MotoGP Austria LIVE Race: Brad Binder dry in the rain and crash for Zarco

Article updated until the end of the race.

Jorge Martin qualified in pole position for this Austrian Grand Prix, setting a new lap record at the Red Bull Ring. This is the third leading position of his rookie season after Doha where he took his first MotoGP podium, in third position, and last weekend where he took his first victory in the category. Martin became the third driver since the current qualifying format was introduced in 2013 to qualify on pole position after coming through Q1, along with Marc Marquez (Thailand/2018) and Maverick Viñales (Valencia/2018).

With his third pole position in MotoGP, Martin became the first rookie to take three pole positions in his first seven races in the category since Jorge Lorenzo, who did so in his first three races in the category in 2008.

This is Ducati's third MotoGP pole position at the Red Bull Ring with Andrea Iannone and in 2016 Jorge Martin last weekend, both of whom won the race. Moreover, Martin became the first Ducati rider to take two successive pole positions since Jorge Lorenzo in 2018, who had done it three times in a row, from Silverstone to Aragon.

The pilots Ducati have won six of the seven MotoGP races at the Red Bull Ring since the Austrian circuit was introduced to the calendar in 2016, with four riders: Andrea Dovizioso (3 victories), Andrea Iannone (1) Jorge Lorenzo (1) et George Martin (1)

 

fabio quartararo qualified in second position for his 32nd front row in his 44th MotoGP race, almost 72,7%. In his previous 31 front rows, he has been on the podium 16 times including six of his seven premier class victories so far.

Francis Bagnaia, who finished 11th last weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix, qualified third for his fifth front row this season in three successive MotoGP races.

Johann zarco qualified in fourth position, for his 11th consecutive start from the first two rows. He will attempt to reach the podium for the first time since his second place in Catalunya earlier in the season.

Marc Marquez, the highest-placed Honda rider, qualified in fifth position, equaling his best finish since returning from injury in Portugal, who was in Germany when he won the race.

Jack Miller, who reached the podium twice last year at the Red Bull Ring, qualified in sixth position. This is the tenth time in eleven races this year that he has started from the first two rows of the grid. This is the third time this year that there have been four Ducati riders on the first two rows, with Doha and Styria.

Joan mir, the highest placed Suzuki rider, qualified in seventh position, his second best result of the season after Styria last weekend where he was fifth.

Winner last year at the Styrian Grand Prix, Miguel Oliveira made it through Q1 for the second time in a row at the Red Bull Ring to qualify in ninth position and as the highest placed KTM rider. This is the fifth time this year he has qualified among the top nine.

What will this Austrian Grand Prix race have in store for us? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

MotoGP™ Red Bull Ring	2020	2021
FP1	1'23.859 Jack Miller (See here)	1'23.805 Takaaki Nakagami (See here)
FP2	1'23.638 Pol Espargaro (See here)	1'31.304 Lorenzo Savadori (See here)
FP3	1'23.456 Joan Mir (See here)	1'23.114 Francesco Bagnaia (See here)
FP4	1'24.450 Takaaki Nakagami (See here)	1'23.816 Fabio Quartararo (See here)
Q1	1'23. 609 Johann Zarco (See here)	1'23.547 Alex Marquez (See here)
Q2	1'23.580 Pol Espargaro (See here)	1'22.994 Jorge Martin (See here)
Warm-up	1'24.126 Andrea Dovizioso (See here)	1'23.629 Fabio Quartararo
Course	Oliveira, Miller, Pol Espargaro (See here)	Brad Binder
All time lap record	1'23.027 Marc Marquez 2019	1'22.994 Jorge Martin (See here)

30° in the air and 41° on a dry track are the conditions currently offered to drivers for this 28-lap race. Here are the live images…

Drops of rain are felt on the starting grid… The dry race sign is shown. At its launch, Martin keep your advantage, zarco et Quarterly follow. bagnaia overexcited takes the lead in front of the two Pramac drivers who are ahead Quarterly who passed through Mark. Miller Mir et Binder follow.

In the first round, Quarterly is sixth. zarco pass Martin and returns to Bagnaia. Marc Marquez goes third. Scattered raindrops disturb some drivers and transcend others… Marc Marquez goes second, Quarterly is fifth after three rounds. The race direction communicates…

bagnaia remains in the lead in hard medium, Martin goes up second with the same mounts and Marquez follows with a soft back. Quarterly take your pace and move on zarco which slips to fifth.

Quarterly goes back to third. bastianini returns to the box. Quarterly goes second. The rain seems to be intensifying. Quarterly takes the lead on the eighth lap.

More bagnaia replies manfully. Quarterly et Marquez follow the Ducati official closely. Martin et zarco close the top 5 Miller which contains Mir et Binder. Oliveira et Aleix Espargaró complete the top 10.

Brad Binder has a warning about track limits like Martin et Mir broke the lock Miller. He goes back on Zarc. 

Here we are at the halfway point. zarco is no longer quite in the rhythm and presents itself as a prey of choice for Mir. Binder takes the scalp of Miller 11 laps from the goal. Marc Marquez do not let go Quartararo. Bagnaia is still ahead and the weather is getting worse... zarco fall at turn 9.

Quarterly goes wide at turn 3 and Marquez pass. There are eight rounds left. The Honda official calls the charge on his Ducati counterpart. He has never won on this track.

There are six rounds left, big black clouds are coming which motivates even more Marquez. Olive tree fall.

Miller et Kidneys rent to change motorbikes. There are 5 rounds left, it's the group in the lead. It's madness, Marquez takes the lead, Bagnaia Martin et Aleix Espargaró arises in the leading group.

Everyone returns, there are three rounds left and it's Binder who is in the lead Aleix Espargaro et Red !

Marquez fall. In front we have Binder Aleix Lecuona Marini et Red.

Under the checkered flag, it's Brad Binder who takes the lead bagnaia et Martin. Mir, Marini et lecuona follow, Quarterly is 7th, ahead Alex Marquez et Aleix I will espargaro. Amazing !

MotoGP Austria Race: classification

Credit classification motogp.com