All you need to know about second Red Bull Ring MotoGP practice

Marco Bezzecchi narrowly led Maverick Vinales in second practice for MotoGP’s Austrian Grand Prix, as Aprilia followed up its British GP win by getting among expected pacesetters Ducati and KTM at the Red Bull Ring.

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Key moments

– Bezzecchi fastest by 0.044s then runs out of fuel
– Marquez misses Q2 shot in Pol Espargaro incident
– Bagnaia third, Bastianini crashes

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Though Bezzecchi put his VR46 Ducati on top by 0.044s with a 1m28.533s lap that was the fastest so far on the revised layout with the chicane added last season, he ended the session parked on the grass.

The team suspected it had simply cut his fuel load too fine for the final run, and Bezzecchi happened to park just where team boss and mentor Valentino Rossi was watching from, meaning the MotoGP legend gave his protege a scooter lift back to the pits.

Rossi Taxis are now open for business! 👏 @ValeYellow46, much more than just the team boss! 😎#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/8raiSwHliL

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 18, 2023

Vinales had led most of the hour for Aprilia thanks to a strong mid-session lap of 1m29.075s – one that briefly looked like it might stand as the benchmark when rain began to fall.

It didn’t set in, though, and Vinales was predictably pushed down the order as riders took on fresh tyres for late time attacks.

But Vinales was able to close back in on Bezzecchi, with team-mate Aleix Espargaro – who’d been second for a long spell – and RNF’s Miguel Oliveira making it three Aprilias straight into Q2 by taking seventh and 10th respectively.

While championship leader Pecco Bagnaia was comfortably into Q2 in third, his works Ducati team-mate Enea Bastianini’s tough season continued as he had a crash at the new chicane and could only manage 16th.

KTM had struggled in first practice and only one of its bikes looked stronger in the afternoon at its home track – Brad Binder taking fourth place. Team-mate Jack Miller was only 14th.

Morning pacesetter Johann Zarco and Pramac team-mate (and 2021 Austria winner) Jorge Martin completed the top six.

Yamaha has looked stronger than expected given the circuit configuration today, and Fabio Quartararo followed up his second place in practice one with ninth and a Q2 spot in the second session. Team-mate Franco Morbidelli visited the gravel and was down in 17th.

The FIM #MotoGP Stewards are going to look at this one! 👇@marcmarquez93 wasn't happy that he found traffic on his fast lap! ⚔️#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/k8NDZeoRQu

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 18, 2023

Marc Marquez was only 13th but deserved better. He’d thrust his Honda – running the substantially revised front aero – to an impressive fourth for a spell and was on a strong later lap before being badly baulked by a cruising Pol Espargaro, who was later given a three-place grid penalty for it. Marquez’s works Honda team-mate Joan Mir was slowest of all.

Practice 2 Results