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| Marc Marquez Crashes Hard in FP1 But Dominates Practice at Dutch MotoGP 2025 with Fastest Time on Ducati. |
Assen, Netherlands – MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez once again proved his resilience and skill after surviving a dramatic crash during Free Practice 1 (FP1) at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix in Assen. Despite the heavy fall early in the session, the factory Ducati rider bounced back to finish as the fastest rider.
Early Crash in Turn 15 Fails to Stop Marquez’s Momentum
Marquez arrived in Assen full of confidence, coming off two flawless race weekends at Aragon and Mugello — where he claimed pole position, sprint race wins, and main race victories.
However, his strong form was briefly interrupted during FP1 when he lost control of his Ducati in the fast left-hand Turn 15, sending him flying into the gravel trap. His left hand and arm took a significant hit, prompting a quick check-up from the MotoGP medical team.
Luckily, the injury wasn’t serious. Marquez returned to the track with about 19 minutes left in the 45-minute session.
Back on the Bike and Straight to the Top
Wasting no time, Marquez quickly began to lay down competitive lap times. With a fresh medium rear tire, he clocked a session-topping lap of 1:32.216, showing no signs of hesitation.
Maverick Vinales, riding for Tech3 KTM, was second fastest, just 0.313s behind Marquez. Impressively, Vinales set his best time on a 20-lap-old medium rear, showcasing both pace and consistency.
Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia took third with a 1:32.570, while last year’s Dutch GP winner, Francesco Bagnaia, finished fourth with 1:32.609.
Championship Implications and Top Riders’ Performance
Marquez’s early dominance further solidifies his position at the top of the championship, where he currently holds a 40-point lead. His Ducati teammate, Bagnaia, now trails by a massive 110 points.
Bagnaia had briefly led FP1 and looked more confident on the bike than during last week’s Italian GP, suggesting possible improvements in setup or form.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati) came in fifth, with Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) completing the top six.
Alex Marquez, Marc’s younger brother and closest title challenger, placed seventh on his Gresini Ducati, followed by Johann Zarco (LCR Honda), Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini), and Alex Rins (factory Yamaha) in the top ten.
Aldeguer nearly suffered a major crash in Turn 12 after a violent rear slide but managed to avoid falling.
Pedro Acosta was the next fastest KTM in 11th, while Brad Binder had a tough session, down in 20th.
Espargaro Returns, Rookie Chantra at the Back
Aleix Espargaro, standing in for Luca Marini at Honda this weekend, returned to MotoGP action for the first time since May and finished 21st. He ended the session about half a second ahead of rookie Somkiat Chantra (LCR Honda), who was last.
FP1 Delay Doesn’t Dampen Spirits in Assen
FP1 was delayed by nearly an hour due to a fluid spill at the end of the Moto3 session. However, the full hour-long official Practice session remains scheduled for 2:00 PM BST later in the day.
Marquez Shows Why He’s the Title Favorite
Despite the early scare, Marc Marquez showed why he’s the rider to beat in the 2025 season. His ability to recover from a crash and still set the fastest lap underlines his unmatched form on the Ducati Desmosedici GP25.
With Bagnaia, Vinales, and Bezzecchi hot on his heels, this year’s Dutch Grand Prix is shaping up to be one of the most competitive rounds in the 2025 MotoGP World Championship.
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