Dani Pedrosa set a new qualifying record to edge out Honda teammate and defending world champion Marc Marquez on the opening day of practice for tomorrow's Dutch Grand Prix.
Pedrosa shrugged off temperatures close to 40C to clock 1min 33.45sec to beat Marquez's previous mark at a track present in world championship motorcycling since 1949.
Yamaha's championship leader Valentino Rossi was third fastest, 0.202sec off Pedrosa's pace.
Rossi is bidding to win at Assen for the seventh time and break the tie for six he currently holds with legendary Italian compatriot Giacomo Agostini.
"It has been good. I'm happy because we worked well during the sessions and we found some interesting solutions," said Rossi.