MotoGP Austria Q1 LIVE: Aleix Espargaró passes in a final push

Ducati dominated again in the third free practice session at an Austrian Grand Prix which is the 13th stage of MotoGP 2022, scheduled for Sunday at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. Five GP Desmosedici in the first six positions, with only Fabio Quartararo to “break” the domination of the Borgo Panigale house, such was a ranking which also fixed the numbers for Q2, and therefore those for this Q1.

One more time, Johann zarco posted the best time, the Ducati Pramac setting the best lap on the last attempt with a time of 1'28.964. Second time for one fabio quartararo extraordinary, who, as mentioned, is the only non-Ducati rider in the top six.

The Yamaha World Champion pays a gap of 0,153s, placing his M1 ahead of 4 GP Desmosedici, the factory one of Jack Miller, that of Team Pramac of Jorge Martin, the second official of Pecco Bagnaia and that of Team GresiniEnea Bastianini. Seventh time for Alex Rins and his Suzuki, behind the KTM of Brad Binder, the Aprilia of Maverick Vinales and his teammate Joan mir.

This means that the second in the championship Aleix Espargaró is forced to go through Q1. With him we find, among others, Takaaki Nakagami, Miguel Oliveira, Luca Marini, Franco Morbidelli, Andrea Dovizioso and the Aprilia tester Lorenzo Savadori.

There will also be rookies like Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati Mooney VR46 Racing Team) 13nd, followed by Fabio DiGiannantonio (Ducati Gresini) 14th, Darryn binder (Yamaha WithU RNF) 22rd, Remy Gardner (KTM Team Tech 3) 23th and Raul Fernandez (KTM Technical Team 3) 24th.

What will this Q1 have in store for us? Before knowing it, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

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)	1'28.964 Johann Zarco (See here)
FP4	1'23.816 Fabio Quartararo (See here)	1'29.731 Enea Bastianini
Q1	1'23.547 Alex Marquez (See here)	1'29.231 Aleix Espargaró
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)

The conditions will remain dry and the sky mild for this quarter of an hour when the two best drivers will emerge to play the final in Q2. During the FP4 which has just passed, Olive tree had a problem on his KTM and Dovizioso dropped. Bezzecchi finished the exercise fifth, Marini second, and the VR46 drivers are therefore motivated for this Q1 where we find the four Honda.

It's 22° in the air and 26° on the track.

The first reference is signed by Aleix Espargaro in 1'29.692, ahead Di Giannantonio. But Pol I will espargaro takes him second qualifying place for the rest. His brother on the Aprilia accelerates in 1'29.430. In the stands, we enjoy the show…

The final assault is launched...

Alex Marquez et Bezzecchi are both in the gravel trap in turn 3. They are unhurt. They didn't hang together, they fell separately.

Under the checkered flag, Aleix I will espargaro passes in a final push in 1'29.231 in front Di Giannantonio who scolds Marini for 36 thousandths.

Results of Qualifying 1 of the Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com