Martin leads Moto2™ field ahead of qualifying

Austrian GP race winner sits ahead of Bezzecchi after FP3, Lowes suffers heavy crash at Turn 3

Austrian GP race winner Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) set a 1:28.501 in FP3 at the BMW M Grand Prix of Styria to sit as the man to beat heading into Moto2™ qualifying. The Spaniard heads former Moto3™ rival Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) by 0.054 with Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) slipping to P3 on the combined standings. The British rider suffered a heavy crash at Turn 3 but was declared fit after a medical check.

Martin was an early mover as the intermediate class took advantage of the early, ideal track conditions at the Red Bull Ring, with Marcos Ramirez (Tennor American Racing) propelling himself into the top 10 in the early stages of FP3. Lowes’ crash happened coming into the braking zone of Turn 3, with the Free Practice Friday pacesetter seemingly hitting a false neutral. His Triumph-Kalex spat the 22 over the top in a heavy crash, with the bike set on fire. Lowes headed to the medical centre for a check-up and was thankfully declared fit, he’ll be aiming to take P1 back from Martin in qualifying.

Both Lowes and Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) sit third and fourth respectively based on their Friday times, Gardner sits 0.023 ahead of fifth fastest Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing). The Briton was 26th after the opening day of action in Styria, but Dixon produced a cracking lap to go P5 having previously dipped his toe in the top 14 earlier in the session.

Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46), Augusto Fernandez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and Openbank Aspar Team’s Aron Canet all failed to go quicker on Saturday morning, but stay in the top 10. The quartet sit P6-P9 respectively, with Tom Lüthi (Liqui Moly Intact GP) completing the top 10.

Championship contender Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) is 11th after Free Practice, 0.448 from Martin’s time. The Italian is followed by Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up), Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing) and Ramirez complete the automatic Q2 places.

Tune in for Moto2™ qualifying at 15:10 (GMT+2)!

Top 10 combined:
1. Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – 1:28.501
2. Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.054
3. Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 0.232
4. Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) + 0.248
5. Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 0.271
6. Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) + 0.313
7. Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.349
8. Augusto Fernandez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 0.350
9. Aron Canet (Openbank Aspar Team) + 0.419
10. Tom Lüthi (Liqui Moly Intact GP) + 0.428

Click here for the full results!

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