Gagne Leads Drama-Filled Opening Day At Ridge Motorsports Park
Defending MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Champion Having Things His Way In Pacific Northwest
SHELTON, WA (June 24, 2022) – Jake Gagne seems to find another gear when he shows up at Ridge Motorsports Park. The winner of both MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike races a year ago in the Pacific Northwest, Gagne put a close to Superbike action on Friday afternoon with the fastest lap in Q1, his 1:40.035 three quarters of a second faster than his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing teammate Cameron Petersen.
Gagne is the lap record holder on the 2.47-mile track with his 1:39.568 coming in Q2 last year.
“We still have some work to do to fine-tune some things,” Gagne said. “Fun day at the track. Good weather, a lot better than last year, and it seems like another hot weekend, but we’re ready to roll.”
They don’t come more laid back than Gagne and he readily admits he’s not keeping track of the championship point standings. In fact, he’s not sure how many points he’s behind.
“It can’t go as easy as last year,” Gagne said of his dominant 2021 season “There’s no doubt we’ve still got the speed to win, we’ve got the bike to win, and we just need to put it together. I’ve made some mistakes this year so a lot of it has been on me. But I have no idea how far back in points we are. I know we’re not first or second and we’ll just keep cranking out some races and getting some wins. I’m having fun. I’m racing motorcycles so it’s a good day no matter what.”
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz struggled for most of the day, but it all came good for the South African at the end of Q1 when he jumped to third – .856 of a second off Gagne’s best.
Scholtz, however, was involved in a little post-session drama when he was given a bit of a shoulder bump from Danilo Petrucci while waiting to do a practice start. Scholtz was parked next to Max Flinders when Petrucci, who said that Scholtz had passed him too close on the cool-down lap, ran the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale V4 R between the two riders, bumping shoulders as he did so. Petrucci then turned and gave Scholtz the middle finger.
Petrucci, who was forced to go to his back-up bike after his number-one bike suffered a mechanical problem in free practice, had a difficult session with his crew having to put in a new clutch on the second bike in pit lane. By the time Petrucci took to the track there were only some 15 minutes left in the session.
Both riders were addressed by Race Direction.
Petrucci would end up fifth overall, one spot behind Spaniard Hector Barbera on the Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M1000 RR.
Supersport
Just .122 of a second separates Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin from Landers Racing’s Rocco Landers after the first day of qualifying for the Supersport class at Ridge Motorsports Park.
Herrin’s best came late in the session, his 1:43.595 knocking Landers from the top spot provisionally. N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto’s Kevin Olmedo was third fastest and just ahead of Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott with North East Cycle Outlet Racing’s Benjamin Smith qualifying fifth.
Gus Rodio (96). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup
Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK Racing’s Gus Rodio led SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Q1 on Friday, with the New Jerseyan topping Calshine Racing’s Aden Thao by .747 of a second. Altus Motorsports’ Kayla Yaakov completed the provisional front row.
Yuasa Stock 1000
Fresh off his win at the last round at Road America two weeks ago, Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing’s Corey Alexander led the way in the first Yuasa Stock 1000 Qualifying session with his 1:42.006 – .371 of a second faster than Disrupt Racing Suzuki’s Hayden Gillim, who was racing for the first time at Ridge.
Alexander’s teammate Travis Wyman was third fastest ahead of local rider Andy DiBrino on the Precision Iron Works/DiBrino Racing Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Hayden Schultz (49). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Twins Cup
The top four Twins Cup racers were covered by just .296 of a second in Q1 on Friday afternoon with Cycle Tech Yamaha’s Hayden Schultz on top of the heap with his 1:47.076 – just .066 of a second faster than defending series champion Kaleb De Keyrel and his Veloce Racing Aprilia RS 660. Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK Racing’s Anthony Mazziotto completed the provisional front row and is .280 of a second from pole position.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati:
Petrucci Learning Fast at The Ridge in Washington State
The Italian adapting well to the demands of the undulating 2.5-mile venue with the fifth fastest time on day one
Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati North America.
