Impressive rookie Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) ended the opening day of action at the Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich at the summit in the Moto2™ class after setting a 1:28.887 in FP1. The wet weather cleared for FP2 and some riders improved, including third place Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo), but it’s Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) who remains second just 0.007s off Ogura’s pace.
A serious contender for the win this weekend! ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) August 13, 2021
The rookie @AiOgura79 tops FP1! ????#Moto2 | #AustrianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/3XLGMtfI9p
Three tenths covering the top 10
Once again it’s incredibly competitive in the intermediate class as the riders were able to get two dry sessions under their belts on Friday, despite heavy rain disrupting Moto3™ and MotoGP™ in the afternoon. Gardner’s 1:28.967 was enough to top FP2 ahead of Ogura, but the latter holds the advantage on the combined standings. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was another improver in FP2, a time good enough for P8 on the overall classification – just 0.2s down on top spot.
Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) heads into Saturday’s action as the fourth quickest rider, the German sits marginally ahead of Styrian GP winner Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46). The Italian had an off-track excursion in FP2 at the tricky downhill Turn 4, Bezzecchi just about avoiding a crash. Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team) and Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) are sixth and seventh respectively, then comes Raul Fernandez in eighth, with Aron Canet (Aspar Team Moto2) and Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) rounding out the top 10.
???? @Marco12_B goes through the gravel in turn 4 and crashes... Sort of! ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) August 13, 2021
Let's start the debate... Is this a crash or not? ????#Moto2 | #AustrianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/pvg3i5noeF
Reigning Moto3™ World Champion Albert Arenas (Aspar Team Moto2) and Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP40) crashed unhurt in FP2.
Don’t miss the action that awaits in Moto2™ FP3 at 10:55 local time (GMT+2) on Saturday morning, it’s a session that will decide the automatic Q2 qualifiers.
Top 10 combined:
1. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) – 1:28.887
2. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.007
3. Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.080
4. Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) + 0.101
5. Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.128
6. Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team) + 0.153
7. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 0.220
8. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.267
9. Aron Canet (Aspar Team Moto2) + 0.305
10. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 0.330