Cycle News Staff | August 19, 2023
Sunday MotoGP
If the Sprint Race was a somewhat processional affair, the Sunday GP was more so. The top two were a replica, with gradually easing away over the course of 28 grueling laps to win by 5.1 seconds from Binder, but this time Marco Bezzecchi led a Mooney VR46 fightback by taking third, 1.3 seconds up on his teammate Marini as team owner Valentino Rossi and crew celebrated in the pits with three VR46 Academy riders—Bagnaia, Bezzecchi and Marini—in the top four.
“Sincerely, I’m very happy,” Bagnaia said after the race. “I had a very good start, got in front immediately and tried to manage as much as possible. In the first phase, I was just trying to figure out how many riders could stay at that pace in the low 30s, and I tried to be a little slower than what was possible. The last few laps were very difficult for the rear tire because it no longer had any traction and was spinning a lot. We managed to do an incredible job all weekend, the engineers and my team gave me everything I asked for, and this was the result.”
Francesco Bagnaia made it look easy in the Sunday GP.
The main battles were held a bit further down the order as Alex Marquez continued his good form to take fifth, just ahead of Vinales in sixth. Martin’s race was compromised as he had to complete a long lap penalty for his bowling ball exhibition at turn one of the Sprint race. He chose to take the penalty as early in the race as he could, dropping back to 13th place but a superb fightback garnered a seventh place finish on the Alma Pramac Ducati.
Martin’s performance was in stark contrast to Jack Miller’s. The Aussie’s familiar rear tire issues once again reared its head, and the second Red Bull KTM would complete lap one in third place but drop like the proverbial stone back through the order to finish a despondent 14th at the flag.
The Sunday GP was one of the better ones for former World Champion Fabio Quartararo so far in 2023 as the Frenchman took eighth ahead of Aleix Espargaro and Bastianini rounding out the top 10.
In the series points, Bagnaia’s now got one hand on the trophy for a second straight year with a massive 62 points advantage—over two full race points clear. Martin lies second on 189 and Bezzecchi is third on 183.
2023 Austrian MotoGP Results
| 1 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati) |
|
| 2 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 5.191 |
| 3 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Ducati) |
+ 7.708 |
| 4 |
Luca Marini |
(Ducati) |
+ 10.343 |
| 5 |
Alex Marquez |
(Ducati) |
+ 11.039 |
| 6 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia) |
+ 11.724 |
| 7 |
Jorge Martin |
(Ducati) |
+ 12.917 |
| 8 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yamaha) |
+ 19.509 |
| 9 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia) |
+ 20.231 |
| 10 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati) |
+ 20.729 |
Sunday Moto2
Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) picked off rider after rider in a superb charge to victory in the Moto2 class, taking the win ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Ai Ogura (Idemistu Honda Team Asia).
Acosta who took the holeshot from Jake Dixon (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) and Ogura.
Dixon then fell into the clutches of Vietti, as the Italian pushed his way past the GASGAS man and then had Ogura in his sights. Acosta led the way by a second and a half at the front, but Vietti pounced on Ogura with eleven laps to go.
The Japanese had no response for the Italian as he proceeded to put down Acosta and with six laps remaining, pushed past into P1. Acosta tried all he could to cling onto Vietti but had no answer for him, Vietti putting in an inch-perfect performance to take the victory by 1.435s.
Celestino Vietti took his first win of the year in Moto2.
Acosta took 20 points towards his title tilt with Ogura taking a second podium in three races. Jake Dixon missed out on the podium, one second back from the Japanese, with Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) rounding out the top five.
Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) took sixth place and lost some key points to his title rival Acosta.
Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) was one of the crashers as well as Alonso Lopez (CAG SpeedUp) and Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team). Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) crashed out early on as they fell victim to the Turn 2a-2b chicane, Binder crashing and Lowes collecting the South African. Binder was declared unfit due to fractured vertebrae.
In the points, Acosta gains a bit of ground over Arbolino and leads by 12 points, 176 to 164. Dixon is 59 points back on 117.
