AustrianGP MotoGP Sprint Saturday Plus Moto2 Moto3 Front Rows

Game on: it’s equal points as Bagnaia wins, Martin recovers to second & Marquez slides out in Spielberg

Gloves Off, Long Lap Drama, and a Slide Out of Contention: Tissot Sprint in Austria Leaves Bagnaia on Top

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) delivered a stellar performance in the Tissot Sprint at the Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, reclaiming the Championship lead. The reigning Champion went head-to-head with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) in the opening laps before Martin’s error at a shortcut earned him a Long Lap penalty. Bagnaia’s victory puts him on equal points with Martin, but Bagnaia takes the Championship lead due to his superior number of Grand Prix wins in 2024. Sunday’s showdown is set to be electrifying.

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) closely followed the early battle but later crashed out from second place as Martin served his penalty. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) steered clear of the chaos, securing third place on the podium as Martin recovered to take second.

Bagnaia launched off the line with intensity, grabbing the holeshot and immediately coming under pressure from Martin, who took the lead into Turn 3. The reigning champion fought back at the end of Lap 1, but Martin reclaimed the lead at the final corner, setting up an elbow-to-elbow duel between the title contenders.

The turning point came when Martin ran wide at Turn 2, cutting through the chicane and rejoining behind Bagnaia. Despite the mistake, he didn’t lose significant time, leading to an investigation by the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards, who issued a Long Lap penalty. Martin delayed taking the penalty but eventually did so, allowing Bagnaia to build a solid lead while Marquez and Espargaro battled behind.

On Lap 10, Marquez’s race took a dramatic turn when he lost the front at Turn 3, dropping to 23rd and eventually retiring to the pit lane, marking a disappointing end to his Saturday.

Bagnaia maintained his blistering pace, crossing the finish line with a four-second advantage over Martin, putting them equal on points. Espargaro, having avoided the drama, secured a surprising third place.

Further back, a fierce battle for the top five unfolded, with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) losing out to a late charge from Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) were also in the mix, with Miller narrowly defending fifth place by just 0.102s from Morbidelli.

Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) moved up to P8, while wildcard Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) impressed with a ninth-place finish, just ahead of rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), who rounded out the top ten.

As Super Saturday concludes, all eyes turn to Sunday’s main event in Spielberg. Don’t miss the next chapter in this thrilling MotoGP™ season at 14:00 (UTC +2)!

RESULTS

Moto2 Vietti secures second pole in three races as Ogura is ruled out of action

Celestino Vietti Secures Moto2™ Pole at the Red Bull Ring

Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will start from pole position in the Moto2™ race at the Red Bull Ring after clocking a 1:33.855, narrowly edging out Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) by just 0.058 seconds. World Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) secured a crucial third place in Q2 as he aims to solidify his title lead on Sunday.

• Title contender Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) has been declared unfit for the rest of the Austrian GP after suffering a fractured right hand in a crash during Practice 2 at the exit of Turn 2B.
• Fellow Championship challengers Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) and Fermin Aldeguer (Sync SpeedUp) will start outside the top 10, in P11 and P17 respectively, after tough outings in Austria.

Don’t miss the Moto2™ race at 12:15 local time (UTC +1) on Sunday afternoon!

Moto3 Ortola beats Kelso to pole as Alonso faces Sunday Long Lap penalty

Ivan Ortola Secures Third Pole of 2024 with a 1:40.057 at the Red Bull Ring

Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) clinched his third pole position of the 2024 season with a 1:40.057, emerging victorious in a thrilling Q2 session at the Red Bull Ring. The Spaniard edged out Practice leader Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) by 0.143 seconds, while Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) secured a spot on the front row in P3.

• World Championship leader David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) qualified in P6, but the Colombian will face a Long Lap penalty on Sunday, adding an extra layer of drama to the lightweight class race.
• Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) will start from P4, as Alonso’s three main title rivals—Holgado, Ortola, and Veijer—aim to capitalize on the #80’s challenging Sunday.

Catch the lightweight class showdown in Austria at 11:00 local time (UTC+1) on Sunday morning!

Official MotoGP Press Release