Assen MotoGP: Aleix Espargaro sets record pace in FP2
Aleix Espargaro set a new track record in the second MotoGP practice session for the Dutch TT at Assen with the fastest time of the day in 1m33.653s
Running on the softer rear tyre in the dying moments of the session, the Forward Racing rider managed to hook up a perfect lap to demote session-long leader Marc Marquez from the top of the order.
In doing so, Espargaro beat Casey Stoner's fastest lap record by 0.060 seconds, which the Australian set in 2012.
Marquez led the way for the majority of the 45-minute practice period, having set the pace on the sixth lap of his first run, despite experiencing an out-of-shape moment on the inside kerbs of Duikersloot.
The current championship leader made further improvements before the chequered flag, but fell 0.211s short of Espargaro's pacesetting time.
Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa showed good pace to finish in the top three, ahead of Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Iannone.
Bradley Smith came sixth and is coping well with the omission of a few key personnel today as chief mechanic Guy Coulon is busy dealing with business commitments, while mechanic Steve Blackburn suffered a hip injury while cycling around the track on Wednesday.
Valentino Rossi ended the day ahead of first practice pacesetter Pol Espargaro, who was 0.755s slower than his brother this time around.
Stefan Bradl and Andrea Dovizioso completed the top ten, with the Ducati rider just 0.003s behind his LCR Honda rival.
Pos Rider Bike Time Gap Laps 1. Aleix Espargaro Forward Yamaha 1m33.653s 17 2. Marc Marquez Honda 1m33.864s +0.211s 19 3. Dani Pedrosa Honda 1m34.069s +0.416s 20 4. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 1m34.148s +0.495s 19 5. Andrea Iannone Pramac Ducati 1m34.277s +0.624s 24 6. Bradley Smith Tech 3 Yamaha 1m34.286s +0.633s 20 7. Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1m34.286s +0.633s 21 8. Pol Espargaro Tech 3 Yamaha 1m34.408s +0.755s 22 9. Stefan Bradl LCR Honda 1m34.457s +0.804s 21 10. Andrea Dovizioso Ducati 1m34.460s +0.807s 20 11. Alvaro Bautista Gresini Honda 1m34.466s +0.813s 20 12. Scott Redding Gresini Honda 1m35.445s +1.792s 16 13. Cal Crutchlow Ducati 1m35.469s +1.816s 19 14. Yonny Hernandez Pramac Ducati 1m35.537s +1.884s 17 15. Colin Edwards Forward Yamaha 1m35.590s +1.937s 20 16. Hiroshi Aoyama Aspar Honda 1m35.787s +2.134s 20 17. Nicky Hayden Aspar Honda 1m35.891s +2.238s 19 18. Karel Abraham Cardion Honda 1m35.925s +2.272s 19 19. Broc Parkes PBM Aprilia 1m36.046s +2.393s 18 20. Hector Barbera Avintia FTR-Kawasaki 1m36.270s +2.617s 19 21. Michael Laverty PBM Aprilia 1m36.280s +2.627s 19 22. Danilo Petrucci Ioda Suter-BMW 1m36.657s +3.004s 20 23. Mike di Meglio Avintia FTR-Kawasaki 1m36.724s +3.071s 17
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