Tech3 KTM MotoGP rider Iker Lecuona set a blistering pace using the slick tyres at the end of a wet but drying second Austrian Grand Prix practice to top the session 3.3 seconds quicker than the rest.
Last weekend, Lecuona found out mid-session that he and his team-mate Danilo Petrucci wouldn’t have a ride for next season with the team choosing to promote Moto2 title rivals Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez.
The 21-year-old Spaniard risked fitting the slick tyres as the Red Bull Ring circuit dried out following a lunchtime rain shower.
He set a 1m27.520s to top the session on the slick tyres, some 3.3s quicker than FP1 pacesetter and new lap record holder Johann Zarco.
The top three was rounded out by Aleix Espargaro, while six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez was fourth quickest, having led a large portion of the session.
Jack Miller was the only other rider to risk the slick tyres, and he set the fifth fastest time ahead of LCR Honda’s Alex Marquez and the lead Suzuki of Alex Rins.
Pol Espargaro was eighth quickest on the second Repsol Honda, while championship leader Fabio Quartararo was over five seconds off the pace in ninth place.
The top 10 was rounded out by the fastest KTM of Brad Binder. His team-mate Miguel Oliveira had to stop on track with a technical issue with over 15 mins of the session remaining.
The second factory Ducati of Francesco Bagnaia had an off moment in the gravel on the exit of Turn 4, and ended up outside of 107% of Lecuona’s benchmark in 13th place.
Practice 3 Results
| Pos | Name | Team | Bike | Gap Next | Gap Leader | Best Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iker Lecuona | Tech3 KTM Factory Racing | KTM | 1m27.52s | ||
| 2 | Johann Zarco | Pramac Racing | Ducati | +3.397s | +3.397s | 1m30.917s |
| 3 | Aleix Espargaró | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | +0.32s | +3.717s | 1m31.237s |
| 4 | Marc Marquez | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | +0.116s | +3.833s | 1m31.353s |
| 5 | Alex Rins | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | +0.365s | +4.198s | 1m31.718s |
| 6 | Jack Miller | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati | +0.094s | +4.292s | 1m31.812s |
| 7 | Alex Marquez | LCR Honda Castrol | Honda | +0.149s | +4.441s | 1m31.961s |
| 8 | Pol Espargaró | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | +0.443s | +4.884s | 1m32.404s |
| 9 | Fabio Quartararo | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | +0.38s | +5.264s | 1m32.784s |
| 10 | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | +0.535s | +5.799s | 1m33.319s |
| 11 | Jorge Martin | Pramac Racing | Ducati | +0.089s | +5.888s | 1m33.408s |
| 12 | Takaaki Nakagami | LCR Honda IDEMITSU | Honda | +0.128s | +6.016s | 1m33.536s |
| 13 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati | +0.111s | +6.127s | 1m33.647s |
| 14 | Miguel Oliveira | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | +0.304s | +6.431s | 1m33.951s |
| 15 | Luca Marini | SKY VR46 Avintia Team | Ducati | +0.546s | +6.977s | 1m34.497s |
| 16 | Valentino Rossi | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha | +0.2s | +7.177s | 1m34.697s |
| 17 | Cal Crutchlow | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha | +0.004s | +7.181s | 1m34.701s |
| 18 | Enea Bastianini | Avintia Esponsorama Racing | Ducati | +0.053s | +7.234s | 1m34.754s |
| 19 | Joan Mir | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | +0.553s | +7.787s | 1m35.307s |
| 20 | Danilo Petrucci | Tech3 KTM Factory Racing | KTM | +0.315s | +8.102s | 1m35.622s |
