Valentino Rossi rules Assen Grand Prix warm up session with Desmosedici GP11.1 – MotoGP news
Ducati Team rider Valentino Rossi was the finally able to show some fast pace at the warm up session for the Iveco TT Assen Grand Prix, with his newly bred Ducati Desmosedici GP11.1.
The race weekend in Netherlands has experienced heavy rains and some dry conditions for the final free practice.
The warm up session was welcomed with dry conditions however, heavy downpour soon engulfed the circuit. The unfortunate Pramac Racing rider Loris Capirossi has been ruled out of the race due to the fall he suffered in the qualifying practice round.
Rossi was followed by Yamaha Factory Racing team rider Jorge Lorenzo in second place. Spaniard’s teammate Ben Spies was riding behind him in third place. Both Yamaha factory riders are geared up to give their team their 50th anniversary gift with
a win at Assen.
Rossi’s American teammate, Nicky Hayden was fast enough for fourth place with no Honda in between.
The Repsol Honda rider’s duo, Andrea Dovizioso and Hiroshi Aoyama were fifth and sixth respectively. Despite of the Honda trio facing a crash, they still made their best efforts to keep up the pace. Factory RCVs are lacking essential grip on the Assen track,
which can prove fatal for their race finish. Casey Stoner was 14th in the wet warm up session.
LCR Honda rider Toni Elias who also crashed in the qualifying practice session was able to stand seventh in the warm up session, accompanied by Mapfre Aspar team rider Hector Barbera.
On ninth place was Rizla Suzuki’s sole rider, Alvaro Bautista. He has made a hard effort to sort his GSVR in the short practice time. The new rider at San Carlo Honda Gresini team, Kousuke Akiyoshi was tenth while the pole seat winner Marco Simoncelli was
13th in the session.
Dani Pedrosa has missed his third consecutive round, but Repsol Honda changed their decision for the Assen event. HRC have called Hiroshi Aoyama from Honda Gresini to race as the Spaniard’s substitute while HRC test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi will race as a
second rider at the San Carlo Honda Gresini team.
Monster Yamaha Tech rider, Cal Crutchlow was at 12th place in the session.
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