MotoGP Assen: Espargaro tops FP3 despite late crash

Aprilia was back on top in FP3 as Aleix Espargaro set the pace with a 1’32.164 in Saturday’s opening MotoGP action at Assen.

Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo denied the Noale factory a one-two in the times as Maverick Viñales rounded out the top three, just 0.057s behind ‘the Captain’ until further post-flag deletions promoted Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins into third.

Saturday’s morning practice began with Mooney VR46’s Luca Marini in the gravel and Pol Espargaro withdrawing form the action - the Repsol Honda rider struggling to breathe due to his injured ribs and unable to muscle his RC213V around the 4.5km layout for the rest of the weekend.

Aprilia locked out the initial standings as Espargaro headed Viñales on 1’33 pace until Marco Bezzecchi split the pair on the second VR46 machine. Viñales was in charge by his fifth attempt as the Spaniard became the first to set a 1’32, Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia running third from a heroic Alex Rins and Quartararo with teammate Jack Miller rounding out the top six.

The defending champion improved to third as the session bedded in. His predecessor Joan Mir neatly behind as Franky Morbidelli crashed the second Monster Energy M1 with an intense barrel roll through the gravel at turn 15.

Viñales upped the pace with a 1’32.911 as his former teammate joined him in the top two. Bagnaia the sole front runner yet to improve on his Friday pace, with the impressive effort still enough for fourth overall.

Bezzecchi continued to shine in the dry conditions as he maintained his place amongst the usual contenders, running sixth at the halfway stage with Suzuki’s Rins and Pramac’s Johann Zarco for company either side in the standings.

KTM’s Brad Binder sat in the danger zone as the second half