Red Bull Ring MotoGP FP3 Austrian Grand Prix: Marc Márquez impresses, Rossi in Q2

On Austrian soil where Ducati remains undefeated since the MotoGP world championship returned there in 2016 (only Valentino Rossi had already ridden here in 1996 for his first year in the world), Marc Márquez undoubtedly struck a big blow during of the first day of the Austrian Grand Prix.

Not that he dominated by obtaining an overwhelming provisional pole position, since he did not precede Maverick Vinales than 66 thousandths and Andrea Dovizioso by a tenth, but above all because, unlike the latter two, he obtained his time, or rather his times with that of the morning, without taking the trouble to fit a new tire for the final rush.

Suffice to say that the boy still has both margin and tires, and that he certainly intends to demonstrate all of that this morning in FP3, as well as in qualifying.

Marc Márquez, Maverick Vinales, Takaaki Nakagami, fabio quartararo, Jack Miller, Miguel Oliveira, Danilo Petrucci, Cal Crutchlow, Andrea Dovizioso et Pol Espargaró are therefore pre-qualified for Q2, which is neither the case of Valentino Rossi, nor that ofAlex Rins, respectively 11th and 12th.

In terms of grid modifications, Jorge Lorenzo whose future arouses rumor is always provisionally replaced by Stefan bradl, and Joan mir is package following his injury during testing in Brno. Hafiz Syahrin was declared fit to race, despite his heavy fall in FP1.

 

Here are the references available before this third 45-minute MotoGP session:

Red Bull Ring MotoGP™	2018	2019
FP1	1'23.830 Andrea Dovizioso (See here)	1'24.033 Andrea Dovizioso (See here)
FP2	1'33.995 Marc Márquez (See here)	1'23.916 Marc Márquez (See here)
FP3	1'26.496 Marc Márquez (See here)	1'23.251 Marc Márquez (See here)
FP4	1'24.139 Marc Márquez (See here)
Q1	1'24.195 Álvaro Bautista (See here)
Q2	1'23.241 Marc Márquez (See here)
warm up	1'24.138 Andrea Dovizioso (See here)
Course	Lorenzo, Marquez, Dovizioso (See here)
All time lap record	1'23.142 Andrea Iannone 2016

25° in the air and 34° on the track with good weather are the conditions offered to pilots for the exercise.

The first reference is signed by Marc Marquez in 1'24.231. Red follows in front Quarterly. Pol Espargaro enters Q2 with the sixth time. After just ten minutes, Marc Márquez did better than Friday in 1'23.788. He is the only driver under 1'24 per lap. Crutchlow Black Pol Espargaro of the top 10 after a quarter of an hour of play.

Valentino Rossi registers second in the session and enters Q2. He is one of four drivers who improved their Friday time.

fabio quartararo continues the laps at a good pace of 1'24.6. It is in medium soft.

Johann zarco is fifteenth at the halfway point of the session. alex rins still not in the top 10. Casa Particular in Viñales starts with new soft tires. He climbs third. The only KTM in Q2 for the moment is that ofOliveira. Marc Márquez lines up the laps at an impressive pace. He crushes the exercise of his domination. But where are the Ducatis?

The first is that of Dovizioso, fourth behind the two official Yamahas of Casa Particular in Viñales and of Red in pursuit of Márquez. Quarterly is behind him. Casa Particular in Viñales enters the 1'23 zone and takes second place while Miller goes third. There are ten minutes left and the hunt for the clock is on… Quarterly passes third and he is in the 1'23 zone.

Casa Particular in Viñales slams a 1'23.591 in full medium. He takes charge of operations. Kidneys goes back to sixth. He puts the Suzuki in Q2. For now !

The last five minutes have begun and Olive tree leaves the top 10 at the same time as Morbidely enters it. KTM's honor at home must be saved! Red is only tenth and therefore in danger. As Dovizioso right in front of him...

Márquez sets things straight with a 1'23.251 which brings him closer to the record of Iannone made on Ducati in 2016. Pol Espargaro enters the top 5 and pushes Red in Q1…

Dovizioso goes back to third, but Petrucci deprives him of politeness. Red slips to 13th… But in the last minute, he joins the top 5! Under the checkered flag, Márquez stay ahead Vinales, Dovizioso, Petrucci et Quarterly. Rossi, Miller, Nakagami, Rins et Pol Espargaro close the top 10. zarco is 14th and Olive tree 12th. the two KTMs frame a Morbidely disappointing. Crutchlow is the first eliminated for Q2.

FP3 Austrian Grand Prix MotoGP ranking:

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com