TT Assen: TYPICAL ASSEN WEATHER MADE IT HARD FOR QUALIFYING
A small crash during this afternoon’s FP4 affected somehow Stefan Bradl for the timed session.
Day two of practice at the historic TT Assen was accompanied by unpredictable and changeable weather. Obviously it’s nothing new for teams and riders but this typical conditions for the northern part of the Netherlands played its role once again. Whilst this morning’s FP3 took place in dry conditions mostly, a short rain shower earlier this afternoon was the reason for the first wet session this weekend. Stefan Bradl was one of many victims due to the massively changed condition to crash when he lost the front so he was forced to use his spare bike for QP1 but the setting of this bike wasn’t prepared properly. The 26-year-old Aprilia rider will start into tomorrow’s race from the eight row.
During the long history of the Dutch TT, race day was in the past traditionally Saturday. But from the 2016 edition onwards time schedule has been changed to the more usual one with starting time for the MotoGP race on Sunday at 2:00pm.
#6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia), Grid position 18th – 1´49.685 (7/8):
“The weather was once again very typical for Assen today. The track wasn’t completely wet but also still damp so we weren’t able to go out with slick tyres. However, the feeling with rain tyres also wasn’t at its best. Unfortunate, I had to report a harmless low-sider during FP4 as I lost the front. This circumstances reduced our conditions for qualifying in advance because I was forced to use the second bike. But in any case we were able to use this short session to our utmost as we improved significantly. We made progress but even not enough to qualify more towards the front.”
MotoGP™ Qualifying Classification:
1 #4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO / ITA / Ducati Team / Ducati / 1´45.246
2 #46 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´45.961 +0.715
3 #45 Scott REDDING / GBR / OCTO Pramac Yakhnich / Ducati / 1´46.312 +1.066
18 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / Aprilia / 1´49.892 +4.646