2023 Austrian Moto2 Results
| 1 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kalex) |
|
| 2 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Kalex) |
+1.435 |
| 3 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kalex) |
+5.189 |
| 4 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kalex) |
+6.145 |
| 5 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(Kalex) |
+8.635 |
| 6 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Kalex) |
+14.054 |
| 7 |
Filip Salac |
(Kalex) |
+14.492 |
| 8 |
Sergio Garcia |
(Kalex) |
+16.445 |
| 9 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Boscoscuro) |
+17.178 |
| 10 |
Lukas Tulovic |
(Kalex) |
+35.361 |
Sunday Moto3
Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took a stunning win in Moto3, just coming out on top in a photo finish against Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3). Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna IntactGP) completed the podium, losing out in a spectacular final corner shuffle that saw Öncü play his cards perfectly.
Holgado took the early lead ahead of Öncü, but first time polesitter Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) didn’t take long to take move into second place. He stuck in with the lead group, comprising that trio plus Silverstone winner David Alonso (GASGAS Aspar Team), Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) looking for some redemption, 2022 Austria winner Sasaki and Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse).
With 17 laps still on the clock, Masia was out with a technical problem, which left a small gap between Holgado, Öncü and Veijer in the lead and the chasing trio of Sasaki, Alonso and Rossi. By 10 laps to go, the top four was settled with Holgado, Öncü, Alonso, Veijer and Sasaki.
On the last lap, Holgado led Sasaki but the Japanese rider took over at turn one. At turn three, Holgado launched an attack and Öncü capitalized as well. But Sasaki once again hit back, and it all went down to that final corner. Holgado went for it up the inside of Sasaki, and both headed a little wide, leaving Öncü just enough room to slice through. That became a drag to the line between the Turkish rider and the championship leader, with Sasaki left dragging it out against teammate Veijer.
Öncü would take his second career Moto3 win ahead of Holdago, Sasaki and Veijer with Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) taking fifth.
In the standings, Holgado leads on 161 to Sasaki’s 135 and Öncü’s 124.
2023 Austrian Moto3 Results
| 1 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
|
| 2 |
Daniel Holgado |
(KTM) |
+0.005 |
| 3 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Husqvarna) |
+0.119 |
| 4 |
Collin Veijer |
(Husqvarna) |
+0.136 |
| 5 |
Ivan Ortola |
(KTM) |
+3.135 |
| 6 |
Ricardo Rossi |
(Honda) |
+5.270 |
| 7 |
Ryusei Yamanaka |
(GASGAS) |
+8.137 |
| 8 |
Diogo Moreira |
(KTM) |
+8.382 |
| 9 |
David Muñoz |
(KTM) |
+8.453 |
| 10 |
Stefano Nepa |
(KTM) |
+8.615 |
2023 Austrian MotoGP News—Saturday
Binder contract extension
Brad Binder signed a two-year contract extension that will see him remain with KTM until 2026, it was confirmed on Saturday. Both the South African and the Austrian factory saw the other party as the ideal partner as they seek to take KTM to the top of MotoGP in the years to come.
Brad Binder will be in orange for a while yet after his contract extension.
“We’ve been together since 2015 we’ve had hard times and we’ve had great times, too,” said Binder, fresh from a fine second in the Sprint race. “One thing that sticks out to me is they’ve always stuck by me when I haven’t been at my best. We’ve also had some times where it’s been a bit challenging on the technical side, but we’ve always made our way through.
“I feel at home with KTM. I’m really honored that they’ve put their trust and faith in me for the next few seasons. I look forward to hopefully many great results going forward.”
Zarco to sign for LCR
Johann Zarco was adamant he is yet to make his final decision. But Pramac Ducati top brass have indicated he will depart their team for 2024 to take up residence in LCR Honda.
Zarco is all but singed for LCR Honda in 2024.
A key to the deal? A doubling of salary. And the offer of a two-year contract with a plus one option to extend beyond that, as opposed to Ducati’s single year contract offer made up the Frenchman’s mind. “Honda is offering a good project in MotoGP,” he said. “I’d be glad, with my constancy and my experience, to give good information and work well to develop the bike, at least for 2 years, because I also have an option for a third year. With Ducati it’s one year. Then they already see me in Superbike (after that).”
