Alvaro Carpe of Red Bull KTM Ajo secured the fastest time in the opening Free Practice (FP1) session for the Moto3 Dutch Grand Prix at the Assen circuit, clocking 1 minute 40.869 seconds. Carpe finished 0.099 seconds ahead of LM-D Intact GP’s David Almansa, leading a Spanish-dominated top three that includes Maximo Quiles.
Why Spanish Riders Are Setting the Pace
The leaderboard at Assen shows a significant concentration of Spanish talent, with Alvaro Carpe, David Almansa, and Maximo Quiles locking out the top three positions. Official timing sheets confirm this trio finished within 0.298 seconds of each other. This early performance suggests they immediately found their rhythm on the technical Dutch track. While these riders lead, the competitive density—where the top five are separated by just 0.400 seconds—indicates that the weekend’s hierarchy remains fluid.
The all-time Moto3 lap record at Assen stands at 1 minute 39.703 seconds, set by Collin Veijer in 2024. Current leaders are still over a second off this pace, leaving significant room for improvement as track conditions evolve.
How Are Rookie Riders Adapting to Assen?
Rising stars Hakim Danish and Veda Pratama provided notable performances for their respective teams during the opening session. Hakim Danish, riding for A-M MSi Racing, secured 11th place with a lap time of 1 minute 41.449 seconds, trailing the leader by only 0.580 seconds. This result highlights his ability to be competitive on the technical Assen circuit. Meanwhile, Veda Pratama of Honda Team Asia finished 20th with a time of 1 minute 41.970 seconds. Despite the gap of 1.101 seconds to the front, the result can be a positive foundation for him to continue improving his performance in later sessions.
What Trends Will Define the Remainder of the Weekend?
The performance of teams like CFMOTO Aspar and Red Bull KTM Tech3 indicates that multiple teams possess competitive packages. As the weekend progresses, there is room for lap times to improve toward the record established by Veijer.
Watch the upcoming sessions to see if riders can continue to improve their times.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who set the fastest time in FP1? Alvaro Carpe of Red Bull KTM Ajo led the session with a time of 1:40.869.
- What is the current all-time lap record at Assen? Collin Veijer set the record at 1:39.703 during the 2024 season.
- How did Veda Pratama perform? Veda Pratama finished 20th, with a 1.101-second deficit to the session leader.
What are your predictions for the Dutch Grand Prix? Will the Spanish dominance hold, or can the rookies close the gap during Qualifying? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or subscribe to our newsletter for real-time race updates and technical analysis.
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