Sunnyvale, Calif., June 24, 2022 – Danilo Petrucci set about protecting his lead in the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with a fifth-place finish on day one of competition at The Ridge in Washington State.
On the Italian Stallion’s first visit to the undulating 2.5 mile circuit nestled between the pine forests, Petrucci produced a 1:41.278 lap to finish 1.4 seconds behind pacesetter Jake Gagne after 22 laps of the venue over two practice sessions.
Qualifying 1 Results—Top 5
P1 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 1:40.035
P2 – Cameron Petersen (Yamaha) 1:40.741
P3 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 1:40.891
P4 – Hector Barbera (BMW) 1:41.278
P5 – Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) 1:41.509
Danilo Petrucci (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC) : “Today was not an easy day,” Petrucci said. “I was learning the track but this morning we had a technical problem, so in the second session, we just did a few laps, but tomorrow is a new day and we’ll come back ready to go and try to improve our position.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati North America:
Herrin Blitzes to P1 on Friday at The Ridge
Herrin’s on a charge as he heads into Saturday as the fastest Supersport rider in Washington State
Josh Herrin (2). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati North America.
Sunnyvale, Calif., June 24, 2022 – Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC rider, Josh Herrin, laid down the marker for all others to beat at The Ridge in Washington State, setting the fastest time in both practice sessions.
The Californian resident turned the screws on the Ducati Panigale V2 to set a fastest time of 1:43.595 to better Yamaha’s Rocco Landers by 0.122 seconds with El Salvador’s Kevin Olmedo third, 0.7 seconds off Herrin’s searing pace.
Confident with the Panigale V2, Herrin believes he’s got the right tool for the job as he embarks on increasing his 51-point championship lead heading into race one tomorrow.
Qualifying 1 Results—Top 5
P1 – Josh Herrin (Ducati) 1:43.595
P2 – Rocco Landers (Yamaha) 1:43.717
P3 – Kevin Olmedo (Yamaha) 1:44.337
P4 – Tyler Scott (Suzuki) 1:44.501
P5 – Benjamin Smith (Yamaha) 1:44.551
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC) : “The day went super well,” Herrin said. “Both sessions we ended up P1, so the team is really stoked. We tested some tires for Dunlop in the second session which were good, but not as good as the first option I had from the morning session. We’ll use the morning session tires for tomorrow’s morning practice and the race, and I feel I can go faster than what I did today with that. I’m happy with how the day, team and bike went, now I just want to get going in the race tomorrow.”
Bagnaia beats Quartararo to the top in final FP2 shootout
A final few minutes of dry track time saw a flurry of decisive laps, with the Ducati rider taking to the top
Francesco Bagnaia (63). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Friday, 24 June 2022
Ducati Lenovo Team’s Francesco Bagnaia claimed early bragging rights at the Motul TT Assen, with the combined timesheets going down to the final couple of minutes of FP2 as the weather dried out. A 1:33.274 was the benchmark, and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) seemed to claim second before some drama for the Aprilia rider saw his last run cancelled for a technical infringement – running a rear water spoiler whilst on slicks – so the number 41 is classified dead last as Friday action comes to a close. That means Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) moves up to second quickest, ahead of Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar).
FP1
Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller lived up to his reputation as a rain master with the fastest lap in FP1 at the Motul TT Assen. The man who achieved his first ever premier class race win when the heavens opened at the TT Circuit Assen in 2016 headed the timesheets from Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team).
Rain fell throughout the 45-minute session and it was ‘Thriller’ Miller who was quickest after the first runs on a 1:44.523 before the showers got heavier. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) was one of few to persevere through that particularly difficult middle segment of FP1 and gradually climbed to second on a 1:44.570.
Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Dorna.
