Austrian MotoGP, Red Bull Ring - Free Practice (3) Results

Free Practice (3) results from the Austrian MotoGP at the Red Bull Ring, round 11 of the 2021 world championship.
Francesco Bagnaia, Austrian MotoGP, 13 August 2021
Francesco Bagnaia, Austrian MotoGP, 13 August 2021
© Gold and Goose

Francesco Bagnaia heads the timesheets during a dry and sunny Free Practice 3 for the Austrian MotoGP at the Red Bull Ring.

However Johann Zarco's Friday time remains unbeaten overall, as Pramac Ducati team-mate and last Sunday's winner Jorge Martin falls on his final lap and is left outside the combined top ten.

Martin will be joined by the likes of Alex Rins in Qualifying 1 this afternoon.

Maverick Vinales has been suspended from this weekend's race by Yamaha 'due to the unexplained irregular operation of the motorcycle' during last Sunday's Styria MotoGP, rumoured to mean deliberate over-revving of the bike: 'The rider's actions could have potentially caused significant damage to the engine... which could have caused serious risks to himself and possibly other riders.'

Michelin has changed the hard front tyre option after an issue for Miguel Oliveira in Sunday's Styrian race.

Cal Crutchlow is making the second of three planned appearances as a replacement for the injured Franco Morbidelli at Petronas Yamaha.

Aprilia's Lorenzo Savadori is absent due to an ankle injury in last Sunday's fiery accident with Dani Pedrosa.

The back-to-back Austrian events are the first since the start of the Covid pandemic without special restrictions in place for spectator numbers.

A chicane will be added to slow down the fast Turn 2 kink next season.

Austrian MotoGP, Red Bull Ring - Free Practice (3) Results
PosRiderNatTeamTime/DiffLapMax
1Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Team (GP21)1'22.874s19/21319k
2Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.094s18/21310k
3Johann ZarcoFRAPramac Ducati (GP21)+0.138s22/23317k
4Marc MarquezSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.258s22/22316k
5Aleix EspargaroSPAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)+0.264s18/19312k
6Jack MillerAUSDucati Team (GP21)+0.371s22/23317k
7Joan MirSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.446s18/24310k
8Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)+0.488s20/22311k
9Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)+0.579s19/20317k
10Pol EspargaroSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.607s21/21317k
11Alex RinsSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.608s21/23311k
12Luca MariniITASky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)*+0.653s21/22312k
13Jorge MartinSPAPramac Ducati (GP21)*+0.684s19/19315k
14Miguel OliveiraPORRed Bull KTM (RC16)+0.803s20/22313k
15Valentino RossiITAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.813s19/21309k
16Alex MarquezSPALCR Honda (RC213V)+0.821s18/23312k
17Iker LecuonaSPAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+0.832s19/22309k
18Enea BastianiniITAAvintia Ducati (GP19)*+1.159s5/19313k
19Danilo PetrucciITAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+1.200s18/20309k
20Cal CrutchlowGBRPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.319s21/22305k

* Rookie

Riders directly to Qualifying 2 - Top 10 Combined Practice Times:
PosRiderNatTeam
1Johann ZarcoFRAPramac Ducati (GP21)
2Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Team (GP21)
3Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)
4Marc MarquezESPRepsol Honda (RC213V)
5Aleix EspargaroESPAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)
6Jack MillerAUSDucati Team (GP21)
7Joan MirSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
8Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)
9Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)
10Pol EspargaroESPRepsol Honda (RC213V)

Official Red Bull Ring MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Johann Zarco FRA Ducati 1m 22.827s (2021)
Fastest race lap:
Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati 1m 23.827s (2019)

By Peter McLaren

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