MotoGP 2017: Zarco takes maiden pole for Dutch TT at Assen

French rookie Johan Zarco clinches Dutch Grand Prix pole in the last minute, ahead of Marc Marquez and Danilo Petrucci.

Ever since his entry into the premier class of motorcycle racing, Johan Zarco has been touted the rookie sensation of 2017 MotoGP season. And today Zarco proved his worth as he bagged his first ever pole in MotoGP in the wet and tricky conditions at Assen. Zarco will be joined by Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez (2nd) and Octo Pramac Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci (3rd) on the front grid.

Because of the continuous downpours at Assen, all the practice sessions were done in the wet with riders shuffling the top spots among themselves. In the final 15 minute shootout, though, Petrucci looked the strongest as he kept on posting the fastest lap times consistently. Marquez was the only one who challenged Petrucci once or twice, while Valentino Rossi, too, tried to get in the mix. However, towards the end of the session, the track was starting to dry up, and as a result, lap times started tumbling. Petrucci was on provisional pole in the last minute, but a last minute flyer from Zarco put him on the top of the timesheet. Marquez was also able to get the better of Petrucci in the last minute and displaced him to third spot on the grid.

While Rossi looked stronger, he could only manage to be fourth fastest. The Italian will be joined by Scott Redding (5th) and Jonas Folger (6th) on the second row. Alvaro Bautista will be leading the third row in 7th and he will be joined by Cal Crutchlow in 8th and last two races winner, Andrea Dovizioso, in 9th. Sam Lowes rounded out the top ten.

Championship leader Marverick Vinales of Movistar Yamaha will be starting in 11th tomorrow, where he will be joined by the Repsol Honda of Dani Pedrosa in 12th. Jorge Lorenzo failed to make it through Q1 and will be starting from 21st spot on the grid.