'It’s a special place' - Marco Bezzecchi takes pole at Dutch Grand Prix, while Marc Marquez crashes out in Q1
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Updated 24/06/2023 at 10:50 GMT
It was a masterful performance from Marco Bezzecchi, who set a new lap time at Assen to become the 13th different pole sitter in the last 13 races on the circuit. He sat top of an all-Italian podium that includes Francesco Bagnaia and Luca Marini. The main talking point from Q1 was a crash between Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini. Attention now turns to the sprint race, which begins at 2pm.
Marco Bezzecchi will start on pole for the Dutch Grand Prix
Image credit: Eurosport
Marco Bezzecchi took pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix after a superb Q2 display in a record lap time at Assen.
The Mooney VR46 rider's time of 1:31.472 ensured he would take pole for Saturday's sprint and main race, becoming the 13th different pole sitter in the last 13 races on the circuit.
Bezzecchi took his place at the top of an all-Italian podium, as reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati finished 0.061 seconds further adrift after eight laps, while Mooney rider Luca Marini was 0.158 seconds back in third.
However, it was far from plain sailing for Bezzecchi and was briefly overtaken by Fabio Quartararo, but the Yamaha rider would finish fourth and 0.199 seconds behind. It was still a hugely impressive performance from Quartararo, who will start on the second row for the first time this year.
Speaking after the race, Bezzecchi told BT Sport: “It’s a special place; I have good memories from here and it’s a track that suits my riding style quite well.
“Now I will try my best for the sprint and the GP. I feel good; I still have to make some adjustments to my riding style in parts of the track.
“But I feel confident with the bike and the team did a good job.”
Meanwhile, Jorge Martin crashed at turn five after putting too much pressure on the rear tyre and slipped off. There was also a crash for Q1 qualifier Miguel Oliveira, who finished 11th.
There was also plenty of drama on offer in Q1 itself, with Marc Marquez and Johann Zarco among the big names taking part.
The latter sealed progression into Q2 with a time of 1:31.993 after his first four laps to claim top spot, and was joined by Oliveira, who was 0.094 seconds further back after completing nine laps of the course.
However, that only told part of the story after a crash between Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini at turn one.
As Bastianini decelerated to compensate for his mistake at turn one, the Ducati rider was touring into turn four and Marquez bumped into him. The Honda rider was aghast with frustration after falling long way short of a place in Q2.
Attention now turns to the sprint race, which is due to begin at 2pm UK time and will be broadcast live on BT Sport 2.
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