Austrian MotoGP, Red Bull Ring - Free Practice (1) Results

Free Practice (1) results from the Austrian MotoGP at the Red Bull Ring, round 11 of the 2021 world championship.
Johann Zarco, MotoGP, Styria MotoGP 06 August 2021
Johann Zarco, MotoGP, Styria MotoGP 06 August 2021
© Gold and Goose

Johann Zarco - team-mate to last Sunday's winner Jorge Martin - set a new lap record to lead opening practice for the Austrian MotoGP, the second of the back-to-back events at the Red Bull Ring.

Countryman and title leader Fabio Quartararo, currently 40-points clear of Zarco in the standings, finished the session with a technical problem.

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.'

Vinales, wearing his usual team clothing, was watching FP1 from trackside.

Austrian MotoGP, Red Bull Ring - Free Practice (1) Results

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 (1) Results
PosRiderNatTeamTime/DiffLapMax
1Johann ZarcoFRAPramac Ducati (GP21)1'22.827s21/22317k
2Joan MirSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.798s19/20310k
3Alex RinsSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.903s20/22309k
4Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)+0.963s20/21314k
5Aleix EspargaroSPAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)+1.014s15/16314k
6Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.038s6/21308k
7Alex MarquezSPALCR Honda (RC213V)+1.054s18/20316k
8Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Team (GP21)+1.076s12/23317k
9Marc MarquezSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+1.140s4/22313k
10Jorge MartinSPAPramac Ducati (GP21)*+1.217s17/21314k
11Pol EspargaroSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+1.270s5/22318k
12Enea BastianiniITAAvintia Ducati (GP19)*+1.410s5/22315k
13Luca MariniITASky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)*+1.503s5/23313k
14Valentino RossiITAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.508s21/23309k
15Miguel OliveiraPORRed Bull KTM (RC16)+1.520s6/22309k
16Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)+1.665s6/24316k
17Jack MillerAUSDucati Team (GP21)+1.701s5/22317k
18Danilo PetrucciITAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+1.928s4/21307k
19Iker LecuonaSPAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+1.965s4/21308k
20Cal CrutchlowGBRPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+2.468s5/21305k

* Rookie

Official Red Bull Ring MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Jorge Martin SPA Ducati 1m 22.994s (2021)
Fastest race lap:
Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati 1m 23.827s (2019)

By Peter McLaren

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