Commenting on the move, LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami is hopeful Zarco’s expertise of how the Ducati functions can work for Honda like Jack Miller’s recent move has worked for KTM. “He has a lot of experience with Ducati, so he can give some advice about who the bike is different between Ducati and Honda,” said the Japanese rider. “This makes sense that Honda is maybe thinking about not only Honda riders or Honda engineers. It’s really good news.”
Pol v Augusto
After KTM frantically sought a way to find another grid slot for 2024 to solve its current rider crisis (five riders have contracts to race in MotoGP next year, even if they only have four spots for RC16s), it now appears to arrived at a new compromise.
Pol Espargaro knows he has a fight on his hands to keep his seat.
Pedro Acosta will step up to ride for the GASGAS Tech 3 Racing Team and current riders Pol Espargaro and Augusto Fernandez will fight it out over the coming months for the second seat. So said KTM management to German publication Speedweek on Saturday. On this development, Espargaro, who was a brilliant sixth in the Sprint said, “You know Mr (Stefan) Pierer (KTM CEO), he is a shark, and he wants the best guys, and I fully understand. For sure, I will try to be the best Pol possible, even if with my limitations. I have a contract for two years. But anyway, I will try to be as fast as I was today in every race, and in a couple of races, Misano is coming, where I am very very fast there, so let’s see if we can end up in a good position.”
Fernandez added, “I’m not the person to ask this. I will continue with the same team, the same bike, the same people. It is good for me to continue another year and arrive to the top that is the main thing.”
Saturday MotoGP
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) converted pole position into Tissot Sprint victory number four of 2023 as the Italian fended off an early Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) challenge at the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) picked up P3 but the Spaniard was heavily involved in the drama that unfolded right from the get-go, as well as another dose later in the Sprint.
Bagnaia got away well from pole well with Binder – as always – launching like a rocket ship from the outside of the front row as well. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) got a sluggish start from P2, however, and dropped like a stone as Turn 1 played host to high drama.
Martin was on the inside line, with contact made with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), which then started a domino effect. Viñales was involved as he was sandwiched between Quartararo and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), and the latter went down along with Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) and Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team). Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) was also caught up in the incident. Martin was later given a Long Lap penalty for Sunday’s race after being found to have been riding irresponsibly. Hear all their perspectives in the video below.
Bagnaia untouchable on Saturday
Back at the front, Bagnaia led from Binder. By the start of Lap 5 the duo were over a second up the road from Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), with Martin running in P5. On Lap 6, Miller went from P3 to P5 as Marini and Martin pounced though, and more drama involving Martin then unravelled – this time at Turn 2A. Martin was up the inside of Marini but contact was made as the duo tipped it into the apex, with the latter crashing out unhurt.
Meanwhile, Bagnaia’s lead was up to a second over Binder, who in turn had three seconds in hand to Martin. With six laps left, Pecco was 1.3s ahead of the leading KTM, and the gap kept on climbing. Binder was a safe second, the #33 was 2.7s up the road from Martin, and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was a lonely P4 as we got confirmation that no further action would be taken regarding the Martin-Marini clash.
Bagnaia made no mistake to bring his Ducati home for Austrian GP Tissot Sprint victory to extend his title lead, with Binder claiming P2 in KTM’s backyard. Martin took the bronze medal from P12 on the grid. A spirited – albeit slightly controversial – comeback ride. Alex Marquez held on to fourth, with Miller taking P5.
Bagnaia never looked he was going to be beaten in the Sprint. Turns out, he wasn’t.
With a host of other expected frontrunners further down the order facing a fight back after that huge Turn 1 shuffle, there was plenty going on there, including a charge from GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3’s Pol Espargaro. He took an impressive P6, highly commendable as the Spaniard competes in just his second Tissot Sprint of the season.
Aleix Espargaro finished P7, 0.144s further back, and had some serious pressure from teammate Viñales. The number 12 produced a great fight back to take P8 and nearly, nearly pounce on the final lap. Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) held off Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) for the final Saturday afternoon point.
