Dutch motogp: Yamaha’s Rossi on pole in Assen
Rossi is bidding this weekend to win at Assen for the seventh time. PHOTO: REUTERS
World championship leader Valentino Rossi will start on pole position at Saturday’s Dutch MotoGP in Assen after recording the fastest time in qualifying on Friday.
The Italian, on a Yamaha, edged out Spanish duo Aleix Espargaro (Suzuki) and Marc Marquez (Honda). Rossi is bidding this weekend to win at Assen for the seventh time and break the tie for six victories he currently holds with legendary Italian compatriot Giacomo Agostini. He had earlier been the fastest in practice, beating the lap record set by Dani Pedrosa on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Dutch round of the MotoGP championship will break with tradition by switching from Saturday to a Sunday slot from next season out of financial necessity, said local organisers.
The Tourist Trophy at Assen is the only round of the championship to be held on a Saturday and is the oldest race on the calendar, dating back to 1925 and held every year since then with the exception of World War Two.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2015.