Pedro Acosta secured the top spot during the Friday Practice session for the MotoGP Austria 2026, clocking a fastest lap of 1 minute 28.381 seconds on his Red Bull KTM, according to reports from sports outlets. The Spanish rider maintained strong control throughout the session, ultimately outpacing Fermin Aldeguer by 0.127 seconds and Ai Ogura by 0.187 seconds to close out the day at the Red Bull Ring.
Acosta Dominates Practice as Rivals Scramble for Position
While riders like Marco Bezzecchi, Luca Marini, and Marc Marquez briefly traded the runner-up spot, no one managed to unseat the KTM rider from the top of the timesheets. Fermin Aldeguer charged into second place late in the session for BK8 Gresini Ducati, finishing just 0.127 seconds behind Acosta, as reported by RiderTua. Trackhouse Racing’s Ai Ogura took third place, trailing by 0.187 seconds in what marks a competitive return following a two-race absence due to injury, according to Liputan6.
Pro Tip: Tracking tire strategies during Friday practice sessions often reveals race-day potential.
Marquez and Martin Battle in Top Five
Ducati Lenovo’s Marc Marquez placed fourth with a time of 1 minute 28.585 seconds, according to timing data. Marquez utilized a mixed strategy by running early laps on a medium tire before switching to a soft rear to secure a brief stint in second place before late-session time attacks pushed him to fourth. Aprilia Racing’s Jorge Martin rounded out the top five, finishing 0.222 seconds behind Acosta. Marquez and Martin enter this weekend locked in a tight points battle at the top of the 2026 MotoGP riders’ standings, with Marquez holding the championship lead purely on countback of race wins, according to Liputan6 coverage.
Bezzecchi Survives Late Drama to Clinch Q2
Marco Bezzecchi encountered a tense finish to his Friday run. According to track accounts, the Aprilia rider had his first flying lap in the final phase canceled due to track limits. His subsequent lap placed him seventh, but traffic caused by a crash from Pramac Yamaha’s Jack Miller at Turn 2 forced Bezzecchi to check up and abandon further improvements. Bezzecchi ultimately salvaged ninth place with a 1:28.811 lap, safely securing a direct entry into Q2. Meanwhile, Francesco Bagnaia missed out on the automatic advancement spots, finishing 18th with a time of 1:29.266 after slipping down the order during the late time attacks, meaning the Ducati Lenovo rider must fight through Q1.
MotoGP Austria 2026 Practice Results
- 1. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM) – 1’28.381s
- 2. Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Ducati) – +0.127s
- 3. Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia) – +0.187s
- 4. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo) – +0.204s
- 5. Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) – +0.222s
- 6. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina VR46 Ducati) – +0.252s
- 7. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) – +0.269s
- 8. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Ducati) – +0.321s
- 9. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) – +0.430s
- 10. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) – +0.436s
Did You Know? Ai Ogura returned to the grid at the Red Bull Ring after missing the previous two rounds due to injury, instantly securing a direct Q2 spot with a third-place finish in practice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Practice session at MotoGP Austria 2026?
Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM finished fastest in the Practice session with a lap time of 1:28.381.
Which riders secured direct entry into Q2?
The top 10 riders advancing directly to Q2 include Pedro Acosta, Fermin Aldeguer, Ai Ogura, Marc Marquez, Jorge Martin, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Brad Binder, Alex Marquez, Marco Bezzecchi, and Fabio Quartararo.
Why did Francesco Bagnaia have to compete in Q1?
Francesco Bagnaia finished the Practice session in 18th place after failing to improve his time during the late-session time attacks, forcing him into Q1.
What caused the red flag during the Practice session?
The session was temporarily halted following a crash involving Alex Marquez.
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