Meanwhile, Quartararo had some extra drama after the Turn 1 incident too. He clashed with Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing), and was given a Long Lap to serve in the Sprint, which he did.
2023 Austrian MotoGP—Sprint Race
| 1 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati) |
|
| 2 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 2.056 |
| 3 |
Jorge Martin |
(Ducati) |
+ 5.045 |
| 4 |
Alex Marquez |
(Ducati) |
+ 8.252 |
| 5 |
Jack Miller |
(KTM) |
+ 11.365 |
| 6 |
Pol Espargaro |
(GASGAS) |
+ 11.816 |
| 7 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia) |
+ 11.960 |
| 8 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia) |
+ 11.984 |
| 9 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Yamaha) |
+ 13.634 |
| 10 |
Marc Marquez |
(Honda) |
+ 14.435 |
Saturday Moto2
It was a pole position to remember for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as the Championship leader stamped some authority on Moto2™, bouncing back from an early crash to grab pole position for KTM and Red Bull’s home race. The Spaniard’s 1:34.040 was enough to deny previous Spielberg winner Ai Ogura (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia), with Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) alongside Ogura and Acosta on the front row as the Italian bagged P3 in Q2.
Pedro Acosta nabbed pole in Moto2.
It was a plot twist early on as the favourite for pole, Acosta, hit the deck. After smashing the lap record in Practice 3, the Championship leader wasn’t going to let a small off affect his confidence. After getting his machine back to pitlane and heading back out onto the circuit, the Spaniard went straight to the top of the timesheets with no one able to better the untouchable pace of the #37.
Jake Dixon (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) has been there or thereabouts all weekend and will head row 2 at the Austrian Grand Prix in P4. Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) showed strong form in Practice but was unable to quite put the same together in Qualifying, and the Thai rider will start from 5th ahead of Silverstone winner Fermin Aldeguer (CAG SpeedUp) and second overall, Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team).
2023 Austrian Moto2—Qualifying
| 1 |
Pedro Acosta |
Kalex) |
1:34.040 |
| 2 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kalex) |
+0.271 |
| 3 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kalex) |
+0.405 |
| 4 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kalex) |
+0.492 |
| 5 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(Kalex) |
+0.550 |
| 6 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Boscoscuro) |
+0.599 |
| 7 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Kalex) |
+0.688 |
| 8 |
Albert Arenas |
(Kalex) |
+0.697 |
| 9 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(Kalex) |
+0.817 |
| 10 |
Aron Canet |
(Kalex) |
+ 0.819 |
Saturday Moto3
Saturday at the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich won’t be a day Colin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) will be forgetting anytime soon, and neither will Dutch motorsport fans! The Dutch rookie’s 1:41.486 was enough to fend off Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), who secured an important front-row for Sunday’s race, with Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) well in the mix as always in P3.
It was P1 for the first time for Collin Veijer in Moto3 qualifying.
As ever the times began to tumble in the final couple of minutes of Moto3™ Q2. Holgado was leading the way in the closing stages, but red sectors came flying in from the likes of Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing). Masia lost a lot of time in the final sector though and with just 13 seconds on the clock, the rookie Veijer snatched the top spot.
On the second row, it’s Masia who took P4 with Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) joining him in 5th and 6th. Silverstone victor David Alonso (GASGAS Aspar Team) was looking strong but a late-session crash limited the Colombian’s progress to P7. Joining the rookie on the third row will be Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) in 8th and 9th, with David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) rounding out the top 10.
2023 Austrian Moto3—Qualifying
| 1 |
Collin Veijer |
(Husqvarna) |
1:41.486 |
| 2 |
Daniel Holgado |
(KTM) |
+0.057 |
| 3 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
+0.105 |
| 4 |
Jaume Masia |
(Honda) |
+0.204 |
| 5 |
Jose Antonio Rueda |
(KTM) |
+0.309 |
| 6 |
Riccardo Rossi |
(Honda) |
+0.422 |
| 7 |
David Alonso |
(GASGAS) |
+0.463 |
| 8 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Husqvarna) |
+0.475 |
| 9 |
Joel Kelso |
(CFMoto) |
+0.486 |
| 10 |
David Muñoz |
(KTM) |
+0.607 |
2023 Austrian MotoGP News—Friday
Mir considered retiring
It’s not been a good year for former World Champion Mir.
