A masterpiece from the rider from Rimini, who left Alex and Pecco’s Ducatis behind on the “friendly circuit” of the Red Bull Ring. Behind Martin and Marini, the Yamahas struggled
Surprise at the Red Bull Ring: Marco Bezzecchi takes pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix with a time of 1’28”060. An unexpected result considering Friday’s difficulties and having to go through Q1. The Aprilia rider is 16 thousandths of a second ahead of Alex Marquez (Gresini). A good qualifying session also for Francesco Bagnaia, who will start from third on the grid. Marc Marquez disappoints: the MotoGP World Championship leader ruins everything with a crash on his final attempt, just as happened in Brno a month ago. Thus, the Ducati rider will have to start from fourth place on the grid.
A solid fifth place for Enea Bastianini, who appears to be making great strides. The Tech3 KTM rider is followed by Fermin Aldeguer, who rounds out the second row. Seventh is Pedro Acosta, who pulled off a miraculous save at the penultimate braking point. Eighth is Franco Morbidelli, ahead of Raul Fernandez and Joan Mir. Brad Binder struggles, finishing only eleventh. Johann Zarco ends his qualifying session with the twelfth-fastest time, penalized by a crash during his first timed lap.
promoted from Q1— The first phase of qualifying had rewarded Bastianini and Bezzecchi, who clearly warmed up well given the final result. There is no shortage of notable eliminations, starting with Jorge Martin: the defending champion will start from fourteenth on the grid, preceded by Luca Marini (Honda). Fabio Di Giannantonio is fifteenth. For now, the Red Bull Ring has rejected all Yamahas: the best rider for the Japanese brand is Fabio Quartararo, sixteenth and, for the first time this season, not admitted to Q2. The weekend is over for Maverick Vinales. The Spaniard, still suffering from pain in his injured left shoulder, did not take to the track during qualifying. After a medical examination, the official withdrawal was confirmed.
MotoGP Austria grid— Here’s the starting lineup for the MotoGP Sprint and Grand Prix in Brno
- Bezzecchi (Ita/Aprilia); A. Marquez (Spa/Gresini Ducati); Bagnaia (Ita/Ducati)
- M. Marquez (Spa/Ducati); Bastianini (Ita/Tech3 KTM); Aldeguer (Spa/Gresini Ducati)
- Acosta (Spa/KTM); Morbidelli (Ita/VR46 Ducati); R. Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia)
- Mir (Spa/Honda); Binder (Saf/KTM); Zarco (Fra/LCR Honda)
- Marini (Ita/Honda); Martin (Spa/Aprilia); Di Giannantonio (Ita/VR46 Ducati)
- Quartararo (Fra/Yamaha); Rins (Spa/Yamaha); Oliveira (Por/Pramac Yamaha)
- Ogura (Jap/Trackhouse Aprilia); Miller (Aus/Pramac Yamaha)
