MotoGP Austria FP2 LIVE: Johann Zarco leads the Ducati armada!

Being on the 13th step of a MotoGP World Championship which has 20, the Austrian Grand Prix on the Red Bull Ring will mark two thirds of the quest for a world title, more open than ever. But before analyzing the dynamics of each force present, let us note some technical new features...

The biggest is of course the new chicane put in place this year between turns 2 and 3 to break the finishing speed in the latter.

We could have named it the “Zarco chicane” to remember, if necessary, the terrible incident that occurred in 2020 which came within a hair’s breadth of turning into a tragedy…

…but the authorities preferred to opt for a less humorous and more numerical nomenclature: turn 2A and turn 2B.

The first consequence is to freeze the lap records of the old route, George Martin forever remaining the fastest in 1'24.643 since his 2021 pole position. According to the simulations, the times are expected around 6 seconds slower than before.
The second is to add braking on a circuit which was already rated 5/5 on the Brembo difficulty index which provides brakes for the entire MotoGP field. In addition to the fact that the Italian manufacturer has revised its scale to classify the Red Bull Ring at 6/6, this brings the Austrian circuit into the very reduced list of tracks where the 320mm carbon discs are prohibited. On the program will only be the 340 and 355 mm, as in Motegi and Buriram, but only in the winged version, i.e. the most powerful solution available.

Finally, just in case, remember that the Long Lap takes place at turn #1 and costs much more than at Silverstone…

We arrive at the championship, where the situation is a bit paradoxical: although having lost heavily with his mistake at Assen, the current leader, fabio quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), got out of his Silverstone penalty by very slightly increasing his lead over his immediate pursuer, Alex Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), relegated to 22 points. But this was only possible thanks to the injury to the latter's feet and right heel and, worse for the Frenchman who was starting to appear as the big favorite for the 2022 crown, a third and threatening contender is moving up to speed Grand V by chaining together victories, Francis Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). With upcoming circuits not particularly favorable to a Yamaha M1 which has difficulty overtaking, like the Red Bull Ring where Yamaha has never won, El Diablo will have to show composure and seize every opportunity to try to double his world champion title: a difficult but motivating task and far from impossible for the Monster driver…

The dynamic has therefore changed camps and confidence is in order at Ducati arriving on the track cut with a billhook where the Borgo Panigale firm has won six victories in MotoGP, since the return in 2016, with Andrea Iannone (2016, from pole), Andrea Dovizioso (2017, 2019 and 2020/1), Jorge Lorenzo (2018) et Jorge Martin (2021/1, from pole).

With Francis Bagnaia in good shape, his teammate Jack Miller just got on the podium at Silverstone, Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) back at the forefront in Great Britain and 4th in the championship, Johann zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) strong and fast in England, and George Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) already a winner on the Austrian circuit, we are already rubbing our hands on the Bologna side, especially since the list does not stop there, with for example a driver like Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), also fast and eager to play in the big leagues.

Faced with the optimist of the red armada, another Italian brand is bathed in euphoria, at least on one side of its box, that of Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing). We have rarely seen the Catalan rider as happy as after his 2nd place at Silverstone and, a year after his separation from Yamaha, the rider from Noale has now reached a level where he can interfere in the course of the championship, as could be expected. elsewhere make it a new engine for the RS-GP in the Grands Prix to come. Note also that Lorenzo Savadori , although suffering slightly from a shoulder injury sustained during training, is present in Austria…

And, how can we talk about the Red Bull Ring without mentioning the performance of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), de facto leader of the Mattighofen firm which has won twice at home (Miguel Oliveira during the 2020 Styrian GP and Brad Binder during the 2021 Austrian GP): he collects the points with a metronome regularity, in addition to seizing opportunities, as he did last year on slicks in the wet.

Number 1 at KTM since the known departure of Miguel Oliveira at RNF, the South African will welcome the Australian next year Jack Miller as a teammate to make an exotic duo from the southern hemisphere, while the sister machines of the Tech3 team, once repainted in red and white in the GASGAS colors, will be piloted by Espargaro Pol and (probably) Remy Gardner. An announcement will be made in the coming hours…

Although efficient and having fast drivers, the Suzukis ofalex rins et Joan mir still suffer in qualifying. This, plus an impressive number of blank results and an inevitably heavy atmosphere since the announcement of the manufacturer's withdrawal from Hamamatsu at the end of the year, unfortunately relegates the beautiful GSX-RRs to 8th and 12th places in the general classification.

Finally, note the presence in the paddock of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) as an advisor to the Honda men visibly lost without the Spanish prodigy at the helm. The number 93 has not yet driven or raced since Mugello and his last surgical operation but still remains the current points leader of the firm with the golden wing (!) and will be present to allow the factory Japanese company to guide the development of the new RC213V in the right direction. Already in contact from his home, the eight-time world champion will therefore be present in Austria and Misano, always replaced by Stefan bradl on his machine.

