Rennie Scaysbrook | August 15, 2021
Sunday
MotoGP
The saying “fortune favors the brave” has never been more appropriate in MotoGP than it was at the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix as Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder pulled what will go down as one of the great wins of the modern era.
After a typically frantic but mainly dry 25 laps at the Red Bull Ring with a leading six of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda), Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha), Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati), Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) and Joan Mir (Ecstar Suzuki) and Binder, it all changed with six laps remaining. The rain that threatened all race finally arrived, Binder opting to gamble and stay out on slicks as Marquez, Bagnaia, Martin, Quartararo and Mir all pulled into the pits to change to wet tires.
The remaining three laps were drama filled as new leader Binder tiptoed his way around the Spielberg countryside, KTM’s and Red Bull’s top brass all with their hearts in their mouths as the laps ticked down.
Binder had to battle not just the rain but the cooling off of his slick tires and then his carbon brakes, ensuring he had almost no stopping power as he coasted across the line for his second career MotoGP race win.
Binder comes across the line for one of the most remarkable wins of his career.
As Binder made history out front, it was carnage behind him. Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro began the final lap in second place with Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM) catapulted up to third ahead of Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Ducati) and Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha), those riders all opting to stay on slicks. By turn three, however, those riders who had come in for wets were charging through. Bagnaia was at the head of this pack after Marquez crashed at turn one on the penultimate lap, and he quickly disposed of Rossi, Marini, Espargaro and Lecuona. Jorge Martin followed suit, the two finishing 9.9 and 11.5 seconds behind Binder. If the race had gone one more lap, Bagnaia would surely have taken his first MotoGP race victory, his last lap some 12.9 seconds faster than Binder.
Wet-tire rider Mir also came through to take fourth, with Marini holding on for a career-best fifth ahead of Lecuona, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) and Rossi, Alex Marquez (LCR Castrol Honda) and Espargaro tumbling from second to tenth on the final lap.
Jack Miller—the first rider to gamble and pit for slicks with Suzuki’s Alex Rins—came home 11th from Tech3 KTM’s Danilo Petrucci, LCR Idemitsu Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami, Rins and the remounting Marc Marquez rounding out the top 15.
Red Bull KTM’s Miguel Oliveira and championship contender Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) both crashed out, while Enea Bastianini was forced to withdraw after the bodywork on his Esponsorama Ducati became disconnected.
In the championship, Quartararo remarkably increases his lead to 47 points ahead of Bagnaia and Mir, who are both tied on 134. Zarco’s crash drops him to fourth on 132 with Miller fifth on 105.
2021 Austrian MotoGP Results
| 1 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
|
| 2 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 9.991 |
| 3 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
+ 11.570 |
| 4 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 12.623 |
| 5 |
Luca Marini |
(Duc) |
+ 14.831 |
| 6 |
Iker Lecuona |
(KTM) |
+ 14.952 |
| 7 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 16.650 |
| 8 |
Valentino Rossi |
(Yam) |
+ 17.150 |
| 9 |
Alex Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 17.692 |
| 10 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 18.270 |
Moto2
For the fourth time in 2021, Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took the race victory in a pivotal championship round as teammate and title leader Remy Gardner suffered his worst round of the season.
Fernandez fended off race-long pressure from Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) as two rookies stood on the top two steps. It was Ogura’s first podium in the class, while Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) picked up a third consecutive podium in third.
Fernandez cut into Gardner’s championship lead with the Austrian Moto2 race win.
Gardner was boxed in off the start, the Australian dropping to 10th. He would slowly make up places for seventh, limiting his championship damage. He now leads Fernandez by 19 points in the series.
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Kalex) and Cameron Beaubier (American Racing Team Kalex) were both caught up in a first corner pile-up with Beaubier being handed a double long lap penalty as a result. Roberts would come home in 16th, Beaubier 20th.
2021 Austrian Moto2 Results
| 1 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Kal) |
|
| 2 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kal) |
+ 0.845 |
| 3 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 2.747 |
| 4 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 4.412 |
| 5 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kal) |
+ 8.782 |
| 16 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+33.058 |
| 20 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+44.344 |
Moto3
A storming last lap from Sergio Garcia (Santander Consumer GASGAS) handed the Aspar rider a third Moto3 victory of the season in Austria. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) lost out at the penultimate corner but took his second Grand Prix podium, with Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) taking third.
Garcia (11) just held on for the Austrian Moto3 race win.
Garcia’s win sees him close the gap to Acosta to 41 points in the championship ahead of Silverstone in two weeks’ time. Romano Fenati (fifth today, Husqvarna) is third in the series on 107.
