Pedro Acosta is out of Q2 in MotoGP and Ogura and Rueda were the fastest in Moto2 and Moto3
Italian rider Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) was the fastest on Friday in MotoGP Practice for the Austrian Grand Prix, the eleventh round of the World Championship, in a session completely dominated by Ducatis, while Japanese rider Ai Ogura was the best in Moto2 and Spaniard José Antonio Rueda, with a ‘local’ KTM, was the fastest in the smaller Moto3 category.
On the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, which is a short and fast track with just 11 corners, the Ducatis were expected to dominate, and they did so more than expected, with 7 of their 8 bikes in the ‘Top 10’ that gives access to Q2 on Saturday, with just one KTM, the Austrian bike that is racing at home, and two Aprilias in those privileged positions.
‘Pecco’ Bagnaia, the reigning world champion, is in a tense tug-of-war with the Spaniard Jorge Martín (Ducati), who is now the leader of the championship again with just 3 points ahead of the Italian. And he hopes to emerge from Austria as leader, but to do so he will have to finish ahead of the ‘1’ and, this Friday, he was third just over three tenths behind.
The Italian is not going fast, he is flying. One lap after the end of practice, he showed that he is almost unbeatable by clocking a 1:28.508, which is the new absolute record for the Spielberg track. The second-placed driver, Franco Morbidelli, who took advantage of his teammate ‘Martinator’s’ wheel, clocked a 1:28.789.
The weekend is looking good for Ducati, with Bagnaia, Morbidelli, Martín and Marc Márquez – fourth and in a very good session, despite a long session without a crash – dominating and occupying the top positions. In fifth place, the first non-Ducati, is the official KTM of Brad Binder who achieved his best time with the chequered flag.
A final great lap for the South African, who nevertheless knocked out GasGas (KTM satellite) Spaniard Pedro Acosta from Q2, who had a Friday to forget. Or one to improve. He crashed three times, one of them in Practice, and had to change bikes.
A similar situation was experienced by guest rider Pol Espargaró, who rode fast in the morning on the KTM but was unable to finish practice due to problems, as confirmed to DAZN by KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa, both of whom are commentators on the platform.
The two official Aprilias of Aleix Espargaró, seventh despite suffering quite a bit on Friday, and Maverick Viñales, eighth and very close to his still ‘Capitano’, will be in the final fight for pole position. The only Ducati bike left out of Q2 is Fabio di Giannantonio’s, who crashed in the last session.
SURPRISES IN MOTO2 AND MOTO3
In Moto2, title contender Ai Ogura was the fastest. The Japanese rider clocked a good 1:33.943 with which he finished the day at the top of the timesheets, 152 thousandths of a second ahead of Spaniard Arón Canet and fellow Spaniard Manuel González, who was third. Championship leader Sergio García was eighth.
And there were surprises in Moto3 as well, with local KTM rider José Antonio Rueda, eighth in the championship, leading with a time of 1:40.171 ahead of leader David Alonso, 51 thousandths of a second slower. Dutchman Collin Veijer improved to set the third fastest time, with Spanish title contenders Iván Ortolá and Dani Holgado in sixth and ninth position.