Miller quickest in wet-to-drying FP2 at Red Bull Ring

2020 Austrian MotoGP - Free Practice Results (2)

Jack Miller topped the timesheets in a quiet second free practice for the Austrian MotoGP as the anticipated wet weather descended on the Red Bull Ring on time to keeping running to a minimum.

Starting off in full wet conditions, outings were restricted to some sporadic exploratory laps with only Miguel Oliveira and Aleix Espargaro going as far as to completing proper lap times coming up to ten minutes remaining.

However, by that time the circuit was beginning to dry quickly – albeit still slick – with only the tricky Turn 4 downhill right-hander left with damp patches at the end of the session.

As such, a flurry of activity saw riders pop up on the timing screens with Pramac Ducati’s Miller pounding round to emerge at the head of the timesheets, seeing off the two Tech 3 KTMs of Iker Lecuona and Miguel Oliveira in second and third positions.

With a broad spread of lap times up and down the order, Alex Rins posted the fourth best time for Suzuki, ahead of Johann Zarco, Joan Mir and Alex Marquez.

Yamaha duo Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi followed up in eighth and ninth positions, with Stefan Bradl completing the top ten on the second of the Repsol Hondas.

In all, only 17 of the 21 riders ventured on track to clock a time with Ducati pair Michele Pirro and Andrea Dovizioso, plus KTM duo Brad Binder and Pol Espargaro opting against venturing out on track.

FP2’s rain thus places more emphasis on the dry times achieved in FP1, which was topped by Espargaro, followed by Dovizioso and Mir.

With rain predicted for Saturday, it remains be seen whether those currently outside the top ten will be able to make necessary improvements to squeeze into the afternoon’s Q2 session.