---
title: "Dovizioso takes pole in wet Assen qualifying"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/06/25/dovizioso-takes-pole-wet-assen-qualifying/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Murray"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2016-06-25T13:29:38Z"
modified: "2016-06-25T13:29:38Z"
---

# Dovizioso takes pole in wet Assen qualifying

Andrea Dovizioso has taken pole in a wet MotoGP qualifying session at the Assen TT Circuit.

Dovizioso took the lead with his seventh and final lap of the session, with the Ducati rider having a 0.715 second lead over the rest of the field. Valentino Rossi will start second on the grid, with Scott Redding achieving his first ever MotoGP front row start in third.

Q1 saw Pol Espargaro and Yonny Hernandez make it through to Q2. Notable casualties included Bradley Smith and Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa, who has looked off the pace all weekend.

There were two early fallers in the session. On his out lap, Maverick Vinales fell at a very low speed but was able to quickly return to the garage. He was able to set a time, but it would only put him in twelfth position. Marc Marquez also fell whilst attempting his first flying lap, but was able to borrow a scooter from a photographer and quickly get back to the Repsol Honda garage.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2016/06/542768202.jpg)

Pol Espargaro stayed at the top of the timesheets for the majority of the session. However, with the track drying out, times started to change as qualifying drew to a close. Dovizioso was able to take it at the death, with Rossi and Redding also in the same group. Rossi looked pleased with the result, but Scott Redding will be very happy with his first front row start.

Marquez was able to remount and finish fourth, closely followed by fellow Honda rider Cal Crutchlow. Yonny Hernandez managed to finish the session in sixth, which equals his best ever starting position.

Pol and Aleix Espargaro finished in seventh and eighth position respectively, after Pol managed to make it through from Q1. Andrea Iannone ended the session in ninth. However, he will of course start from the back of the grid thanks to the penalty he acquired last time out at Catalunya.

Petrucci ended the session in tenth and Jorge Lorenzo ended the day in eleventh. Jorge has again been off the pace at Assen, with the memories of 2013 possibly still haunting the three-time world champion.

With conditions for tomorrow’s race again expected to be wet, these qualifying positions may become even more important. The race will get underway in Assen at 13:00 BST tomorrow.