Marco Bezzecchi Tops Assen MotoGP Practice
Marco Bezzecchi ended second practice at Assen fastest of all, with a 1m31.123s lap on his factory Aprilia. He led the way by 0.177s.
The session was red-flagged late on after a big crash for Alex Marquez. The Gresini rider had to be helped away by the marshals after the fall.
Bezzecchi's performance is significant as he looks to move on from his Czech Grand Prix race ban. He was hit with a penalty after FP1 for a practice start infringement, but only received a fine from the FIM stewards.
The Aprilias looked supreme in the session, with Bezzecchi leading the way. He set the early pace with a 1m31.956s inside the opening 10 minutes.
Bezzecchi will aim to maintain his momentum in the upcoming sessions. His teammate, Jorge Martin, also had a strong session, trading fastest laps with Bezzecchi.
The top three was completed by KTM's Pedro Acosta, who went to third on his final flying lap after the stoppage. Ai Ogura was fourth from Pecco Bagnaia, who produced a 1m31.384s on a used soft rear tyre on his final lap.
Bezzecchi's result is a positive sign for the Italian rider, who will look to build on this performance in the rest of the weekend. The session was marked by several crashes, including one for Martin late on at Turn 12.
The incident involving Alex Marquez was a significant one, with the rider suffering multiple fractures in a serious incident at Barcelona last month. His teammate, Fermin Aldeguer, also had a crash in FP1 and had to be taken to the medical centre for checks.
Bezzecchi's lap time of 1m31.123s was the fastest of the session, and he will look to maintain his position at the top of the timesheets in the upcoming sessions. The Assen MotoGP practice has been marked by several incidents, but Bezzecchi has emerged as one of the strongest contenders so far.
The Italian rider will aim to carry his momentum into the rest of the weekend, as he looks to secure a strong result in the Dutch Grand Prix. With his performance in the second practice session, Bezzecchi has sent a strong signal to his rivals, and will be one to watch in the upcoming sessions.