2021 Austrian Moto3 Results
| 1 |
Sergio Garcia |
(GasGas) |
|
| 2 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
+ 0.027 |
| 3 |
Denis Foggia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.319 |
| 4 |
Pedro Acosta |
(KTM) |
+ 0.394 |
| 5 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 0.462 |
MotoE
In the return of MotoE to the championship after missing last week’s Styrian MotoGP, Lucas Tulovic took a 0.839s win ahead of Eric Granado and Dominique Aegerter. Pole sitter Fermin Aldeguer finished fourth, 1.16 seconds off Tulovic.
Tulovic took the MotoE win.
Alessandro Zaccone heads the championship on 80 points from Granado on 73 and Jordi Torres on 72.
2021 Austrian MotoE Results
| 1 |
Lukas Tulovic |
Ene |
|
| 2 |
Eric Granado |
Ene |
+0.839 |
| 3 |
Dominique Aegerter |
Ene |
+1.145 |
| 4 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
Ene |
+1.163 |
| 5 |
Hikari Okubo |
Ene |
+1.892 |
2021 Austrian MotoGP News—Saturday
Vinales’ Mea Culpa
Maverick Vinales’ first contact with the media since he was sensationally suspended by Yamaha for the Austrian Grand Prix resulted in him apologizing to the Japanese factory, explaining he suffered from “an explosion of frustration” during last weekend’s race.
“Sad, very sad,” the Catalan said of the situation to Italian TV. Vinales was judged by Yamaha to have ridden in a way during last weekend’s race that “could have potentially caused significant damage to the engine of his YZR-M1 bike.”
Vinales, seen here at the Dutch TT, has offered an apology to Yamaha for his riding at last weekend’s Styrian MotoGP.
He accepted this verdict and explained, “It was a moment of great frustration. The first race was perfect and I had started strong. But then everything went wrong and it was an explosion of frustration that I did not know how to channel in the best way and that is why I have to make excuses for Yamaha. But the frustration was so great that I did not know how to manage it.”
Yamaha must now decide on its future course of action. As it leads the Constructors and Team’s Championships, as well as the Rider’s, bringing Vinales back into the fold would surely represent their best chance of securing the Triple Crown. Marc Marquez opined, “the most logical thing is that at Silverstone he is back on track with Yamaha and the season ends.”
Petrucci pondering Dakar offer
Not long after Danilo Petrucci had learned that he had lost his seat in the MotoGP class for 2022, he was pondering an interesting offer from the factory that see him surplus to requirements in this paddock. The Italian has an offer to switch disciplines and race the Dakar Rally for KTM.
“It was an idea from Mr [Stefan] Pierer [KTM CEO] and he proposed to me that on Saturday night,” he said. “I thought he was joking, but he was not. We started to talk and then two days ago Pit (Beirer – Motorsport Director) called me and repeated to me more or less what they told me on Saturday.
Petrucci admits the offer to switch to rally racing is an attractive one.
“He said, ‘We are ready for 2022’, but he did say, ‘We can send you there if you like to just watch the panorama and the landscapes, because we think it’s quite dangerous if you go there to make the race and make results [straight away].’ Then I have all of one year to make training and do some races, and from 2023 maybe be more competitive.
“It’s one of the options of my future that I have and for sure I really want to thank them for this kind of option.”
Marquez prepping 2022
Last weekend Marc Marquez expressed his frustration that his physical condition had not improved as much as he’d hoped after the five-week summer break. A week on, and the eight-time World Champion admitted he is still struggling.
Marquez has switched his focus to a title challenge in 2022.
All weekend he has tested the new chassis he raced last weekend, with a variety of set-ups as he chases a development direction for 2022.
“If I focus on the Honda riders, braking I am still the strongest, although I do not make as much difference as before and, that is true, it is because I do not feel one hundred percent physically,” he said. “Above all, because I do not feel so constant since before I made a difference in each lap and now when there is a small movement of the bike I am not capable.
“I go the same as the other Honda riders, but I am not able to make a difference at that point and especially also in the direction changes from 7 to 8. Some laps I am well positioned towards eight and some laps, no. This is where I also feel that I am not always precise and constant.”
Saturday
MotoGP
Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) has done it again! The rookie sensation has taken his third pole of the season and second in two Sundays as he heads the grid for the 2021 Austrian MotoGP, setting another new all-time lap record around the Red Bull Ring to do it. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) misses out by just 0.034 and held said record for about a minute before getting pipped to the post, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completing the front row.
Martin is so hot right now in MotoGP with his second pole in a row.
