Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) couldn’t stop falling on the second weekend in Austria – here in turn 3 in FP4 with a harmless crash. In Q2, the six-time world champion made it into the second row of the grid.

Martin with a new record on pole – Quartararo and Bagnaia in row one

In FP4, Marc Marquez (Honda), Iker Lecuona (KTM) and shortly before the end also Jorge Martin (Ducati) crashed, which says enough about the nervousness of various drivers before qualifying. Jorge’s Pramac Ducati Racing team-mate Johann Zarco was the fastest in the fourth free practice. In the first qualifying, it was above all Styrian GP winner Martin who dictated the pace from the start, while at half-time Suzuki ace Alex Rins was on course for Q2 with the second-fastest time. It was Miguel Oliveira in the end, however, who snatched second place from the Catalan by a little over a tenth and made it into second qualifying with Jorge Martin. In addition to Rins, those who were beaten included Alex Marquez, Valentino Rossi and Danilo Petrucci on the penultimate starting position in front of Morbido substitute Cal Crutchlow. The Q2 was then prey to sensation Martin. Fabio Quartararo had broken the absolute lap record of his compatriot Johann Zarco on Friday with 1: 22’677 at half-time. But then the young Spaniard managed to undercut the time of the World Cup leader by 34 thousandths.

Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati Racing) repeated his sensational performance from the first weekend at the Red Bull Ring, and again on Sunday he will start from the front row with Quartararo and Bagnaia.

The second race in Spielberg – does the weather determine the result?

An 85 percent probability of rain is currently predicted for Sunday noon, but this was already the case for qualifying, and it remained sunny and dry. If things turn out differently on the day of the race, however, there is a risk of difficult conditions with a possibly even wet track. There is definitely a possibility that the weather will have a part in determining the result. In wet conditions, especially drivers like Marquez, Zarco, Miller and Tech 3 driver Petrux automatically have a very good chance of taking the top positions. If, on the other hand, it stays the same as on Saturday, Pecco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin, Joan Mir and of course Fabio Quartararo, must also be expected for the second race at the Red Bull Ring. Either way, the latter is not going to have an easy Sunday, because in addition to Ducati and Honda, Suzuki and at least Brad Binder are expected to be at the KTM. Wanting to name a favourite or just predicting the podium is an impossibility.

Cal Cruthlow on the still convalescent Franco Morbidelli’s Petronas Yamaha – his grim look matches the Englishman’s last starting position, but everything could look different for him at Silverstone.

Qualifying of Moto2

In addition to Bulega and Manzi, Dixon and Di Giannantonio also made it into the top four in Q1, while Albert Arenas missed this with a fall behind some stragglers. In Q2, Marco Bezzecchi was the winner of the first weekend in Styria, who lost a good starting position with a crash. The chances for the Italian are extremely poor on Sunday to fight for victory from the fifth row. But every race has to be driven before jumping to conclusions. It was the other way around after his disastrous fourteenth place last weekend, which surprisingly took pole position. With a last-minute crash, Remy Gardner missed the front row, but with the fifth-fastest time, the championship leader will start the race from fifth on Sunday, while his team-mate Raul Fernandez forms the front row alongside Lowes and Ai Ogura.

Polesitter Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) was overjoyed after qualifying to be able to start in the front row on the track that he did not like at all. His team found some improvements after the disastrous first weekend, which is why he is confident about the race. But most of all, he is looking forward to his home race at Silverstone.

The Moto3 Qualifying

In Q1 it was Riccardo Rossi, Carlos Tatay, Stefano Nepa and Kaito Toba who made it into the top four and thus bought the ticket for the second qualifying. Local hero Max Kofler, along with Andrea Migno, was the biggest disappointment after his good race a week ago. The Austrian will only have to start from third from last position in his second home race on Sunday. Adrian Fernandez from the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, which is led by Philipp Öttl’s father Peter, had a crash in Q1. Tatsuki Suzuki was the unlucky one in Q2 when he was on another best lap while lying in P1 and was pulled from the saddle by Gabriel Rodrigo, who fell. With three minutes to go, Fenati was faster than the Japanese and in the end his time was enough for pole, while Suzuki will start the race from row 1 in second place ahead of Jeremy Alcoba alongside the Italian despite an early fall through no fault of his own. Masia, Öncü and Sasaki form the second row in front of five-time season winner Pedro Acosta on P7.

Adrian Fernandez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) on the KTM named Husqvarna was the only one who fell in Q1, and so he will have to start the race from 22nd position on the grid.
The falling Gabriel Rodrigo (on the right) caught Tatsuki Suzuki at the rear in Q2, whereupon the Japanese also landed in the gravel and thus missed his pole position.

Starting grid in all 3 classes at a glance

The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg

The status of all classes in the World Championship at a glance

The schedule for the Austrian GP

Unless otherwise stated, this applies to all images (© MotoGP).