Marquez quickest in Austrian MotoGP FP2, 1.3s covers all 21 bikes
Marc Marquez sets a swift pace in second free practice for the Austrian MotoGP as Andrea Dovizioso slips off and Valentino Rossi sits outside top ten
Marc Marquez sent out an ominous message to his rivals by topping second free practice for the 2019 Austrian MotoGP at the Red Bull Ring, as Andrea Dovizoso suffered a rare tumble.
The Repsol Honda rider set his quick lap towards the beginning of the session, his 1m 23.916secs effort good enough to resist the usual flurry of fast laps in the closing stages, with Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales slotting into second by 0.066.
Despite ending his session on the ground after a low-speed off Andrea Dovizioso’s FP1 session-topping lap was nonetheless enough to keep him third on the timesheets overall as the best placed Ducati rider.
Nakagami and Oliveira stand out
Fourth overall was leading independent Takaaki Nakagami on the year-old LCR Honda, the Japanese rider heading off usual Friday standout Fabio Quartararo and Jack Miller, with Miguel Oliveira a very impressive seventh best overall on the privateer Tech 3 Racing bike at KTM’s home event.
Danilo Petrucci, Cal Crutchlow and Pol Espargaro completed the top ten, which could prove crucial should forecast rain indeed descend on the Austrian hills in time for FP3.
Rossi risks ahead of FP3
In the ‘drop zone’ at the moment includes Valentino Rossi in 11th, Alex Rins on the sole Suzuki and Franco Morbidelli in 14th.
However, with just 1.3s covering all 21 riders, a dry FP3 will likely shake the order up again in time for Q1.
