MotoGP FP3 Austria: Francesco Bagnaia tops FP3, Zarco overall

August 14, 2021 EMR Writer

Francesco Bagnaia was the quickest rider in the FP3 session as Zarco holds his lead.

Johann Zarco remains king in Austria despite the lead from Francesco Bagnaia in the FP3 session, however, the biggest news from the session is that last time poleman and race winner Jorge Martin is forced to go via the Q1 session after a crash on his last lap of the session, relegating him into working extra hard to battle for pole position later if he can escape the incredibly tough Q1 session.

Every single rider aside from Zarco beat their best time of the weekend in FP3, Zarco who now holds the lap record for the track which he set in FP1, since this record only Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo have been able to set 1:22 lap times, achieving this in the FP3 session with Zarco finishing in third place in the session only 0.013 away from a 1:22 lap time.

Finishing in fourth place was Marc Marquez, the eight-time champion is struggling with his shoulder but is knuckling down and putting in solid lap times with a fourth-place in Austria, ensuring himself a Q2 spot later on. He has confirmed he aims to battle for the championship next year in 2022 proving he’s gained some confidence in recent weeks despite his pain, he led Aleix Espargaro by only 0.006 seconds in fifth place, the Aprilia man consistently putting in some strong laps in practice.

Jack Miller has made a big improvement on yesterday’s P17 in FP2, the Aussie rider leading Joan Mir then Takaaki Nakagami in P8. MotoGP’s Sunday Man Brad Binder has secured himself a Q2 spot finishing in P9, the South African and his brother in Moto3 both made some stunning comebacks last time out in Austria, a better qualifying for the duo will allow them to fight for victory tomorrow.

Pol Espargaro was the last man in the FP3 session, beating Q1 man Alex Rins by only 0.001 seconds which is going to hurt like a mothertrucker for the Suzuki man with Luca Marini also showing a burst of sped only 0.046 seconds from a Q2 spot.

Other notable names in the Q1 session are Miguel Oliveira and Alex Marquez.

Full FP3 Results –