So chronic were Joan Mir’s struggles in the early part of 2023 with Honda’s wayward RC213V, he seriously considered retiring from the sport. The Majorcan revealed he had to overcome these thoughts even before suffering a finger injury at the Italian GP that ruled him out of three races.
“I’m crossing tough times. I’m in a moment that I now accept that I am in the situation that I am. Before I didn’t want to accept it, and probably mentally, this is more difficult, in one moment, I thought seriously about stopping. But not because I wanted to go to another bike. No, I wanted to stop because mentally I was collapsed. Now I’m not in that situation. I’m in a different situation. I know that if I stop, I know that in the future I will regret a lot.”
A further indictment of Honda’s current situation.
Quartararo pushing Yamaha
Fabio Quartararo walked back comments he made in an interview at Silverstone, when he stated Yamaha has only one chance to convince him to stay beyond 2024, which is when the 2024 M1 will debut at September’s Misano test.
Fabio Quartararo wants to be champion again with Yamaha, but knows his future may lay elsewhere.
“I was a little bit aggressive, maybe too much,” the Frenchman said of those comments before saying, “my personal goal is to be world champion again. If it’s with Yamaha I would prefer. But if not I will have to find myself another solution.”
Quartararo also admitted he has had numerous tough talks with senior Yamaha management on resolving the situation and getting out of this slump. “We had the chance to have (Executive Officer Toyoshi) Nishida-san in Silverstone, he is one of the top people in Yamaha and (Takahiro) Sumi-san, the old project leader that make a step in Yamaha. We have to be tough internally, with all the respect of course.”
Pol and MotoGP’s ‘gentleman’s agreement
In the wake of Marco Bezzecchi’s Silverstone crash, Pol Espargaro opened up on the secret of safe overtaking in modern MotoGP. Bezzecchi fell in England when he got sucked in by Pecco Bagnaia’s slipstream – now exacerbated by the sizeable aerodynamic forces at play – and tucked the front.
Getting a safe pass done is not easy these days, says Espargaro.
In Austria Espargaro revealed it is no longer safe to block pass a rider as suddenly piercing a considerable hole in the air in front can suck the rider behind in and cause an incident. “In Silverstone I was quite behind in the group and the first fast chicane in the third sector, I struggled to turn the bike there,” said Espargaro. “There is a lot of turbulence around from the aero wings and it’s pretty dangerous.
“It happened to me last year in in Qatar when Bastianini overtook me. He just crossed then it’s like someone is pushing you from behind and you stop braking. So it’s important that when we brake, especially MotoGPs today, we need to overtake and brake in the side [of the other rider]. Let always some clean air to the guy behind. Because it seems like if you block the pass the other guy the speed increases quite fast. So he can hit you from behind.”
Friday MotoGP
Taking the bull by the horns on Day 1 at the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich was Mooney VR46 Racing Team’s Marco Bezzecchi, as the Italian now boasts the Red Bull Ring all-time lap record. His blistering 1:28.533 only gave him an advantage of 0.044s ahead of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), however, with the two just edging away from World Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) in P3.
The times tumbled early in the Practice session as dark clouds loomed at the Red Bull Ring, with the threat of rain seeing some time attacks come in earlier than we’re accustomed to seeing on a Friday afternoon. Viñales set the pace with a 1:29.075, a lap slammed home on soft rubber, with Bezzecchi and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) then joining him inside the top three early on.
With 24 minutes left, the rain flags started to be waved. It wasn’t enough to disrupt the fast lap times, however, as British GP winner Aleix Espargaro then made it an Aprilia 1-2 at the summit – the Spaniard going 0.281s off teammate Viñales.
Bez was flying at the Ring, smashing the lap record on his way to P1 on Friday.