2021 Austrian MotoGP Results—Saturday
| 1 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
1:22.643 |
| 2 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.034 |
| 3 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.420 |
| 4 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 0.477 |
| 5 |
Marc Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 0.584 |
| 6 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.677 |
| 7 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 0.735 |
| 8 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 0.780 |
| 9 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+ 0.856 |
| 10 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 0.925 |
Moto2
It’s a 15th career Moto2 pole position for Elf Marc VDS Racing Team’s Sam Lowes after his 1:28.659 was enough to beat Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) by 0.068s in qualifying in Austria. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) makes it two rookies on the front row to claim his second consecutive Q2 top three at the Red Bull Ring.
Lowes came good for the Moto2 pole.
2021 Austrian Moto2 Results—Saturday
| 1 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
1:28.659 |
| 2 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.068 |
| 3 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kal) |
+ 0.143 |
| 4 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.152 |
| 5 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+ 0.150 |
| 21 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+0.245 (Q1 exit) |
| 25 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+ 0.340 (Q1 exit) |
Moto3
For the first time since the 2017 British GP, Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) will start on pole position thanks to a 1:35.850 in Moto3 Q2 at the Red Bull Ring. Despite being taken out by Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3), SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Tatsuki Suzuki will start second on the grid with Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) completing the front row.
Romano Fenati took pole for the first time in four years in Austria.
2021 Austrian Moto3 Results—Saturday
| 1 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
1:35.850 |
| 2 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Hon) |
+ 0.071 |
| 3 |
Jeremy Alcoba |
(Hon) |
+ 0.210 |
| 4 |
Jaume Masia |
(KTM) |
+ 0.243 |
| 5 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
+ 0.254 |
MotoE
Fermin Aldeguer (OpenBank Aspar Team) is the rider to beat in MotoE after the rookie Spaniard recorded a 1:35.306 to take a maiden E-Pole in Austria. The rookie had 0.047s to spare over Lukas Tulovic (Tech 3 E-Racing) in second, while Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian Gresini E-Racing MotoE) secured a second front row start of the season.
Aldeguer claimed pole in MotoE.
2021 Austrian MotoE Results—Saturday
| 1 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Ene) |
1:35.306 |
| 2 |
Lukas Tulovic |
(Ene) |
+ 0.047 |
| 3 |
Matteo Ferrari |
(Ene) |
+ 0.240 |
| 4 |
Hikari Okubo |
(Ene) |
+ 0.286 |
| 5 |
Alessandro Zaccone |
(Ene) |
+ 0.291 |
2021 Austrian MotoGP News—Friday
Maverick Vinales suspended!
As earlier reported, Maverick Vinales’ season took another unexpected, barely-believable turn on Thursday when his Monster Energy Yamaha team suspended him ahead of the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix “due to the unexplained irregular operation of the motorcycle” during last Sunday’s Styrian GP.
Maverick Vinales looks on as a spectator during FP1 in Austria. Despite still wearing team colors, it appears his Monster Energy Yamaha days are over.
The Catalan had a race to forget after stalling the bike on the grid, starting from pit lane and circulating in the last two positions while receiving a confusing message on his dashboard. All of this, he said last Sunday, contributed to him pulling into pitlane on the final lap.
But subsequent checking of the data and onboard footage from Vinales’ bike revealed he was over-revving his machine in the final laps. Yamaha concluded “the rider‘s actions could have potentially caused significant damage to the engine of his YZR-M1 bike which could have caused serious risks to the rider himself and possibly posed a danger to all other riders in the MotoGP race.”
It was an astonishing assertion, with a decision on whether Vinales will return to racing at Silverstone at the end of the month. But all evidence suggests this unhappy marriage is reached the end-point.
Petronas to withdraw
Yamaha was further rocked by news Petronas is ready to withdraw its sponsorship from the Sepang Racing Team (SRT) from the end of this year, meaning it will be running a reduced operation in the MotoGP class from 2022.
By virtue of having a contract in his back pocket with the team for 2022, it appears Darryn Binder will be on the MotoGP grid for 2022.
After news of Vinales’ decision to leave Yamaha at the end of this year, plus Valentino Rossi’s retirement, SRT has struggled to attract its principle targets to occupy the two seats in that operation, mainly Raul Fernandez, who instead moves up to MotoGP with Tech3 KTM, and Toprak Razgatioglu, who elected to stay with Yamaha in World Superbike.
The news also means Petronas Sprinta Racing’s Moto2 and Moto3 operations will close from the end of this year. By virtue of the fact he has a contract with the team for 2022, it now appears likely Darryn Binder will be promoted to SRT’s MotoGP operation for next season.
