Before the first free MotoGP training session at the Austrian GP in Spielberg, the opposing teams were excited to see whether the two Red Bull KTM teams would be among the frontrunners again at the home GP. The fans of the oranges hoped so, because on August 23, the GP of Styria will be the second MotoGP event in the Murtal.
«It was definitely a great week. We started the MotoGP project on the last two places on the 2017 grid in Qatar, ”said KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beirer. “But Stefan Pierer and our whole team decided back then that one day we would be at the front end of the grid. The victory in Brno was a relief. Because in this way we have proven that our concept with the steel frame and WP elements can lead to success. The success is also a result of the many technicians who have made optimal use of our material. “
A few more questions had to be clarified. Can Ducati take the fifth Spielberg win in a row? Is Honda in a position to be among the frontrunners again after the Brno fiasco? The German-speaking fans naturally also hoped that Marc Márquez-Erstzmann Stefan Bradl would improve.
Aleix Espargaró set the first best time with 1: 27.6, then Fabio Quartararo caught him with 1: 26.2 min. But after five minutes, Pol Espargaró was already in first place with 1: 25.204 minutes ahead of Nakagami (+0.430 sec), Viñales. Whereby KTM benefited from the test drives in May (with Espargaró and Pedrosa) and July (Pedrosa) because no other team had already tested in Styria in 2020.
After nine minutes, Johann Zarco moved up to second place behind Pol Espargaró, he was 0.365 seconds behind the KTM rider, who immediately afterwards set a new best time of 1: 24.8 minutes and set his lead to 0.307 seconds. Aleix was meanwhile Espargaró in second place.
After 13 minutes Andrea Dovizioso gave a strong sign of life with the second best time, the Spielberg winner of 2017 and 2019. The vice world champion was just 0.048 seconds behind Pol Espargaró!
After 20 of 45 minutes there was no Yamnaha in the top ten, and Quartararo was no less than 12 km / h short of top speed on Dovizioso and Ducati.
At this point Pol Espargaró was leading with 1; 24.772 minutes ahead of Dovizioso, Mir, Petrucci, Rins, Oliveira, Nakagami, Zarco, Aleix Espargaró and Alex Márquez. 11. Quartararo. 12. Rossi. 13. Miller. 14. Viñales. 15. Morbidelli. 16. Pirro. 17. Lecuona. 18. Binder. 19. Rabat. 20. Bradl, + 1.341 sec.
22 minutes before the end of FP1, Suzuki celebrated second and fourth places for Rins and Mir. Pol Espargaró was first, Dovizioso now third. A few moments later, Petrucci stormed up to 5th place with the second factory Ducati. 6. Oliveira. 7. Nakagami. 8. Zarco. 9. Miller. 10. Aleix Espargaró. 11. Quartararo. 12. Alex Marquez. 22. Bradl, + 1.323 sec.
In the last 10 to 12 minutes the aces prepared for another time attack. Nine minutes before the end, Pol Espargaró was still in front of the two Suzuki by Rins (+0.070 sec) and Mir. 4. Dovizioso.
Six minutes before the end of the 45-minute session, Pol Espargaró set new intermediate best times in the first two sectors, he improved his best time to 1: 24.514 minutes. 2. Rins. 3. Me. 4. Dovi. 5. Petrucci, 6. Quartararo. 7. Oliveira. 8. Nakagami. 9. Zarco. 10. Rossi. 11. Miller. 12. Aleix Espargaró. – 21st Bradl, +1.754. 22. Binder, KTM, +1,698.
In the last two minutes we saw an attack from Dovizioso, who set the best times in the first two sectors. But it was 0.044 seconds behind the KTM record. Bradley Smith fell while Binder was the only rider to struggle with a hard front tire.
And Rossi and Viñales didn’t make it into the top ten! Joan Mir’s third best time was canceled.
The FP1 times were as close together as usual: 18 drivers classified themselves within one second. And with KTM, Ducati, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha five different manufacturers were in the first five places!
By the way: At 2 p.m. at FP2, a 60 percent chance of rain is now predicted. So it could be that the times from FP1 play a major role for Q2 if FP3 is still damp on Saturday morning.
Result Spielberg, MotoGpP FP1, August 14th
1. Pol Espargaró, KTM, 1: 24.193 min
2. Dovizioso, Ducati, + 0.044
3. Nakagami, Honda, + 0,185
4. Rins, Suzuki, + 0,380
5. Morbidelli, Yamaha, + 0.395
6. Zarco, Honda, + 0.462
7. Oliveira, KTM, + 0.525
8. Miller, Ducati, + 0,531
9. Mir, Suzuki, + 0.550
10. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 0.420
11. Viñales, Yamaha, + 0,586
12. Petrucci, Ducati, + 0.644
13.Rossi, Yamaha, + 0.673
14. Crutchlow, Honda, + .751
15. Lecuona, KTM, + 0.798
16. Binder, KTM, + 0.812
17. Pyrrhus, Ducati, + 0.959
18. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 0.972
19. Alex Marquez, Honda, + 1,056
20. Smith, Aprilia, + 1,104
21. Bradl, Honda, +1,178
22. Rabat, Ducati, + 1,536
Result Spielberg, Moto3 FP1, August 14th
1. Arbolino, Honda, 1: 36,550 min
2. McPhee, Honda, + 0,291
3. Masia, Honda, + 0,366
4. Vietti, KTM, + 0.489
5. Antonelli, Honda, + 0.507
6. Raul Fernandez, KTM, + 0.516
7. Toba, KTM, + 0.517
8. Ogura, Honda, + 0,527
9. Migno, KTM, + 0.557
10. Arenas, KTM, + 0,579
11. Suzuki, Honda, +0.710
12. Foggia, KTM, + 0.852
further:
24. Baltus, KTM, + 1,559
26. Dupasquier, KTM, 1,846
28. Kofler, KTM, + 2,044
Jason Dupasquier and Raul Fernandez fell.
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