MotoGP™ World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) set the fastest lap in the Warm Up for the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, but all eyes were on the skies. While all of the quick laps were set on slick Michelin tyres, light rain started to fall just over halfway into the session, with more showers a distinct possibility in this afternoon’s Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring - Spielberg. Multiple riders were seen opting to practice bike swaps in case of a flag-to-flag race, and Aleix Espargaro exhibited obvious pain in doing so after fracturing his heel a fortnight ago at Silverstone. Could that be an issue for Aprilia Racing's title contender, who has qualified ninth for the Austrian GP?
Easy to forget that @AleixEspargaro is still nursing a fractured heel! ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) August 21, 2022
A clear sign of just how much pain Aleix is still in! ????#AustrianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/DlVmd4NrS9
As far as the timesheet looks after WUP, Quartararo finished half a second clear of the field. The Frenchman struggled initially to stay in track limits but, when he did, he clocked a 1:30.054 and then a 1:29.800 on consecutive laps – a good omen for the man starting on the middle of Row 2. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) was the best of the rest on a 1:30.315, from Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) on a 1:30.346, Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) on a 1:30.412, and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) on a 1:30.462, while pole-sitter Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was classified 16th on a 1:31.043. Miller had a brief excursion through the gravel at the new Turn 2a/Turn 2b chicane, but the session was otherwise essentially incident-free.
Rain certainly spiced up the most recent MotoGP™ race at the Red Bull Ring; will we get more of the same this time around? Lights go out at 14:00 (GMT +2)!
MotoGP™ WUP Top 10:
1. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) – 1:29.800
2. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) + 0.515
3. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) + 0.546
4. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.612
5. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.662
6. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) + 0.666
7. Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) + 0.685
8. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) + 0.705
9. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) + 0.771
10. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) + 0.824