Photo: motogp.com
MotoGP

Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) made a last minute lunge to take the top spot in FP3, in a session that saw the top sixteen separated by just under a second.

As always with FP3, in the last fifteen minutes everyone is on track and fighting for a top ten space which will give them direct entry into Q2. The top spot was constantly changing, but Marquez swooped in at the last second to take it from Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), who had put in a stunning lap.

By far the biggest surprise of the session was seeing Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) ending the session in third after shooting up the times from twenty second. He's struggled all season after making the switch from Ducati to Suzuki, and has constantly been coming under fire for his attitude and the fact that his team mate, Alex Rins, has been faster than him in most sessions.

Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) was the top Ducati in fourth, and will go straight through to Q2. But there will be some big names in the first qualifying session, most notably Dani Pedrosa who has looked good all weekend and has finished in third in both FP1 and FP2. He'll have to battle with the likes of Danilo Petrucci (OCTO Pramac Racing), Jonas Folger (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Hector Barbera (Reale Avintia Racing), who topped FP1.

Top ten:

  1. Marc Marquez- Repsol Honda Team - 1:23.459
  2. Johann Zarco- Monster Yamaha Tech 3 +0.423
  3. Andrea Iannone- Team Suzuki Ecstar +0.484
  4. Jorge Lorenzo- Ducati Team +0.509
  5. Valentino Rossi- Movistar Yamaha MotoGP +0.536
  6. Andrea Dovizioso- Ducati Team +0.590
  7. Maverick Viñales- Movistar Yamaha MotoGP +0.638
  8. Loris Baz- Reale Avintia Racing +0.650
  9. Karel Abraham- Pull&Bear Aspar Team +0.723
  10. Cal Crutchlow- LCR Honda +0.731

 

Into Q1:

  • Scott Redding - OCTO Pramac Racing
  • Danilo Petrucci - OCTO Pramac Racing
  • Jonas Folger - Monster Yamaha Tech 3
  • Hector Barbera - Reale Avintia Racing
  • Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda Team
  • Alvaro Bautista - Pull&Bear Aspar Team
  • Mika Kallio - Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
  • Aleix Espargaro - Aprilia Racing Team Gresini
  • Pol Espargaro - Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
  • Alex Rins - Team Suzuki Ecstar
  • Jack Miller - EG 0,0 Marc VDS
  • Tito Rabat - EG 0,0 Marc VDS
  • Sam Lowes - Aprilia Racing Team Gresini
  • Bradley Smith - Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

 

MotoGP

Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi had a more difficult Day 1 at the Red Bull Ring, ending track action in P13 on combined times and not feeling well.

That leaves the 'Doctor' in the danger zone for having to go through Q1 if the weather worsens once again for FP3, but there were some positive improvements with the bike.

In addition, the number 46 has a good record at the track, and was the only man to challenge the Ducatis in qualifying last year. He'll want to try and do the same on Saturday - but has some work to do to get back up to the front.

"It wasn't a very good day, we had some problems and it was a difficult practice." Said Rossi "Also, when I woke up this morning I didn’t feel very well; I didn’t have energy and I feel like I have the flu, so this morning was difficult."

"This afternoon, my position was not in the Top 10 which was the target, but we improved the bike and the feeling, but still we are not strong and need to make some other modifications to try and be faster, however we are all close, and tomorrow we have a lot of things to try."

"At this track, braking is very important but also acceleration, I suffered with this because the wheel span too much and I lost time." Added the Doctor

"Also, last year in Sector 3 I was strong but this year I am very bad because of the balance of the bike. For tomorrow, we will try something different."

source: motogp.com

Photo: motogp.com
MotoGP

Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

It's been a while since we've seen Enea Bastianini (Estrella Galicia 0,0) at the top of a session. But today, on a fully dry track, he made his return to the top on his final lap of the session. pushing Joan Mir (Leopard Racing), who won at the track last year down to second. 

Philipp Oettl (Südmetall Schedl GP Racing) gave a solid performance and briefly led the way, before being pushed down to third, from Brno pole man Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Racing Team) and Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo).

 

Top ten:

1. Enea Bastianini - (Estrella Galicia 0,0) – 1:36.829
2. Joan Mir - (Leopard Racing) – +0.021
3. Philipp Oettl - (Sudmetall Schedl GP Racing) - +0.075
4. Gabriel Rodrigo – (RBA BOE Racing Team) - +0.077
5. Bo Bendsneyder - (Red Bull KTM Ajo) - +0.149
6. Adam Norrodin - (SIC Racing Team) - +0.183
7. Romano Fenati - (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers) - +0.186
8. Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) - +0.300
9. Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) - +0.317
10. Andrea Migno (Sky Racing Team VR46) - +0.320

MotoGP

Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

Until a final charge from Andrea Dovizioso at the end of FP2, Movistar Yamaha rider Maverick Viñales looked poised to pull out a surprise on Friday in the Austrian GP by going quickest.

After being deposed late on, the Spaniard was instead second - but showed good pace to back up the good position.

Last season, it was Yamaha closest to Ducati at the venue and Viñales' first foray on track in blue saw that trend continue for 2017 so far.

And although the premier class largely avoided the rain on Friday, Saturday morning could see the heavens open once again - putting Viñales in a strong position for automatic graduation to Q2 should the weather set in.

His key concern is acceleratiom ad electronics, but he nevertheless felt good on the bike again after also leaving the Brno test with glowing reports.

"We are really pleased because we started to feel good again." He said "Today I think we did a really good job; I was feeling really good on the bike, especially after the Brno test."

"I think it’s really important to improve the electronics and the acceleration, as here it is really important."

 

         

 

 

Search