However, when the weather began to improve in the final 10 minutes, those times were blown away and Miller clocked his fastest lap just before the chequered flag, as did Mir when he set a 1:42.698 to be just 0.109 seconds slower. Both Mir and Pol Espargaro had brief periods on top of the timing screen and the latter would finish third courtesy of a 1:42.891. Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) made it two Hondas in the top four when he came through after the chequered flag on a 1:42.959, while Alex Espargaro was the last rider within half a second of Miller’s pace on a 1:43.030. There were two crashes: Bastianini and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), riders ok.
FP2
The showers had stopped by the time pit lane opened for FP2. The Assen circuit remained wet for the time being, but it took less than 10 minutes for Aleix Espargaro to establish a new weekend benchmark, and the lap times continued to fall. Zarco had just gone into the 1:39s, around halfway into the session, as fellow Ducati rider Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) became the first rider to switch to slicks. With the track drying out, at least on the race line, the Italian was quickly down to a 1:38.880 and soon everyone was coming in to get off their wet tyres.
Johann Zarco (5). Photo courtesy Dorna.
The timing screen started to light up and it was Marini into the 1:37s in the 32nd minute, then Miller into the 1:36s in the 34th minute, and Bezzecchi into the 1:35s in 35th minute. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was first to crack the 1:34s, with about eight minutes remaining, and Quartararo reset the fastest lap with a 1:33.908 in the last three minutes before the chequered flag, then Aleix Espargaro got down to a 1:33.652.
Bagnaia then lifted himself from third to the top with his 1:33.274, while Quartararo eked out a bit more time when he clocked a 1:33.579. Those two were split by Aleix Espargaro when he clocked a 1:33.452, with Rins laying down a 1:33.611.
Provisional Q2 places
With news of Aleix Espargaro’s technical infringement – meaning the Aprilia rider loses all his laps set on slicks – it remains Bagnaia quickest but from Quartararo. Rins moves up into third.
Alex Rins (42). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Miller now takes fourth overall, ahead of Mir, as in FP1, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) for extremely close company in sixth. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Zarco, Bezzecchi and Bastianini now complete the top ten after Friday’s running, with FP3 offering the rest their final shot at a place in Q2… not least Aleix Espargaro.
Tune in for that on Saturday morning, before qualifying from 14:10 (GMT +2)!
FRIDAY: TOP 3
1 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – 1’33.274
3 Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – Suzuki – +0.337
American Joe Roberts (16). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Roberts rapid to top Moto2™ on Friday
The American heads Fernandez and Arenas after a Friday of two halves at Assen
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) set the pace on Friday at the Motul TT Assen. In an impressive display by the American, he put one over last weekend’s dominant race winner, Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), by setting a 1:37.393 in a dry afternoon session for the intermediate class. Still, Fernandez is not far away from the top despite a mid-session crash, while Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) was third on Friday.
FP1
Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) was king of the wet in the morning, heading the timesheets ahead of Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up). Canet set a fastest lap of 1:46.877 with the chequered flag out at the TT Circuit Assen and, despite the rainy weather, it proved to be a hotly contested 40 minutes of action. Aldeguer finished only 0.085 seconds slower on a 1:46.962 and Fernandez made it an all-Spanish top three in FP1 after a 1:47.052.
FP2/provisional Q2 places
The rain had stopped for FP2 and riders were instantly slashing seconds off the fastest lap times. The opening runs turned into a duel between the two aforementioned Spaniards, with Fernandez getting down to a 1:37.840 but Arenas usurped him by almost three tenths of a second just before the halfway mark. Around the same time, Fernandez crashed at De Strubben (Turn 5), but it would prove to be a minor mishap.
It took until the final two minutes for the fastest lap to be reset again, and it was Fernandez snatching back top spot when he clocked a 1:37.534. However, Roberts had already threatened to take over the ascendancy by then, and he would do just that when he punched out a 1:37.393 just prior to the chequered flag. Fernandez then made more speed, but remained second-quickest as he completed his session with a 1:37.529. Arenas found no improvement during his second run, but his earlier 1:37.569 was good enough for third.
Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), as he seeks to overhaul Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) in the Moto2™ title race, took fourth in with a 1:37.710. Fifth and sixth went to MB Conveyors Speed Up team-mates Fermin Aldeguer and Alonso Lopez on a 1:37.840 and 1:37.942, respectively.
Canet, who was quickest in FP1, claimed seventh in FP2 before then heading to hospital briefly. Suffering with nosebleeds recently, the Pons rider went to have his nose cauterised. A minor, non-surgical procedure, he remains fit to ride and will be hoping it’s done the trick for Saturday.
Championship leader Vietti finished eighth on a 1:37.964, with the top 10 rounded out by Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40) and Filip Salac (Gresini Racing Moto2™) at 0.585 seconds off the pace. Marcos Ramirez (MV Agusta Forward Racing), Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Alessandro Zaccone (Gresini Racing Moto2™) are currently the last riders set to move through, leaving the likes of Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP), Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) all looking for more on Saturday.
With dry conditions forecast for FP3, there is still plenty left to play for before qualifying! Tune in for the final Free Practice session on Saturday, before qualifying from 15:10 (GMT +2).
FRIDAY: TOP 3
1 Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) – Kalex – 1’37.393
The impressive newcomer showed off some wet weather prowess to top the timesheets on Day 1 at Assen
Day 1 at the Motul TT Assen belonged to rookie David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) as he went quickest in a very wet FP1 before repeating the feat in an improved but wet FP2. Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) took second, just under a tenth and a half back, with Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) third within another half a tenth.
FP1
Muñoz was quickest from the off in a wet Moto3™ FP1, fastest for the vast majority of the session at the TT Circuit Assen and ending it quickest ahead of Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3). John McPhee (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) was just 0.086 seconds in further arrears again in third.
Suzuki was fourth with a 1:52.963 and fifth went to Alberto Surra (Rivacold Snipers Team) on a 1:53.176. Despite the tricky conditions, Surra was the only rider to take a tumble, but his late highside at Madijk was on the milder end of the scale. Muñoz and McPhee were also seen having their moments as the rain seemed to get somewhat heavier in the closing stages, but they managed to stay upright.
The World Championship-leading GASGAS Aspar Team duo were a little further back on the timesheet. German GP winner Izan Guevara was seventh on a 1:53.575 and Sergio Garcia, whose margin in the riders’ standings has been cut to seven points, was eighth on a 1:54.115. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took ninth on a 1:54.306, whilst Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) was 3.184 seconds off the pace in 18th.
FP2
The conditions had improved and therefore so did the laptimes, with everyone quicker in the afternoon. Muñoz remained the rider to beat, with Suzuki moving up to second with some more impressive pace. Yamanaka leapt up the timesheets into third, just ahead of British rookie Scott Ogden as the VisionTrack rider shone in FP2. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) completed the top five.
There was only one crasher in FP2, too, as Elia Bartolini (QJMotor Avintia Racing Team) took a tumble, rider ok.
Provisional Q2 places
FP2 is the same as the combined timesheets, so it’s Muñoz, Suzuki, Yamanaka, Ogden and Migno leading the way. Next up is Carlos Tatay (CFMoto PrüstelGP), ahead of SIC58 Squadra Corse duo Lorenzo Fellon and Riccardo Rossi. Öncü, the only rider to have scored in every race so far in 2022, is ninth as Masia completed the top ten.
McPhee, Guevara and Ortola are next up, with Garcia currently the last rider set to move through… but everything could still change on Saturday morning, especially as the weather remains changeable! Tune in for FP3 at 9:00 (GMT +2), before qualifying from 12:35.
Editorial Note: The current MotoAmerica Superbike All-Time Lap Record is 1:39.568 by Jake Gagne in 2021 and the current MotoAmerica Superbike Race Record is 1:40.602 by Cameron Beaubier in 2020.
