What went on in first MotoGP practice at revised Red Bull Ring

Ducati rider Jack Miller set the pace at a slightly damp Red Bull Ring in the first MotoGP practice session of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend.

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Key moments:

> Miller thriving in low grip

> Chicane makes MotoGP debut

> Two title hopefuls out of top 15

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The new chicane, added to the MotoGP layout of the circuit to mitigate the danger posed by the sharp Turn 3, caused a number of early shortcuts before riders got the hang of it.

Onboard through Austria's revamped sector 1 💨#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/1PWFBvrJPE

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 19, 2022

Thought it didn’t rain during the session, the track was low-grip and damp enough that, despite a clear dry line, riders stayed away from slicks until the final 15 minutes of the session.

Johann Zarco’s 1m36.916s wound up the quickest wet-tyre time, but it was comfortably surpassed once slicks came into play – with Miller eventually ending up on a 1m30.756s.

Pramac Ducati’s Johann Zarco propped up a Ducati 1-2 but was a full six tenths behind Miller, with Suzuki’s Joan Mir in third slotting in between Zarco and the Frenchman’s team-mate Jorge Martin.

The only crash in the session was that of Remy Gardner, the Tech3 rookie getting dislodged from his KTM coming out of Turn 4.

Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) was fifth, while his main title rivals Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) both ended up right outside the top 15.

Espargaro did, however, have a sixth-place-worthy lap deleted at the chequered flag for a track limits infringement.

Nonetheless, Bagnaia and Espargaro as well as the latter’s team-mate Maverick Vinales could all have some concern about ending up outside the top 10 – given more rain is anticipated throughout the weekend and there is no guarantee they will get better opportunities to book an automatic Q2 spot in either FP2 or FP3.

Practice 1 Results