Good performance for three Repsol riders, with Fabio Quartararo in seventh position and Maria Herrera thirteenth on the grid at Assen.
After their good practice sessions yesterday, today the Repsol Moto3 riders continued to improve at Assen on Friday. In the morning free practice, Jorge Navarro was again very fast, setting the third quickest time and going just three tenths slower than top man Danny Kent. Teammate Fabio Quartararo was sixth fastest, 7 tenths down, Maria Herrera seventeenth, almost 1.5 seconds back.
In the afternoon qualifying session, all three took a step forward. Navarro will start from the front row of the grid after claiming the second fastest time –1:41.618. He was 0.335s off Bastianini, who set the best time in qualifying. Quartararo will start from row 3 after setting the seventh fastest lap, 0.528s off the Italian, and Herrera – with a significant improvement made in the afternoon, will take off from fifth after setting the thirteenth fastest time.
The Moto3 race will be held tomorrow at 11am local time.
Fabio Quartararo
7th – 1:41.811, 35 laps, 159 km
“I made a good start to the qualifying session, because I hadn’t got into the 1:41’s in free practice –although it is true that I had a good pace of 1:42. In the fast part of the circuit I feel comfortable, but I have to improve on the slow sections. Some other riders got in my way when I put the soft tyre on in qualifying, but I’m happy with the pace we have achieved and I am confident. However, we can still improve some things and we have to continue working tomorrow morning.”
Jorge Navarro
2nd – 1:41.618, 33 laps, 150 km
“After a very positive weekend, in which we have improved in every session, I came into the qualifying session knowing that we could do well. At first I found a lot of traffic and it was a little frustrating: I knew I could go faster. I encounter several other riders who, without ever stopping, rode quite slowly and bothered me a little. In the end I managed to find space and I complete a lap without anyone hindering me. On the last lap I could push hard and I am happy with second place. For tomorrow we have a good pace and I feel comfortable with the bike. The aim will be to start well, have a good race and keep gaining experience.”
Maria Herrera
13th – 1:42.339, 35 laps, 159 km
“It all went very well. I managed a good time and I had fun as well. We have taken a step up from Catalonia and the last few races, and I felt very comfortable on the bike. We have worked hard and well in every session, improving our times as the weekend progresses. I did not expect to qualify as high up in my first visit to Assen and I am very happy. Tomorrow I want to fight hard and learn: I’m sure my starting position will allow me to fight with a large group and learn a lot.”
