MotoGP Assen 2016: For the first time since the Dutch TT began its role as the longest running motorcycle Grand Prix event in 1949, the MotoGP race at Assen will be held on Sunday instead of its traditional Saturday. The crowd for FP3-4 and Qualifying was great, noticeable larger than we used to get when this second day of the weekend was held on Friday. A large crowd is expected today as well, so this new format should serve the Assen circuit nicely, even while it upsets the purists who dislike the change in tradition. Below, a selection of images from the first two days here at this fantastic circuit, the self-proclaimed Cathedral of Speed.

With Andrea Iannone the fastest man on track for the Friday practices, he received a lot of attention from Valentino Rossi, and the two riders seemed usually, if not always, to be riding around together.

Scott Redding had a great qualifying performance ahead of him.

Iannone couldn’t deliver in the wet qualifying conditions, ending the session over two seconds off pole position.

Bradley Smith also struggled with the over-hard Michelin front rain tire, but should be more competitive if Sunday is dry. The same could be said about many riders.

Maverick Vinales

Marc Marquez

Jorge Lorenzo

But Andrea Dovizioso made the most of the drying track and claimed pole position for Ducati, and by over seven tenths of a second.

More from MotoGP Assen 2016 on the next page: