What happened in first Austrian Grand Prix MotoGP practice

Pramac Ducati rider Johann Zarco took first place in the opening practice session of MotoGP’s Austrian Grand Prix weekend at the Red Bull Ring.

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Key moments:

> Zarco four tenths clear on new tyre

> Marquez crashes at low speed

> No KTMs in top 13

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With first practice no longer counting towards automatic passage to Q2, the lack of late soft-tyre ‘time attack’ laps allowed for Fabio Quartararo’s early benchmark to remain until the chequered flag – although it was finally surpassed moments after it flew, and by a considerable margin.

The LCR Honda-linked Zarco fired in a 1m29.838s, going four tenths of a second clear of his French compatriot, with the gap from Zarco to Quartararo around the same as the gap down from Quartararo to his Yamaha team-mate Franco Morbidelli in 13th place.

Zarco’s lap was aided by a fresh medium rear tyre, while Quartararo had done the whole session on the same set.

Maverick Vinales – who like Quartararo stuck to the same set – was third for Aprilia, followed by Gresini Ducati rider Alex Marquez, who had his first run in the session compromised by big plumes of smoke billowing out from his front brake disc.

A smoky start! 💨@alexmarquez73 has some sort of issue with his front brake! 🚨#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/zieANeaatb

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 18, 2023

Marco Bezzecchi was fifth behind Marquez, despite a couple of visits to the run-off area during the session, while Marquez’s Gresini team-mate Fabio Di Giannantonio moved up to sixth late on.

LCR Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami was the best of the Japanese marque’s representatives in seventh, albeit just a tenth down on Quartararo in second.

The only brand absent from the top 10 was the local firm KTM, which had Brad Binder as its highest-placed rider in 14th.

A harmless tip-off for @marcmarquez93 at Turn 4! 💥

One of the trickiest braking points on the calendar ⚠️#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/l7hL3rHkI1

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 18, 2023

Honda’s six-time champion Marc Marquez was one of two riders to crash during the session, falling off at low speed in the gravel on the edge of the track after coming in too hot into Turn 4 – Schlossgold. Marquez had an extensive trip through the gravel at the same corner earlier in the session, which came moments after Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro did the same.

The elder Marquez and team-mate Mir both have Honda’s new aero package this weekend, albeit Marquez wasn’t running it at the time of his crash.

Rookie Augusto Fernandez was the other crasher, the Tech3 Gas Gas man tipping off at the apex of the first part of Red Bull Ring’s MotoGP-specific chicane – which had been introduced back in 2022.

Practice 1 Results