Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso left his best lap until last, and a 1’33.308 was good enough to dethrone Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez from the top of the timing-screens during the final timed MotoGP practice session in Assen.
The Italian gained an extra three tenths over the former champion, with Marquez having to settle for P2 after a 1’33.336. But the Honda man did have an epic save onboard his bike after he experienced a front wheel lock up coming out of the home straight and did well to stay on the RC213V.
Iannone’s fastest time from yesterday’s second free practice session looked unbeatable, but with four minutes remaining Rossi gained three tenths on his fellow countryman’s time, and the Ducati racer was not able to better his FP2 time from Friday. Rossi did improve to lap a 1’33.408, but he was pulled down to fourth as Vinales went 0.1 seconds faster than his 2017 team-mate.
LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow was as high as third fastest overall, with a quick 1’33.611, but even though other riders went quicker he still ended the morning well inside a qualifying two spot in sixth on the sheets, followed by an improving Scott Redding.
The Englishman was only 0.08 seconds slower than Crutchlow and also secured his Q2 position. Petrucci, Aleix Espargaro and Movistar Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo completed the top ten.
It was predicated to rain during the session, but it remained dry. There were a few rider’s who were caught out by the cooler conditions including the reigning champion, Lorenzo. With just over 30 minutes left to FP3 he fell at turn 7 and swiftly retreated to the pits to jump on another bike, but he managed to hold on to avoid Q1.
Ten minutes after Lorenzo’s fall, Monster Yamaha’s Pol Espargaro crashed in exactly the same place, but like the Spaniard was able to walk away from the incident.
On the eight minute mark Eugene Laverty also crashed, but this time at the Geer Timmer Bocht chicane and will have to battle it out in qualifying one. Joining Laverty in Q1 is Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa and Monster Yamaha’s Bradley Smith.