In summary, since the return of MotoGP to the Red Bull Ring in 2016, Ducati has won 6 times and KTM 2 times, the 4 cylinders in line never: place your bets!

The official program here

This morning, on a drying track, the drivers were able to familiarize themselves with the new chicane on wet tires before switching to slicks to set the best times. For now, Jack Miller, Johann Zarco, Joan Mir, Jorge Martin, Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins, Brad Binder, Takaaki Nakagami and Enea Bastianini have pre-qualified for a direct passage to Q2, which could prove important given the uncertain weather conditions currently prevailing in the middle of the Styrian mountains…

While waiting to discover more, as the 25 drivers prepare for this second 45-minute free practice session on a track that is now completely dry, with temperatures of 23° in the air and 28° on the ground, let's enjoy these few live moments thanks to the official website MotoGP.com :

MotoGP™ Red Bull Ring	Austria 2021	Austria 2022 (New chicane)
FP1	1'23.805 Takaaki Nakagami (See here)	1'30.756 Jack Miller (See here)
FP2	1'31.304 Lorenzo Savadori (See here)	1'29.837 Johann Zarco (See here)
FP3	1'23.114 Francesco Bagnaia (See here)
FP4	1'23.816 Fabio Quartararo (See here)
Q1	1'23.547 Alex Marquez (See here)
Q2	1'22.994 Jorge Martin (See here)
Warm-up	1'23.629 Fabio Quartararo (See here)
Course	Brad Binder, Bagnaia, Martin (See here)
All time lap record	1'22.994 Jorge Martin (See here)

When the red lights go out... once is not usual, Johann zarco rushes first while Franco Morbidelli et Fabio Quartararo take the trail last.

On the tire side, the medium seems to be unanimous at the rear while all the options are available for the front.

At the end of the first round, alex rins registered the first reference in 1'31.522 just ahead Johann zarco et Fabio Quartararo.

On the next pass, the Suzuki rider maintained his advantage in 1'30.861, this time ahead Francis Bagnaia very shy this morning...

The Italian also takes the lead in 1'31.591, the best time of the day for the moment, just ahead Fabio Quartararo which uses a hard front. One more round and it's alex rins who regained the leadership in 1'30.321 before fabio quartararo does not provisionally impose a 1'30.285.

.At the end of the first quarter of an hour, alone Jack Miller did not improve his morning time while the hierarchy presents fabio quartararo 36/1000 in front Alex Rins, Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, Franco Morbidelli, Maverick Vinales, Johann Zarco, Luca Marini, Brad Binder, Jack Miller, Alex Márquez, Takaaki Nakagami, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Joan Mir, Jorge Martin, Miguel Oliveira, Andrea Dovizioso, Pol Espargaro, Stefan Bradl, Remy Gardner, Lorenzo Savadori, Marco Bezzecchi, Raul Fernandez, Darryn Binder and Aleix Espargaro strangely in difficulty.

Joan mir moves up to fourth position while Maverick Vinales will explore the gravel, without falling, as his teammate had done before.

https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1560605362402631682.

Alex Espargaro then reassures his fans by positioning himself in the top 6, but his time is canceled, more than likely for having gone out of track limits.

Jack Miller enters the top five while Francis Bagnaia will also explore gravel without falling.

At the start of the last quarter of an hour, it is now Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins, Jack Miller, Joan Mir, Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, Marco Bezzecchi, Franco Morbidelli, Maverick Vinales and Johann Zarco who are provisionally pre-qualified directly for Q2.

It's the moment, while the majority of the drivers have returned to their box to prepare for the final rush, when a few drops of rain have decided to appear! So we hurry to leave, everyone on soft rear slicks.

Jack Miller, third, John Zarco, 10st and George Martin, 12th, immediately lit the first sectors in red before the two Pramac drivers took the first two places, Jorge Martin in 1'30.119.

Meanwhile, Miguel Oliveira fall without gravity.

In the next round, Johann zarco wins in 1'29.837 while there are six Ducatis at the top of the ranking with Enea Bastianini, Jack Miller, Jorge Martin, Francesco Bagnaia and Marco Bezzecchi. Followed by the two Aprilias, Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins and Pol Espargaro.

A few moments later, fabio quartararo, then tenth, made his effort and lit the first three sectors in red before climbing to fourth position. The Yamaha rider looks unhappy.

Finally, Johann Zarco, Jack Miller, Jorge Martin, Fabio Quartararo, Francesco Bagnaia, Luca Marini, Marco Bezzecchi, Enea Bastianini, Maverick Vinales and Brad Binder provisionally prequalify for a very competitive Q2, with the first four drivers remaining within 4/100 of a second!

Results from FP2 of the MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com