Austrian MotoGP, Red Bull Ring - Free Practice (2) Results
Iker Lecuona fastest on a drying track during Free Practice 2 for the Austrian MotoGP, the second of the back-to-back events at the Red Bull Ring.
A huge rain storm just before the start of the session meant all of the dry morning times, led by Johann Zarco's new lap record, remained unbeaten this afternoon.
The track slowly dried throughout the session, but it took until the final ten minutes before anyone tried slicks.
Lecuona had been quickest on the fully wet track, with Jack Miller and Pol Espargaro taking over in the middle stages. Marc Marquez then went fastest, forcing Joan Mir wide in the process, before Lecuona was first to roll-out the dry rubber.
The Tech3 KTM rider, without a seat next season, went fastest with 3mins to go - prompting Miller to join him on slicks. However the Australian was unable to rise any higher than sixth.
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.'
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 (2) Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | 1'27.520s | 24/24 | 304k |
| 2 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +3.397s | 20/20 | 309k |
| 3 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +3.717s | 14/14 | 303k |
| 4 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +3.833s | 15/17 | 303k |
| 5 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +4.292s | 17/17 | 306k |
| 6 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +4.441s | 17/17 | 303k |
| 7 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +4.670s | 16/19 | 305k |
| 8 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +4.884s | 11/12 | 307k |
| 9 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +5.264s | 19/20 | 296k |
| 10 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +5.799s | 22/22 | 304k |
| 11 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +5.888s | 17/19 | 301k |
| 12 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +6.016s | 16/16 | 301k |
| 13 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +6.127s | 7/13 | 304k |
| 14 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +6.431s | 11/11 | 298k |
| 15 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +6.977s | 10/12 | 291k |
| 16 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +7.177s | 13/17 | 292k |
| 17 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +7.181s | 14/16 | 295k |
| 18 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +7.234s | 10/12 | 298k |
| 19 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +7.787s | 8/16 | 297k |
| 20 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +8.102s | 7/10 | 293k |
* Rookie
| Top 10 Combined Practice Times: | |||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team |
| 1 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) |
| 2 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) |
| 3 | Alex Rins | ESP | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) |
| 4 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) |
| 5 | Aleix Espargaro | ESP | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) |
| 6 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 7 | Alex Marquez | ESP | LCR Honda (RC213V) |
| 8 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) |
| 9 | Marc Marquez | ESP | Repsol Honda (RC213V) |
| 10 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* |
Official Red Bull Ring MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Johann Zarco FRA Ducati 1m 22.827s (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.
