Set back during the first session in the wet, Bagnaia took advantage of the dry track during the second session in the afternoon to get ahead of the Spaniard Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia, +178/1000th) and the French Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha , +305/1000e), respectively 2nd and leader of the championship.

Favorite after two victories in a row and on a circuit where he won last year, Quartararo "preferred not to push to the maximum" in the rain, far from being the weather he prefers.

"I even saw it a little bit dangerous, well not dangerous but I didn't want to put myself in the red from the first session", noted the driver who then had "good feelings" and thinks he can "fight for a good result" on Sunday.

Zarco votes for the rain

Jack Miller (Ducati) initially dominated the morning session, but his time didn't last long and the Australian finished 5th in a much faster second hour of testing on a warm tarmac.

Third in the championship before this 11th round out of 20, the Frenchman Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac) provided the essentials by placing 9th.

The unstable weather in Assen, the "cathedral" of motorcycle speed, will again be carefully scrutinized on Saturday before the third practice session (from 09:55).

Importantly, it is after this that the ten best combined times of the tests pass directly into the second part of the qualifications.

Frenchman Johann Zarco riding his Ducati during Dutch GP testing at the Assen circuit on June 24, 2022 Vincent Jannink ANP / AFP

For drivers beyond 10th place in practice, there will still be Q1 (2:10 p.m.) to hope to take one of the two best times and be drafted in Q2 (2:35 p.m.).

"I'm staying in the game no matter the conditions tomorrow (Saturday)," Zarco said, then summarizing the possible Saturday morning scenarios: "If it's raining, Q2 is guaranteed, if it's dry, everyone will improve" and everything will have to be redone.

"Having somewhat tricky conditions like that physically saves money, and that's not so bad," continued the rider, who will turn 32 in July, explaining that he is "very competitive" and to have "more margin to win here in Assen in the wet".

"Otherwise in the dry, there will be Fabio and Pecco (Bagnaia), a bit angry about the fall on the Sachsenring (the Italian fell last week when he was in pole position at the Grand Prix of Germany, editor's note)", he warned.

© 2022 AFP