Martin back into MotoGP lead after Acosta throws away sprint win
Jorge Martin came back from eighth to first after an early tussle with MotoGP title rival Marc Marquez to win the Austrian Grand Prix sprint - but only after Pedro Acosta crashed from a comfortable lead.
Polesitter Martin had gone slightly wide into the first corner at the start, allowing Marquez's Ducati to get a run on his Aprilia into the following machine.
Martin's bid to hang on as Marquez came through left him visiting the run-off area, crunching over the kerbs and losing all momentum on the exit - dropping him right back to eighth.
But Marquez then ran wide at the tight right-hander at the top of the hill, with Acosta's KTM slipping through and duly charging away.
Martin's recovery was rapid - even Aprilia team-mate Marco Bezzecchi and main title rival Marquez unable to hold him back as he sliced through to second again by half-distance.
Acosta looked out of reach, though - two and a half seconds ahead and showing no sign of being caught.
But then with three laps to go, Acosta went down going into the chicane, carrying far too much speed into the complex and losing it in the gravel trap. He got going again before soon retiring in the pits.
Martin duly swept to victory ahead of Marquez and Bezzecchi, putting him back in the championship lead by three points.
Ai Ogura marked his first race back after injury by claiming fourth via a late pass on Alex Marquez.
Pecco Bagnaia scored his first points since July's German GP in sixth, ahead of top Honda Johann Zarco, Fermin Aldguer's Gresini Ducati and final scorer Brad Binder.
Results
1 Jorge Martin (Aprilia)
2 Marc Marquez (Ducati) +1.026s
3 Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) +1.675s
4 Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia) +3.495s
5 Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) +4.447s
6 Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati) +5.142s
7 Johann Zarco (LCR Honda) +5.895s
8 Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Ducati) +6.810s
9 Brad Binder (KTM) +7.233s
10 Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati) +9.228s
11 Enea Bastianini (Tech3 KTM) +11.580s
12 Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) +13.050s
13 Luca Marini (Honda) +15.076s
14 Pol Espargaro (Tech3 KTM) +18.373s
15 Taka Nakagami (Honda) +19.201s
16 Diogo Moreira (LCR Honda) +20.503s
17 Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pramac Yamaha) +20.964s
18 Alex Rins (Yamaha) +21.054s
19 Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia) +22.646s
20 Jack Miller (Pramac Yamaha) +26.053s
DNF Pedro Acosta (KTM)
DNF Franco Morbidelli (VR46 Ducati)
