately secured 2nd place on the grid for tomorrow’s Motul TT Assen race. Team-mate Valentino Rossi had a more difficult time of it in the Netherlands today. Taking part in the Q1 session, he was unable to secure a spot for Q2 and qualified in 14th place.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team‘s Maverick Viñales continued the positive momentum he had on Day 1 at the TT Circuit Assen, following it up with a strong Q2 session. He put in some blistering laps, setting the second fastest time. Valentino Rossi was unable to ride the hot lap he had in mind. He missed out on a Q2 spot and will start tomorrow’s race from the fifth row on the grid.
Viñales showed great pace all day, and he wasn‘t shy to push in Q2. He was the last rider to hit the track, to ensure himself of some clear space and used it to his advantage. His first lap put him in fourth place, but he was just getting warmed up in the bright Dutch sunshine. He was briefly pushed back to fifth, but replied by clocking the provisional third fastest time and entered the garage with over seven minutes remaining.
This time the Spaniard changed tactics. A quick minute later he dashed out of pit lane to be the first rider to start his final pole position effort. He was putting on his A-game, setting a 1‘32.157s to take pole, with a 0.304s advantage. However, the fight wasn‘t over. A charging Fabio Quartararo spoiled Viñales‘ plans. It was mainly between the two Yamaha men to take the honours, but the number-12 rider was unable to improve on his best lap on the next two attempts and finished the session in second place, 0.140s from first.
It was a disappointing qualifying day for Rossi. He was originally set for a place in Q2, but after the chequered flag came out in FP3, his hot lap was cancelled due to exceeding track limits. As a consequence, he had to take part in Q1.
The Doctor opted for letting most of the rider field exit pit lane ahead of him, before starting his shoot-out. His first lap put him in provisional third place, but the pace was heating up. Unable to improve on his next try (which was also cancelled), he returned to the pits to make some changes whilst lying in fifth place.
With three and a half minutes left, he started his second run on fresh tyres. He put in a 1‘33.336s, briefly moving up to third, and only just missed out on a top-2 result, but later also this time was annulled. He had one more lap left and, though losing some momentum in S2, ended the session in fourth place, with a 1‘33.466, 0,756s from first. He will start tomorrow‘s race from P14, on the fifth row of the grid.
