Styria MotoGP: Espargaro sets FP2 pace for KTM
KTM’s Pol Espargaro led the second MotoGP practice for the Styrian Grand Prix, with LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami trailing him at the Red Bull Ring.
Espargaro’s Austrian GP came off the rails at the restart, with a strong victory chance going walking after he ran out of his preferred medium tyres, while a crash with Tech 3 KTM’s Miguel Oliveira ended his afternoon early.
Showing good pace all weekend during the Austrian GP, Espargaro picked up where he left off by topping the combined timesheets on Friday.
The KTM rider led the early part of the session with a 1m24.301s, which he improved to a 1m24.203s just seven minutes into the afternoon outing.
This stood for some time as race preparation seemed to be the plan for most of the field, though Suzuki’s Alex Rins began lighting up the timing screens when he fitted a fresh soft slick to his GSX-RR with 16 minutes to go.
Rins – who was in contention for victory last week before crashing out – fired in a 1m24.122s to finally depose Espargaro’s time.
As the whole filed went for a time attack in the closing stages, Espargaro re-assumed control at the top of the standings with a 1m23.764s – the fastest time of the day.
The KTM rider improved to a 1m23.638s on his final effort, which went unchallenged through to the chequered flag.
Nakagami guided the year-old Honda to second, 0.266 seconds back, while Austrian GP podium finisher Joan Mir completed the top three on the Suzuki.
He headed teammate Rins, with Maverick Vinales fifth on the factory team Yamaha ahead of Oliveira and Petronas Yamaha's Franco Morbidelli.
Aleix Espargaro was eighth in FP2 on the Aprilia, though is still outside of the provisional Q2 places on the combined times.
KTM duo Brad Binder, who holds a provisional Q2 place currently, and Tech 3’s Iker Lecuona – who does not – rounded out the top 10.
Valentino Rossi is also outside of the provisional Q2 spots currently after ending FP2 in 11th ahead of Honda’s Alex Marquez and LCR’s Cal Crutchlow.
Championship leader Fabio Quartararo cut a frustrated figure again on his Petrona Yamaha, after several offs under braking prompted an angry response from the Frenchman.
He is out of the provisional Q2 places and was 14th in FP2, with Andrea Dovizioso following him in 15th.
Despite not getting into the top 10 places in FP2, both Dovizioso and FP1 pacesetter Jack Miller [17th] do hold Q2 places currently having not fitted a fresh soft tyre in the closing stages this afternoon for a time attack.
Styrian Grand Prix - Second practice results:
| Cla | Rider | Bike | Time | Gap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Pol Espargaro |  | KTM | 1'23.638 | |
| 2 |  Takaaki Nakagami |  | Honda | 1'23.904 | 0.266 |
| 3 | Joan Mir |  | Suzuki | 1'23.907 | 0.269 |
| 4 | Alex Rins |  | Suzuki | 1'24.009 | 0.371 |
| 5 | Maverick Viñales |  | Yamaha | 1'24.060 | 0.422 |
| 6 |  Miguel Oliveira |  | KTM | 1'24.118 | 0.480 |
| 7 |  Franco Morbidelli |  | Yamaha | 1'24.187 | 0.549 |
| 8 | Aleix Espargaro |  | Aprilia | 1'24.366 | 0.728 |
| 9 | Valentino Rossi |  | Yamaha | 1'24.378 | 0.740 |
| 10 |  Brad Binder |  | KTM | 1'24.427 | 0.789 |
| 11 | Iker Lecuona |  | KTM | 1'24.429 | 0.791 |
| 12 | Alex Marquez |  | Honda | 1'24.463 | 0.825 |
| 13 |  Cal Crutchlow |  | Honda | 1'24.560 | 0.922 |
| 14 |  Fabio Quartararo | | Yamaha | 1'24.643 | 1.005 |
| 15 | Andrea Dovizioso |  | Ducati | 1'24.774 | 1.136 |
| 16 | Michele Pirro |  | Ducati | 1'24.807 | 1.169 |
| 17 |  Jack Miller |  | Ducati | 1'24.925 | 1.287 |
| 18 | Danilo Petrucci |  | Ducati | 1'24.985 | 1.347 |
| 19 | Bradley Smith |  | Aprilia | 1'25.025 | 1.387 |
| 20 |  Stefan Bradl |  | Honda | 1'25.057 | 1.419 |
| 21 | Tito Rabat |  | Ducati | 1'25.221 | 1.583 |
| 22 | Johann Zarco | | Ducati | ||
| View full results | |||||
Previous article
Avintia: Brno clash set precedent for Zarco penalty
Next article
Pol Espargaro keen to compare KTM against Marc Marquez
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Event | Styrian GP |
| Author | Lewis Duncan |
MotoGP 2021 kicks off in Qatar
Mandalika Circuit update
MotoGP Starting Grid: Doha Grand Prix
MotoGP Starting Grid: Qatar Grand Prix
Top 10 most successful Repsol Honda Team riders
Where does Espargaro sit ahead of Marquez's return?
Pol Espargaro’s first results as a Honda MotoGP rider may not appear special. But dig a little deeper and a clearer picture of his performance emerges. And, as Lewis Duncan writes, it’s cause for celebration at Honda with the return of Marc Marquez set to provide Espargaro with the reference he has been missing so far this year
The "pit bull" MotoGP rookie already drawing legendary comparisons
MotoGP’s 2021 rookie crop is one of the strongest in recent years, but one is already standing out. Jorge Martin’s Doha GP heroics have courted many to compare him to numerous MotoGP legends. Autosport spoke to Pramac boss Francesco Guidotti to find out why MotoGP’s latest Spanish star is already making such an impact
Why MotoGP's stewards must revisit Miller and Mir's Losail clash
Despite Suzuki’s decision not to appeal against Race Direction’s refusal to penalise Jack Miller following the incident with Joan Mir in Losail, something must be done to avoid a repeat of such an incident, which could have easily ended in tragedy
Why MotoGP’s top gun looks more dangerous at the Doha GP
Lightning hasn't struck twice for Maverick Vinales since 2017 and his wayward form of recent years makes predicting how he'll fare each MotoGP race weekend tricky. But fresh from his Qatar GP win, Vinales looks like an even more dangerous prospect for the Doha GP following an intriguing Friday practice.
Why MotoGP’s new Amazon Prime series is long overdue
OPINION: MotoGP is getting its own version of Drive to Survive on Amazon Prime at some point in the near future. It was news welcomed by the grid’s leading riders. And following the impact DTS has had on Formula 1, MotoGP desperately needs the same boost.
The key changes behind the latest 'return of the Mack'
Maverick Vinales’s authoritative victory at the MotoGP season opener came during a period of personal and professional change for the Yamaha rider. Can it be the springboard for a title challenge?
Why Lorenzo needs to ditch social media and enjoy retirement
OPINION: Jorge Lorenzo's status as one of the greatest MotoGP riders of all time is hard to dispute. But his constant social media spats with fellow riders and insistence on listing his achievements to his detractors are running the risk of tarnishing a legacy he worked hard to create.
Can leaving a factory team end Rossi’s MotoGP win drought?
It is over three-and-a-half years since the Italian national anthem rang out to declare a Valentino Rossi victory in MotoGP. To some onlookers his move out of the factory Yamaha squad meant the 2017 Dutch TT could remain his final win, but after an encouraging transition at Petronas SRT hope is far from lost
