New record set at Circuit Assen: ‘It can’t get any better than this’ | Sport

Reigning world champion and championship leader Fabio Quartararo set the second fastest time. With his time of 1.31.620, the French rider from Yamaha also fell below the old track record, which was held by Maverick Viñales from Spain with 1.31.814. Spaniard Jorge Martin (Ducati) completed the front row of the grid. He set the third fastest time with 1.31,708.

The start of the royal class in the 91st edition of the Dutch TT is on Sunday at 2 p.m. Bagnaia hopes to treat the public to a memorable race. “I would like to duel with Fabio Quartararo until the end of the race and not just the first two rounds. Pole position in the TT is very special. Can’t get any better than this. I am also so happy with it because in the morning I was still struggling with the engine. But the team found something that made me go really hard on the race tire in the fourth free practice and qualifying,” said Bagnaia, whose top speed was 309 km/h.

Bagnaia has already taken pole for the fourth time this season, but he barely counts in the championship despite victories in Spain and Italy. He had already retired four times and the last two races (Catalonia and Germany) were early in the race. “I want to prevent that in Assen. Maybe after the start I can make a gap with the rest, because my bike is fast. But that is difficult on this circuit.”

fierce battle

Bagnaia, nicknamed pecco, expect a fierce battle with the man in form. Quartararo has won the last two Grand Prixs and the reigning world champion leads firmly in the current championship. „It is still much too early to think about a second title; we’re only halfway through the season,” said the Frenchman. “Starting from the front row is good. The aim is to make it a great race on Sunday and hopefully go home with a great feeling.”

Engine3

Japan’s Ayumu Sasaki has taken pole position in the Moto3 light class. He was a fraction faster in qualifying than his compatriot Tatsuki Suzuki, who will start from second place on Sunday. The Spaniard Izan Guevara set the third fastest time.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who leads the Moto3 championship, only finished eighteenth in the qualifying race. He starts the race from there. Guevara, who has won the last two Grand Prixs (in Catalonia and Germany), is his main rival in the title fight. The 21-year-old Sasaki suffered a serious crash at the Mugello circuit in Italy four weeks ago and broke both collarbones.