Despite the very light rain still proving a factor, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was able to find time and jump up to P6, which in turn shoved Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) down to P11. But personal best sectors were being set – including by the latter. Quartararo responded and went P5 with 14 minutes to go, with FP1 pacesetter Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) also climbing into the top 10.
After sitting outside the top 15, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was then the rider on a charge. Having just gone P13, the eight-time World Champion then briefly sat P2 before Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) made second place his.
The goalposts were then moved by a familiar name. Bagnaia was the first rider to dip into the 1:28s, with the #1’s 1:28.821 two and a half tenths quicker than Viñales’ time. Pecco’s advantage was slashed to 0.042s as Binder set his best time of the day, with Quartararo going to P4 as plenty of hot laps began coming in.
None more so than Bezzecchi. The Italian’s new lap record was now the time to beat as the fight for the top 10 really it up with three minutes to go. Viñales improved to go back to P2, splitting Bezzecchi and Bagnaia, before the Aprilia star went quicker to go just 0.044s off Bezzecchi’s effort.
Vinales split the Ducatis in second on the Aprilia.
Bezzecchi then also encountered a late issue with his GP22 to cut his session short, pulling over right in front of… the boss. Valentino Rossi gave the number 72 a ride back to the paddock, but check out Bezzecchi’s review of the taxi service below as it didn’t quite go to plan on the scooter either. Still, a new lap record as he looks to bounce back this weekend is a job well done on the more serious side of the coin for Bezzecchi on Friday!
Meanwhile, there was a frisson of drama after an incident between Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) and Marc Marquez was assessed by the Stewards after the number 44 held up the number 93 at Turn 4 in the closing stages of Practice. Pol Espargaro was handed a three-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race, and MM93 heads for Q1.
Bagnaia backed it up for third on the number one Ducati.
Behind the leading trio of Bezzecchi, Viñales and Bagnaia, Binder sails into the pole position shootout in P4 ahead of Zarco and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing).
A late attack from Aleix Espargaro made sure the Silverstone winner claimed P7, with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) ending Practice in P8. They’re joined in Q2 by both Quartararo and Oliveira.
2023 Austrian MotoGP Results—Friday
| 1 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Ducati) |
1:28.533 |
| 2 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia) |
+ 0.044 |
| 3 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati) |
+ 0.288 |
| 4 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 0.330 |
| 5 |
Johann Zarco |
(Ducati) |
+ 0.388 |
| 6 |
Jorge Martin |
(Ducati) |
+ 0.479 |
| 7 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia) |
+ 0.519 |
| 8 |
Alex Marquez |
(Ducati) |
+ 0.563 |
| 9 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yamaha) |
+ 0.622 |
| 10 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(Aprilia) |
+ 0.627 |
Friday Moto2
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) topped the timesheets on Day 1 of the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich to put himself a whisker away from lap-record pace with a 1:34.050. Just 0.110s back from the Spaniard was Somkiat Chantra (IDEMISTU Honda Team Asia), who topped Practice 1 to put himself P2 overall ahead of his teammate Ai Ogura.
It was a comfortable P1 for Acosta in Moto2.
The session was red-flagged after five minutes following a crash for Manuel Gonzalez (Corres Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team), who was taken to the medical centre and declared fit, but the air fence needed to be redeployed. Once back underway, the times began to tumble once again.
Jake Dixon (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) was looking strong in Practice 2 as he finished the session inside the top three, with his lap time bagging him 4th place on the combined practice times. Title contender Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) was another who made significant improvements in Practice 2 as he finished behind the Brit and rounded out the top five. Arbolino’s teammate Sam Lowes wasn’t so fortunate as he hit the deck in the afternoon meaning he was unable to improve and only managed 14th., but rider ok.
