Quartararo sets blistering pace to top MotoGP warm-up, Zarco crashes

Fabio Quartararo heads into the Austrian MotoGP fastest after heading a Ducati 2-3 in morning warm-up. 

Quartararo set a metronomical pace from the outset and was the only rider able to set a sub 1m 24s lap. 

Johann Zarco looked set to join Quartararo in the 1m 23s bracket late on before suffering a fast crash at turn nine. 

Several riders including Joan Mir, Marc Marquez, Zarco and Luca Marini began the session with a set of wet tyres fitted, before making a flag-to-flag pit stop rehearsal should it rain later today.

From a consistency point of view, Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin were closest to Quartararo’s race pace. 

The pair finished third and fifth overall, while also using the same tyre strategy of a hard front and medium rear. 

Splitting the former Moto3 team-mates was Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro. The Spaniard was once again using the Italian manufacturer's new rear ride height device aboard his RS-GP machine. 

KTM had an impressive start to race day as Brad Binder finished seventh quickest - one spot ahead of team-mate Miguel Oliveira. 

Jack Miller was eighth and just ahead of Repsol Honda riders Pol Espargaro (ninth) and Marc Marquez (tenth). The eight-time world champion was one of a few riders to use a soft rear tyre instead of the preferred medium.

Defending world champion Mir seems to be struggling a bit more compared to last weekend. The 23 year-old was 12th, one place behind Alex Rins.