Assen Moto3: a tough race finished in the points

Friday, June 27th

Cold and rain mark the beginning of the Dutch weekend, with FP1 taking place on a wet track that gradually improves. Despite challenging conditions, the circuit doesn’t dry enough to allow the use of slick tires.
The riders alternate in the top positions, taking advantage of the improving track and refining their feel with the bike. However, with just minutes left in the session, Riccardo Rossi suffers a violent highside caused by an oil spill left on the track by another rider. Taken to the medical center, he fortunately avoids significant injuries, sustaining only a minor knock and remaining ready to continue the weekend.
The session is halted with a red flag as other riders also crash in various areas due to the same issue. Meanwhile, Nicola Carraro proves competitive despite the adverse conditions, finishing just outside the Top 10.

Riccardo returns to the track in top form, determined to secure direct access to Q2—a goal shared by Nicola and the team. Meanwhile, the track has dried, allowing for significant improvements in performance and lap times.
The session proves competitive from the start, with a fast pace and constant position changes. The decisive laps come in the final five minutes, where both Riccardo and Nicola achieve their target: Riccardo finishes 10th, followed closely by Nicola in 12th.

Saturday, June 28th

FP2 was dedicated to testing some adjustments in preparation for qualifying.
Nicola Carraro initially managed to clock some promising fast laps, but traffic on the track complicated further significant time attack attempts.
For Riccardo Rossi, the team opted to revert to the solutions used the previous day, while Carraro continued fine-tuning adjustments until the session’s conclusion.

With a direct entry into Q2 on Friday, the focus shifts straight to the battle for pole position. Fast lap times take a bit to materialize, with the initial minutes seeing the riders slightly further down the standings. After the tire change, both Rossi and Carraro manage to step up their performance and climb the rankings.
Despite the usual traffic on track in the final minutes, both riders find enough space to avoid significant slowdowns, securing the 11th and 12th grid positions for the race.

Sunday, June 29th

Good start for Rossi and Carraro, both managing to gain positions on the opening lap while attempting to stay in the slipstream of the leaders. However, on the second lap, Rossi is struck hard by another rider, forcing him wide and losing several positions, leaving him with a potentially difficult comeback ahead.

Carraro, meanwhile, remains in the leading group, where chaos ensues turn after turn in a fierce battle among multiple riders. Rossi capitalizes on others' mistakes to climb back up the standings, although the gap to the front group widens slightly.
Midway through the race, Carraro clocks a fast lap, continuing to fight determinedly in the lead group. However, five laps from the end, he is involved in a collision with another rider, forcing him to retire without any physical consequences.

Rossi finds his best rhythm in the final laps, recovering positions to finish 14th and secure 2 points. A red flag brings the race to an early end just a few corners short, preventing Riccardo from making one more overtaking move.

Comments

Nicola Carraro reflects on his race:
“The race started well, but I struggled a bit after a few laps as the group partially broke apart. While trying to catch up with the leaders, I had a collision with another rider that ended our GP. Now, we’ll take a week off to rest and come back ready to perform well at the next race.”

Riccardo Rossi expresses his disappointment at not being able to fight in the lead group:
“It was a good weekend overall because I felt fast and got off to a good start in the race. I’m disappointed because at Turn 7, I was forced wide, which prevented me from quickly rejoining the group, and I lost touch with the leaders. By the end of the race, I managed to put in some particularly fast laps, but there wasn’t enough time to catch up with the riders ahead. Now, we’re already focusing on the next race because the team and I are working in the right direction.”