Red Bull Ring track changes planned
The safety issues surrounding the Red Bull Ring will be addressed before the 2022 MotoGP event, with a chicane likely to be installed between turns one and two. After the last three premier class races were red flagged at this venue, the track has come in for criticism for its lack of action ahead of the 2021 races.
The proposed layout for the 2022 Red Bull Ring, where you can see the chicane between turns one and three.
Friday saw another close call as American Cameron Beaubier crashed on the exit of turn one in Moto2 FP1. Aron Canet, just behind, somehow avoided the Californian’s stricken machine.
Asked for his opinion on the track, Marc Marquez said, “For me, the other parts of circuit is safe enough. But turns two and three (are dangerous). Turn one is safe. But I don’t know why, the way people crash there is unsafe. We saw in Moto2 when you crash there you can stay in middle of track (after). It’s difficult to understand why. Because on the exit of the curve, kind of chicane, this creates you crash and stay on edge of corner. Hope for next year that part from turn one to turn two we will improve the safety.”
Friday
MotoGP
A new all-time lap record in MotoGP FP1 at the 2021 Austrian MotoGP gave Pramac Racing’s Johann Zarco top spot on Friday. The Frenchman’s 1:22.827 – faster than teammate Jorge Martin’s Styrian GP pole time from last weekend – was a massive 0.798s quicker than second-place Joan Mir’s (Team Suzuki Ecstar) FP1 time, with fellow Suzuki star Alex Rins completing the top three on day one.
Johann Zarco smashed the lap record to take the top spot on Friday for the 2021 Austrian MotoGP.
FP2 was mostly wet and saw Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM) put slicks on in the dying minutes and take. Lecuona’s eventual 1:27.520 was 3.3s faster than Zarco’s second-place time, but it didn’t affect the combined standings ahead of Saturday’s FP3 session.
2021 Austrian MotoGP Results—Friday
| 1 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
1:22.827 |
| 2 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 0.798 |
| 3 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 0.903 |
| 4 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
(Hon) |
+ 0.963 |
| 5 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 1.014 |
| 6 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 1.038 |
| 7 |
Alex Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 1.054 |
| 8 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 1.076 |
| 9 |
Marc Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 1.140 |
| 10 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
+ 1.217 |
Moto2
Moto2 rookie Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) ended the opening day of action at the 2021 Austrian MotoGP at the head of the Moto2 class after setting a 1:28.887 in FP1. The wet weather cleared for FP2 and some riders improved, including third place Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo), but it’s Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) who remains second just 0.007s off Ogura’s pace.
Ai Ogura’s really hitting his stride in Moto2 and went top on Friday.
2021 Austrian Moto2 Results—Friday
| 1 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kal) |
1:28.887 |
| 2 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.007 |
| 3 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+ 0.080 |
| 4 |
Marcel Schrötter |
(Kal) |
+ 0.101 |
| 5 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.128 |
| 16 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 0.584 |
| 29 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+ 1.414 |
Moto3
A 1:36.215 in Moto3 FP1 handed Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing) opening day honors at the 2021 Austrian MotoGP, the South African holding a 0.105s advantage over Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) in second place. World Championship leader and Styrian GP winner Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completed the top three, the Spaniard 0.118s off Binder’s pace.
Darryn Binder’s name has been linked to the second seat at Petronas Yamaha for next year and he’s using that as extra inspiration in Austria.
2021 Austrian Moto3 Results—Friday
| 1 |
Darryn Binder |
(Hon) |
1:36.215 |
| 2 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 0.105 |
| 3 |
Pedro Acosta |
(KTM) |
+ 0.118 |
| 4 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
+ 0.184 |
| 5 |
Izan Guevara |
(GasGas) |
+ 0.198 |
MotoE
Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) has finished MotoE Friday Free Practice fastest after a 1:25.697 was enough to deny rookie Fermin Aldeguer (OpenBank Aspar Team) by just 0.010s. Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) rounds out the top three for the day at the 2021 Austrian MotoGP.
Dominique Aegerter resumed MotoE where he left off, in first place on Friday.
2021 Austrian MotoE Results—Friday
| 1 |
Dominique Aegerter |
(Ene) |
1:35.697 |
| 2 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Ene) |
+ 0.010 |
| 3 |
Eric Granado |
(Ene) |
+ 0.190 |
| 4 |
Matteo Ferrari |
(Ene) |
+ 0.212 |
| 5 |
Lukas Tulovic |
(Ene) |
+ 0.281 |
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