MotoGP Assen: Jack Miller fastest in wet FP1 as turn one causes havoc

Jack Miller dominates a wet and treacherous opening MotoGP practice in Assen, while fellow Ducati riders Marco Bezzecchi and Enea Bastianini suffer fast crashes at turn one.
Jack Miller, Ducati MotoGP Assen
Jack Miller, Ducati MotoGP Assen

Despite it being tricky conditions for the start of FP1, riders imꦑmediately headed out on track to access grip levels.

Spray was an obvious concern, how♏ever, factory Ducati rider Jack Miller♓ was unfazed by following Fabio Quartararo as he went on to set the fastest time. 

Wh♊ile fast, Miller was the first rider to make a mistᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚake at turn one as he ran off track, nearly collecting Fabio Quartararo in the process. 

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Joan Mir was next to go wide, with the Spaniard making an even bi♋gger mistake than Miller as he ran into the gravel. 

With Mir using his motocross skills to stay upright, the Suzuki rider managed to get away with his error, something Marco Bezzecchi was unable to do. The MotoGP rookie went down at t꧅urn one in what♕ was the first crash of the session. 

While Miller regrouped from his early mistake to go 1.3 seconds clear of Quartararo, Enea Bastianini became theꦡ next crasher at turn one.

The three-time race winne🧜r in 2022 lost the front under braking before sliding through the gravel at a serious pace. His Gresini machine wa𒈔s completely wrecked and far from a collector’s item. 

With track conditions very much on the limit, Maverick Vinales running off track at turn one proved that red ꦫflags could and perhaps should have been deployed. 

Maverick Vinales, Dutch MotoGP, 24 June
Maverick Vinales, Dutch MotoGP, 24 June

Johann Zarco wasꦑ the only rider who could get close to Miller’s top time with just under half the session remaining, but even in going second, his Pramac Ducati was sliding and losing traction r꧂epeatedly. 

After putting together his best race for Aprilia befo🌳re ride-height issues cost him a potential podium in Sachsenring, Vinales 🐻continued his strong form by going third fastest with just over ten minutes to go. 

Jorge Martin briefly got the better of Vinales in order to make 🥃it a Ducati 1-2-3, however, the ex-Yamaha rider responded by going quickest overall. 

Pol Espargaro and Honda put up a late fight during MotoGP Assen FP1

As lap times continued to impro♍ve, Pol Espargaro suddenly bolted up the order to go fastest for Honda.  

Pol Espargaro, Dutch MotoGP, 24 June
Pol Espargaro, Dutch MotoGP, 24 June

Determined to end FP1 theꦰ way hꦿe started it - Miller went back to the top of the leaderboard after setting a time of 1:43.069s - +0.047s clear of Alex Rins. 

Espargaro regained top spot from Miller momentarily, but the Australian was hav🍸ing none of it as he thenꦑ went three tenths faster, before Mir jumped up to P2. 

The top three remained unchanged through to the checkered flag, although Alex Marquez went P4 aboard his LCR Hondaꦡ machine.

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