2023 Austrian Moto2 Results—Friday
| 1 |
Pedro Acosta (Kalex) |
1:34.050 |
| 2 |
Somkiat Chantra (Kalex) |
+ 0.110 |
| 3 |
Ai Ogura (Kalex) |
+ 0.314 |
| 4 |
Jake Dixon (Kalex) |
+ 0.324 |
| 5 |
Tony Arbolino (Kalex) |
+ 0.359 |
| 6 |
Celestino Vietti (Kalex) |
+ 0.380 |
| 7 |
Filip Salac (Kalex) |
+ 0.517 |
| 8 |
Aron Canet (Kalex) |
+ 0.529 |
| 9 |
F. Aldeguer (Boscoscuro) |
+ 0.750 |
| 10 |
Alonso Lopez (Boscoscuro) |
+ 0.914 |
Friday Moto3
It’s advantage David Alonso (GASGAS Aspar Team) as Moto3™ action at the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich got underway at the Red Bull Ring. Fresh from his debut victory, the 2023 rookie put down a 1:41.223 to take the top spot by a sensational 0.629s. It was a rookie one-two on the combined practice times as Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) was the best of the rest, with the Dutchman beating Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) to 2nd place by just 0.027s.
Whilst the Colombian was in a league of his own, the rest of the grid were locked in usual Moto3 fashion. The Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) enjoyed a positive Friday after topping the first practice session. The Spaniard just missed out on the top three by 0.020s to finish the day in 4th place ahead of Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team) who rounded out the top five.
Form man David Alonso crushed them in Moto3 on Friday.
After crashing out of the British Grand Prix, Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) needs a solid finish in Austria to keep his title tilt alive. Whilst the Spaniard wasn’t dominating sessions as we’ve seen at the past GPs, he sits in 6th place and has shown decent pace ahead of the weekend’s racing action.
Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) finished in P3 during Practice 1 but slipped down to P7 on combined times to sit ahead of Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP). Rookie Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) enjoyed a positive day in P9 ahead of Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) who rounded out the top 10 despite a crash.
2023 Austrian Moto3 Results—Friday
| 1 |
David Alonso |
(GasGas) |
1:41.223 |
| 2 |
Collin Veijer |
(Husqvarna) |
+ 0.629 |
| 3 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
+ 0.656 |
| 4 |
Daniel Holgado |
(KTM) |
+ 0.676 |
| 5 |
Matteo Bertelle |
(Honda) |
+ 0.699 |
| 6 |
Jaume Masia |
(Honda) |
+ 0.712 |
| 7 |
Ivan Ortola |
(KTM) |
+ 0.879 |
| 8 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Husqvarna) |
+ 0.956 |
| 9 |
Jose Antonio Rueda |
(KTM) |
+ 1.034 |
| 10 |
Diogo Moreira |
(KTM) |
+ 1.052 |
Friday MotoE
The green flag dropped on qualifying for the MotoE™ World Cup at the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich with the rain clouds looming over the Red Bull Ring. The track remained mostly dry in Q2 allowing the riders to put the hammer down and battle it out for pole position.
Kevin Zannoni topped MotoE on Friday at the Red Bull Ring.
It was Kevin Zannoni (Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse) who took the pole position as the Italian went 0.006s under the previous lap record with a 1:38.567. Joining his compatriot on the front row will be the #40 of Mattia Casadei (HP Pons Los40). The Italian put it all on the line but just fell short of pole by 0.023s. Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) was another 0.030s back, with the top three separated by just 0.053s, you can guarantee the Brazilian will be getting stuck into the races from the front row.
The Championship leader Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team) fought his way through a damp Q1 session to take P8. He’ll have his work cut out for him during Saturday’s races as his title rival Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) starts from the front of row two in 4th place.
2023 Austrian MotoE Results—Friday
| 1 |
Kevin Zannoni |
(Ducati) |
1:38.567 |
| 2 |
Mattia Casadei |
(Ducati) |
+ 0.023 |
| 3 |
Eric Granado |
(Ducati) |
+0.053 |
| 4 |
Matteo Ferrari |
(Ducati) |
+0.526 |
| 5 |
Hikari Okubo |
(Ducati) |
+0.591 |
| 6 |
Hector Garzo |
(Ducati) |
+0.793 |
| 7 |
Miguel Pons |
(Ducati) |
+1.013 |
| 8 |
Jordi Torres |
(Ducati) |
+1.225 |
| 9 |
Kevin Manfredi |
(Ducati) |
+1.309 |
| 10 |
R. Krummenacher |
(Ducati) |
+1.403 |
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