Gagne Leads Drama-Filled Opening Day At Ridge Motorsports Park
Defending MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Champion Having Things His Way In Pacific Northwest
SHELTON, WA (June 24, 2022) – Jake Gagne seems to find another gear when he shows up at Ridge Motorsports Park. The winner of both MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike races a year ago in the Pacific Northwest, Gagne put a close to Superbike action on Friday afternoon with the fastest lap in Q1, his 1:40.035 three quarters of a second faster than his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing teammate Cameron Petersen.
Gagne is the lap record holder on the 2.47-mile track with his 1:39.568 coming in Q2 last year.
“We still have some work to do to fine-tune some things,” Gagne said. “Fun day at the track. Good weather, a lot better than last year, and it seems like another hot weekend, but we’re ready to roll.”
They don’t come more laid back than Gagne and he readily admits he’s not keeping track of the championship point standings. In fact, he’s not sure how many points he’s behind.
“It can’t go as easy as last year,” Gagne said of his dominant 2021 season “There’s no doubt we’ve still got the speed to win, we’ve got the bike to win, and we just need to put it together. I’ve made some mistakes this year so a lot of it has been on me. But I have no idea how far back in points we are. I know we’re not first or second and we’ll just keep cranking out some races and getting some wins. I’m having fun. I’m racing motorcycles so it’s a good day no matter what.”
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz struggled for most of the day, but it all came good for the South African at the end of Q1 when he jumped to third – .856 of a second off Gagne’s best.
Scholtz, however, was involved in a little post-session drama when he was given a bit of a shoulder bump from Danilo Petrucci while waiting to do a practice start. Scholtz was parked next to Max Flinders when Petrucci, who said that Scholtz had passed him too close on the cool-down lap, ran the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale V4 R between the two riders, bumping shoulders as he did so. Petrucci then turned and gave Scholtz the middle finger.
Petrucci, who was forced to go to his back-up bike after his number-one bike suffered a mechanical problem in free practice, had a difficult session with his crew having to put in a new clutch on the second bike in pit lane. By the time Petrucci took to the track there were only some 15 minutes left in the session.
Both riders were addressed by Race Direction.
Petrucci would end up fifth overall, one spot behind Spaniard Hector Barbera on the Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M1000 RR.
Supersport
Just .122 of a second separates Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin from Landers Racing’s Rocco Landers after the first day of qualifying for the Supersport class at Ridge Motorsports Park.
Herrin’s best came late in the session, his 1:43.595 knocking Landers from the top spot provisionally. N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto’s Kevin Olmedo was third fastest and just ahead of Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott with North East Cycle Outlet Racing’s Benjamin Smith qualifying fifth.
Gus Rodio (96). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup
Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK Racing’s Gus Rodio led SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Q1 on Friday, with the New Jerseyan topping Calshine Racing’s Aden Thao by .747 of a second. Altus Motorsports’ Kayla Yaakov completed the provisional front row.
Yuasa Stock 1000
Fresh off his win at the last round at Road America two weeks ago, Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing’s Corey Alexander led the way in the first Yuasa Stock 1000 Qualifying session with his 1:42.006 – .371 of a second faster than Disrupt Racing Suzuki’s Hayden Gillim, who was racing for the first time at Ridge.
Alexander’s teammate Travis Wyman was third fastest ahead of local rider Andy DiBrino on the Precision Iron Works/DiBrino Racing Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Hayden Schultz (49). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Twins Cup
The top four Twins Cup racers were covered by just .296 of a second in Q1 on Friday afternoon with Cycle Tech Yamaha’s Hayden Schultz on top of the heap with his 1:47.076 – just .066 of a second faster than defending series champion Kaleb De Keyrel and his Veloce Racing Aprilia RS 660. Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK Racing’s Anthony Mazziotto completed the provisional front row and is .280 of a second from pole position.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati:
Petrucci Learning Fast at The Ridge in Washington State
The Italian adapting well to the demands of the undulating 2.5-mile venue with the fifth fastest time on day one
Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati North America.
