Free practice 1: 2023 Assen MotoGP FP1 results and times

The sun is out at Assen – which is news in itself – and the first MotoGP free practice is now complete. A session that smiled on Marco Bezzecchi, last year’s podium-sitter dominating the opening session and stopping the clock on 1’32”246. Already an interesting time, with his closest rival, or rather Maverick Vinales, placing more than three tenths behind him.

Alex Marquez finished third, the only Marquez to be pleased considering Marc lies just 21st, working to collect data rather than focusing on all-out performance. Johann Zarco placed fourth, unhurt despite a bad crash at turn 15, followed by Fabio Quartararo, very fast despite a fracture to his left big toe.

Marini happy, Marquez holds back

It was a positive morning for Luca Marini too, the Italian followed by the first Honda, that of Takaaki Nakagami, seventh and roughly seven tenths from the front. Jorge Martin closed eighth but was nevertheless quicker than championship rival Pecco Bagnaia, just twelfth after battling with an unstable bike that caused him to abort more than one potential fast lap.

Jack Miller and Aleix Espargaró made the top ten, the Spaniard over a second from the front. Fourteenth for Fabio Di Giannantonio, followed by Miguel Oliveira – who crashed at turn 1 – and Franco Morbidelli. Enea Bastianini also went down, at turn 10, closing more than a second and a half back in seventeenth place. Lorenzo Savadori placed twentieth as he continues with the usual development work for Aprilia.