Austrian MotoGP, Red Bull Ring - Free Practice (4) Results
Johann Zarco stays fastest during final practice for the Austrian MotoGP at the Red Bull Ring, ahead of an impressive lap by rookie Enea Bastianini and Suzuki's reigning world champion Joan Mir.
Marc Marquez and last sunday's winner Jorge Martin were among those to fall without harm.
Qualifying 1, for those outside the top ten after third free practice, will now get underway.
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 (4) Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | 1'24.037s | 5/13 | 313k |
| 2 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +0.120s | 5/15 | 315k |
| 3 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.128s | 13/17 | 309k |
| 4 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.165s | 12/15 | 310k |
| 5 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.181s | 5/15 | 306k |
| 6 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.265s | 3/17 | 311k |
| 7 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.285s | 4/16 | 310k |
| 8 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.318s | 15/15 | 315k |
| 9 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +0.331s | 5/10 | 316k |
| 10 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.380s | 4/17 | 316k |
| 11 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.405s | 7/16 | 314k |
| 12 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.415s | 11/18 | 311k |
| 13 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.448s | 4/18 | 312k |
| 14 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.547s | 5/18 | 311k |
| 15 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.605s | 7/18 | 317k |
| 16 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.612s | 17/17 | 306k |
| 17 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.656s | 4/17 | 309k |
| 18 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +0.712s | 13/15 | 311k |
| 19 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.782s | 7/15 | 303k |
| 20 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.109s | 3/14 | 305k |
* Rookie
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.
