For the second-straight round in 2019 MotoGP, Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team’s Fabio Quartararo has secured the pole position.The 20-year-old Frenchman, who claimed pole at Catalunya two weeks ago, earned his third-ever MotoGP top qualifying position Saturday at the Assen TT Circuit.Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo
And he completed the task in record style, posting a new lap record of 1:32.017secs in the second qualifying session.The rookie Yamaha YZR-M1 pilot is now the youngest rider in MotoGP history to earn back-to-back pole positions, beating the record from of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) who had consecutive poles in Silverstone and Misano in 2013.Yamaha’s Maverick VinalesJoining Quartararo on the front row for Sunday’s 26-lap Dutch TT are Monster Energy Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales, who finished 0.140 of a second back, and Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins, who finished 0.441 behind.“There’s not much to say; it’s just incredible,” says Fabio Quartararo. “Assen is one of the most legendary circuits in the World Championship, and taking pole position and breaking the track record is amazing. I’m very proud of what the team have done.“I thought it would be very difficult to beat the time in the final part of the session, but I managed two very fast laps and was able to do it. The feeling we have at this circuit, especially on the last sector, is awesome.“Both yesterday and today we worked on race pace, and I think we are good in that regard. It’s a tougher circuit than Barcelona, so my arm is suffering a bit more here, but I was able to get pole position. I’m very happy.”Suzuki’s Alex RinsHeading up row three is the current points leader, five-time MotoGP Champion Marquez. The RC213V pilot, who leads Mission Winnow Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso by 37 points finished Assen MotoGP qualifying 0.714 seconds behind Quartararo and was the final rider to post within a second of the leader.Honda’s Marc MarquezMarquez will be joined on row two by Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir and LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow.Rounding out the top 10 in qualifying were Mission Winnow Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci, LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami, Quartararo’s teammate Franco Morbidelli, and Pramac Racing Ducati’s Jack Miller.Ducati’s Andrea DoviziosoDovizioso qualified 11th and nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha) 14th.As for Repsol Honda’s Jorge Lorenzo, he will miss round eight due to facturing his back in a Friday practice crash.Yamaha’s Valentino RossiThe race gets underway at 8 a.m. ET Sunday. For television times, visit 2019 MotoGP US TV Schedule.Photos by Luciano Bianchetto
KTM RC 390 and Gordon McCall of Quail Motorcycle Gathering
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
Hello and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast—Motos and Friends.
This week’s Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha motorcycles. Discover how the YZF-R7 provides the perfect balance of rider comfort and true supersport performance by checking it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or see it for yourself at your local dealer.
This week features Senior Editor Nic de Sena’s impressions of the new KTM RC 390. The entry-level KTM has always been an impressive motorcycle that has sold extremely well, however the factory has now taken the bike to another level, with top-spec features that are typically found on flagship machines. Clearly KTM has realized that even smaller engined machines should have high spec suspension, brakes and electronics packages. Nic tells us how well the new RC 390 is equipped, and what he thought of riding the smaller displacement rocket.
In the second segment I chat with automotive and motorcycle industry icon, Gordon McCall. Gordon is the Director of Motorsports at the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel Valley, California.
This weekend of Saturday May 14th sees the annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering re-start after its Covid-forced hiatus, and having attended every one of the previous Motorcycle Gatherings, personally I’m very happy that the event is back on the schedule. Gordon chats about the event and a little of what’s happening this year. It’s a great event and if you feel like a trip to the gorgeous Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, you’ll get to meet Gordon, Roland Sands, and of course a large number of stunning motorcycles too.
From all of us at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!