Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) finished Friday at the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich as the fastest man on Moto2. But the Briton had to work to obtain this leading position since he fought against Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) at the end of an FP2 characterized by improving conditions. In the end, it was only 0,010 that separated the two drivers. Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) is third.
After a sunny morning it looked like rain might ruin everyone's chances of improving, but that wasn't the case for Moto2. After MotoGP did a good job of drying the track just before, the conditions were good enough for the riders to really push towards the end, Lowes going even faster than his own morning benchmark. We note the presence in the top 5 of the unexpected Jake Dixon.
What will this second day at the Red Bull Ring have in store for us? Before answering this question, here is the table that refreshes our memory…
|
Moto2™ Austria 1 |
2019 |
2020 |
| FP1 |
1'29.264 Augusto Fernandez |
1'29.133 Sam Lowes |
| FP2 |
1'29.029 Brad Binder |
1'28.985 Sam Lowes |
| FP3 |
1'28.811 Mattia Pasini |
1'28.877 Sam Lowes |
| Q1 |
1'29.139 Iker Lecuona |
|
| Q2 |
1'28.718 Tetsuta Nagashima |
|
| Warm-up |
1'35.760 Philipp Oëttl |
|
| Course |
Binder, Marquez, Navarro (see here) |
|
| All time lap record |
1'28.718 Tetsuta Nagashima 2019 |
It's 20° in the air and 26° on the track which is now dry, the sun is making its appearance again.
The track is dry but the clouds are still looming! 👀
40 minutes to try and secure a Q2 place! 💪# Moto2 | #AustrianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/jQT1xORdXQ
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 15
kick of Nagashima in turn 6.
Marini takes the provisional best time of the session in 1.29.134s before Bezzecchi et Luthi. Lowes just like yesterday, goes on the offensive and recovers the best time of the session by hanging a lap time in 1.28.985s. Martin imitates him in the effort and takes 2nd place in the session (1.28.995s) ahead of Marini, Bezzecchi and Fernandez.
kick of Syarhin in turn 4 while Pons lack of getting into it too…
Backing it in looks cool until it bites like that! 💥
A mild annoyance for @edgarpons1 ????# Moto2 | #AustrianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/xGzwUOM7mW
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 15
Here is the provisional list of 14 drivers who will enter Q2 directly with 13 minutes left before the end of the session: Lowes, Martin, Marini, Bezzecchi, Chantra, Fernandez, Luthi, Dixon, Navarro, Schrotter, Gardner, Canet, Nagashima and Roberts. bastianini is at the door of Q2, he is 15th.
Lowes holds the line in all sessions..He improves his time by achieving a time in 1.28.877s.
Quickest time of the weekend for @SamLowes_22! 👏
He was fastest in FP1, FP2 and now FP3 👀# Moto2 | #AustrianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/tbmgVn1LCe
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 15
Baldassari is 16st…
It doesn't get much closer than that! 👀
Fine margins at Turn 9 for @7balda ????# Moto2 | #AustrianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/XZ00V5KGIp
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 15
kick of NAVARRO in turn 1
Nasty highside for @Jorge_Navarro9 out of turn 1! 😮
With just 9 minutes to go that's most likely his session done! 💥# Moto2 | #AustrianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/5U88KdikQk
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 15
kick of Schrotter in turn 4.
kick of Héctor Garzò.
The 14 drivers qualified for Q2 are: Lowes, Gardner, Martin, Bastianini, Canet, Bezzecchi, Virgo, Chntra, Fernandez, Nagashima, Luthi, Navarro and Dixon.
To frantic # Moto2 FP3 comes to a close! 🏁@SamLowes_22 dominates free practice as the top 14 are covered by just over 3 tenths of a second! 🔥#AustrianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/IigdFKRlpq
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 15
Moto2 Red Bull Ring 1 FP3: times
