Austrian MotoGP, Red Bull Ring - Free Practice (1) Results
Johann Zarco - team-mate to last Sunday's winner Jorge Martin - set a new lap record to lead opening practice for the Austrian MotoGP, the second of the back-to-back events at the Red Bull Ring.
Countryman and title leader Fabio Quartararo, currently 40-points clear of Zarco in the standings, finished the session with a technical problem.
Maverick Vinales has been suspended from this weekend's race by Yamaha 'due to the unexplained irregular operation of the motorcycle' during last Sunday's Styria MotoGP, rumoured to mean deliberate over-revving of the bike: 'The rider's actions could have potentially caused significant damage to the engine... which could have caused serious risks to himself and possibly other riders.'
Vinales, wearing his usual team clothing, was watching FP1 from trackside.
Michelin has changed the hard front tyre option after an issue for Miguel Oliveira in Sunday's Styrian race.
Cal Crutchlow is making the second of three planned appearances as a replacement for the injured Franco Morbidelli at Petronas Yamaha.
Aprilia's Lorenzo Savadori is absent due to an ankle injury in last Sunday's fiery accident with Dani Pedrosa.
The back-to-back Austrian events are the first since the start of the Covid pandemic without special restrictions in place for spectator numbers.
A chicane will be added to slow down the fast Turn 2 kink next season...
| Austrian MotoGP, Red Bull Ring - Free Practice (1) Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | 1'22.827s | 21/22 | 317k |
| 2 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.798s | 19/20 | 310k |
| 3 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.903s | 20/22 | 309k |
| 4 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.963s | 20/21 | 314k |
| 5 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +1.014s | 15/16 | 314k |
| 6 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.038s | 6/21 | 308k |
| 7 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.054s | 18/20 | 316k |
| 8 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +1.076s | 12/23 | 317k |
| 9 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +1.140s | 4/22 | 313k |
| 10 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +1.217s | 17/21 | 314k |
| 11 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +1.270s | 5/22 | 318k |
| 12 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.410s | 5/22 | 315k |
| 13 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.503s | 5/23 | 313k |
| 14 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.508s | 21/23 | 309k |
| 15 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.520s | 6/22 | 309k |
| 16 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.665s | 6/24 | 316k |
| 17 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +1.701s | 5/22 | 317k |
| 18 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.928s | 4/21 | 307k |
| 19 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.965s | 4/21 | 308k |
| 20 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +2.468s | 5/21 | 305k |
* Rookie
Official Red Bull Ring MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Jorge Martin SPA Ducati 1m 22.994s (2021)
Fastest race lap:
Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati 1m 23.827s (2019)
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