Sunnyvale, Calif., June 24, 2022 – Danilo Petrucci set about protecting his lead in the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with a fifth-place finish on day one of competition at The Ridge in Washington State.
On the Italian Stallion’s first visit to the undulating 2.5 mile circuit nestled between the pine forests, Petrucci produced a 1:41.278 lap to finish 1.4 seconds behind pacesetter Jake Gagne after 22 laps of the venue over two practice sessions.
Qualifying 1 Results—Top 5
P1 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 1:40.035
P2 – Cameron Petersen (Yamaha) 1:40.741
P3 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 1:40.891
P4 – Hector Barbera (BMW) 1:41.278
P5 – Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) 1:41.509
Danilo Petrucci (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC) : “Today was not an easy day,” Petrucci said. “I was learning the track but this morning we had a technical problem, so in the second session, we just did a few laps, but tomorrow is a new day and we’ll come back ready to go and try to improve our position.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati North America:
Herrin Blitzes to P1 on Friday at The Ridge
Herrin’s on a charge as he heads into Saturday as the fastest Supersport rider in Washington State
Josh Herrin (2). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati North America.
Sunnyvale, Calif., June 24, 2022 – Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC rider, Josh Herrin, laid down the marker for all others to beat at The Ridge in Washington State, setting the fastest time in both practice sessions.
The Californian resident turned the screws on the Ducati Panigale V2 to set a fastest time of 1:43.595 to better Yamaha’s Rocco Landers by 0.122 seconds with El Salvador’s Kevin Olmedo third, 0.7 seconds off Herrin’s searing pace.
Confident with the Panigale V2, Herrin believes he’s got the right tool for the job as he embarks on increasing his 51-point championship lead heading into race one tomorrow.
Qualifying 1 Results—Top 5
P1 – Josh Herrin (Ducati) 1:43.595
P2 – Rocco Landers (Yamaha) 1:43.717
P3 – Kevin Olmedo (Yamaha) 1:44.337
P4 – Tyler Scott (Suzuki) 1:44.501
P5 – Benjamin Smith (Yamaha) 1:44.551
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC) : “The day went super well,” Herrin said. “Both sessions we ended up P1, so the team is really stoked. We tested some tires for Dunlop in the second session which were good, but not as good as the first option I had from the morning session. We’ll use the morning session tires for tomorrow’s morning practice and the race, and I feel I can go faster than what I did today with that. I’m happy with how the day, team and bike went, now I just want to get going in the race tomorrow.”
Bagnaia beats Quartararo to the top in final FP2 shootout
A final few minutes of dry track time saw a flurry of decisive laps, with the Ducati rider taking to the top
Francesco Bagnaia (63). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Friday, 24 June 2022
Ducati Lenovo Team’s Francesco Bagnaia claimed early bragging rights at the Motul TT Assen, with the combined timesheets going down to the final couple of minutes of FP2 as the weather dried out. A 1:33.274 was the benchmark, and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) seemed to claim second before some drama for the Aprilia rider saw his last run cancelled for a technical infringement – running a rear water spoiler whilst on slicks – so the number 41 is classified dead last as Friday action comes to a close. That means Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) moves up to second quickest, ahead of Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar).
FP1
Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller lived up to his reputation as a rain master with the fastest lap in FP1 at the Motul TT Assen. The man who achieved his first ever premier class race win when the heavens opened at the TT Circuit Assen in 2016 headed the timesheets from Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team).
Rain fell throughout the 45-minute session and it was ‘Thriller’ Miller who was quickest after the first runs on a 1:44.523 before the showers got heavier. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) was one of few to persevere through that particularly difficult middle segment of FP1 and gradually climbed to second on a 1:44.570.
Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Dorna.
