CLASSIC ASSEN: MIXED-WEATHER FREE PRACTICE FOR TEAM GRESINI MOTOGP
#DutchGP Free Practice. Following a fully summer Thursday, the most-typical Dutch weather made its return for day one of Free Practice at the TT Circuit Assen, with pouring rain and lower temperatures. This weather change made the opening day of action a learning one, as Team Gresini MotoGP had not ridden in these conditions since the early-season Indonesian trip.
It was not the best Friday for Enea Bastianini, who had quite the crash this morning on the Assen straight: the Italian rider lost control of his Desmosedici machine #23 and was thrown at high speed in the gravel trap – from which he luckily escaped uninjured. The young talent was able to make amends in the afternoon session as he improved his lap-times and finished the day in 11th position (1’34.316secs).
Fabio Di Giannantonio had a more consistent day one as he worked as planned without any setback. His feeling in the wet (FP1) was better than in the mixed conditions encountered in the afternoon. His 20th place does not worry, with the rookie half a second away from the last place available for a direct seed to Q2.
Tomorrow’s FP3 should take place in dry conditions, so fingers crossed.
11th – ENEA BASTIANINI #23 (1’34.316s)
“We started well this morning, but then the crash made things more complicated. In the afternoon session, with the track drying up, we improved… In the last two laps a lost a few tenths due to a slower rider in the middle, but it is what it is. The track should be dry tomorrow morning and the feeling with the bike was good today. We’re positive!”
20th – FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (1’34.902s)
“I had fun in wet conditions this morning and had a great feeling. I wish I had a bit more time this afternoon, with mixed conditions, in order to understand the right lines better. Those were my very first laps in the dry here at Assen on a MotoGP bike, so I’m still confident ahead of tomorrow. We surely need to keep working in order to find a better grip at the rear-end.”
