First pole of the year for Rossi

Valentino Rossi claimed his first pole position of the season at Assen after a stunning qualifying session that saw the Italian take pole from Aleix Espargaro and Marc Marquez. While Rossi had a superb day it was a disappointing one for his Yamaha teammate, Jorge Lorenzo, who qualified eighth fastest.

Dani Pedrosa was fourth fastest with Pol Espargaro having a resurrgant day with fifth and comfortably faster than his teammate, Bradley Smith.