However, when the weather began to improve in the final 10 minutes, those times were blown away and Miller clocked his fastest lap just before the chequered flag, as did Mir when he set a 1:42.698 to be just 0.109 seconds slower. Both Mir and Pol Espargaro had brief periods on top of the timing screen and the latter would finish third courtesy of a 1:42.891. Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) made it two Hondas in the top four when he came through after the chequered flag on a 1:42.959, while Alex Espargaro was the last rider within half a second of Miller’s pace on a 1:43.030. There were two crashes: Bastianini and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), riders ok.
FP2
The showers had stopped by the time pit lane opened for FP2. The Assen circuit remained wet for the time being, but it took less than 10 minutes for Aleix Espargaro to establish a new weekend benchmark, and the lap times continued to fall. Zarco had just gone into the 1:39s, around halfway into the session, as fellow Ducati rider Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) became the first rider to switch to slicks. With the track drying out, at least on the race line, the Italian was quickly down to a 1:38.880 and soon everyone was coming in to get off their wet tyres.
Johann Zarco (5). Photo courtesy Dorna.
The timing screen started to light up and it was Marini into the 1:37s in the 32nd minute, then Miller into the 1:36s in the 34th minute, and Bezzecchi into the 1:35s in 35th minute. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was first to crack the 1:34s, with about eight minutes remaining, and Quartararo reset the fastest lap with a 1:33.908 in the last three minutes before the chequered flag, then Aleix Espargaro got down to a 1:33.652.
Bagnaia then lifted himself from third to the top with his 1:33.274, while Quartararo eked out a bit more time when he clocked a 1:33.579. Those two were split by Aleix Espargaro when he clocked a 1:33.452, with Rins laying down a 1:33.611.
Provisional Q2 places
With news of Aleix Espargaro’s technical infringement – meaning the Aprilia rider loses all his laps set on slicks – it remains Bagnaia quickest but from Quartararo. Rins moves up into third.
Alex Rins (42). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Miller now takes fourth overall, ahead of Mir, as in FP1, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) for extremely close company in sixth. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Zarco, Bezzecchi and Bastianini now complete the top ten after Friday’s running, with FP3 offering the rest their final shot at a place in Q2… not least Aleix Espargaro.
Tune in for that on Saturday morning, before qualifying from 14:10 (GMT +2)!
FRIDAY: TOP 3
1 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – 1’33.274
3 Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – Suzuki – +0.337
American Joe Roberts (16). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Roberts rapid to top Moto2™ on Friday
The American heads Fernandez and Arenas after a Friday of two halves at Assen
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) set the pace on Friday at the Motul TT Assen. In an impressive display by the American, he put one over last weekend’s dominant race winner, Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), by setting a 1:37.393 in a dry afternoon session for the intermediate class. Still, Fernandez is not far away from the top despite a mid-session crash, while Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) was third on Friday.
FP1
Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) was king of the wet in the morning, heading the timesheets ahead of Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up). Canet set a fastest lap of 1:46.877 with the chequered flag out at the TT Circuit Assen and, despite the rainy weather, it proved to be a hotly contested 40 minutes of action. Aldeguer finished only 0.085 seconds slower on a 1:46.962 and Fernandez made it an all-Spanish top three in FP1 after a 1:47.052.
FP2/provisional Q2 places
The rain had stopped for FP2 and riders were instantly slashing seconds off the fastest lap times. The opening runs turned into a duel between the two aforementioned Spaniards, with Fernandez getting down to a 1:37.840 but Arenas usurped him by almost three tenths of a second just before the halfway mark. Around the same time, Fernandez crashed at De Strubben (Turn 5), but it would prove to be a minor mishap.
It took until the final two minutes for the fastest lap to be reset again, and it was Fernandez snatching back top spot when he clocked a 1:37.534. However, Roberts had already threatened to take over the ascendancy by then, and he would do just that when he punched out a 1:37.393 just prior to the chequered flag. Fernandez then made more speed, but remained second-quickest as he completed his session with a 1:37.529. Arenas found no improvement during his second run, but his earlier 1:37.569 was good enough for third.
Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), as he seeks to overhaul Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) in the Moto2™ title race, took fourth in with a 1:37.710. Fifth and sixth went to MB Conveyors Speed Up team-mates Fermin Aldeguer and Alonso Lopez on a 1:37.840 and 1:37.942, respectively.
Canet, who was quickest in FP1, claimed seventh in FP2 before then heading to hospital briefly. Suffering with nosebleeds recently, the Pons rider went to have his nose cauterised. A minor, non-surgical procedure, he remains fit to ride and will be hoping it’s done the trick for Saturday.
Championship leader Vietti finished eighth on a 1:37.964, with the top 10 rounded out by Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40) and Filip Salac (Gresini Racing Moto2™) at 0.585 seconds off the pace. Marcos Ramirez (MV Agusta Forward Racing), Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Alessandro Zaccone (Gresini Racing Moto2™) are currently the last riders set to move through, leaving the likes of Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP), Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) all looking for more on Saturday.
With dry conditions forecast for FP3, there is still plenty left to play for before qualifying! Tune in for the final Free Practice session on Saturday, before qualifying from 15:10 (GMT +2).
FRIDAY: TOP 3
1 Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) – Kalex – 1’37.393
The impressive newcomer showed off some wet weather prowess to top the timesheets on Day 1 at Assen
Day 1 at the Motul TT Assen belonged to rookie David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) as he went quickest in a very wet FP1 before repeating the feat in an improved but wet FP2. Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) took second, just under a tenth and a half back, with Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) third within another half a tenth.
FP1
Muñoz was quickest from the off in a wet Moto3™ FP1, fastest for the vast majority of the session at the TT Circuit Assen and ending it quickest ahead of Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3). John McPhee (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) was just 0.086 seconds in further arrears again in third.
Suzuki was fourth with a 1:52.963 and fifth went to Alberto Surra (Rivacold Snipers Team) on a 1:53.176. Despite the tricky conditions, Surra was the only rider to take a tumble, but his late highside at Madijk was on the milder end of the scale. Muñoz and McPhee were also seen having their moments as the rain seemed to get somewhat heavier in the closing stages, but they managed to stay upright.
The World Championship-leading GASGAS Aspar Team duo were a little further back on the timesheet. German GP winner Izan Guevara was seventh on a 1:53.575 and Sergio Garcia, whose margin in the riders’ standings has been cut to seven points, was eighth on a 1:54.115. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took ninth on a 1:54.306, whilst Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) was 3.184 seconds off the pace in 18th.
FP2
The conditions had improved and therefore so did the laptimes, with everyone quicker in the afternoon. Muñoz remained the rider to beat, with Suzuki moving up to second with some more impressive pace. Yamanaka leapt up the timesheets into third, just ahead of British rookie Scott Ogden as the VisionTrack rider shone in FP2. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) completed the top five.
There was only one crasher in FP2, too, as Elia Bartolini (QJMotor Avintia Racing Team) took a tumble, rider ok.
Provisional Q2 places
FP2 is the same as the combined timesheets, so it’s Muñoz, Suzuki, Yamanaka, Ogden and Migno leading the way. Next up is Carlos Tatay (CFMoto PrüstelGP), ahead of SIC58 Squadra Corse duo Lorenzo Fellon and Riccardo Rossi. Öncü, the only rider to have scored in every race so far in 2022, is ninth as Masia completed the top ten.
McPhee, Guevara and Ortola are next up, with Garcia currently the last rider set to move through… but everything could still change on Saturday morning, especially as the weather remains changeable! Tune in for FP3 at 9:00 (GMT +2), before qualifying from 12:35.
Editorial Note: The current MotoAmerica Superbike All-Time Lap Record is 1:39.568 by Jake Gagne in 2021 and the current MotoAmerica Superbike Race Record is 1:40.602 by Cameron Beaubier in 2020.
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