MotoGP Austria: Miller commands FP1

Ducati Lenovo’s Jack Miller dominated the opening AustrianGP free practice at the Red Bull Ring with a 1’30.756 on slick tyres.

Prima Pramac’s Johann Zarco and Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir completed the top three from the second purple Desmosedici of Jorge Martin with reigning MotoGP Champion Fabio Quartararo in fifth.

A drying track saw premier class practice action fire up at the Red Bull Ring after heavy storms across the mountains overnight. Zarco leading the early times with a 1’40.413 as the prototype machines got to grips with the revised layout at turn two.

Red Bull KTM’s Miguel Oliveira was on top after ten minutes on track as the Portuguese rider set 1’38.843 pace. Zarco remaining in check from a pair of Suzuki GSX-RRs before Mir took charge overall only to be bettered seconds later by Miller.

Mooney VR46’s Luca Marini sat sixth just 0.051s faster than Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori as the pair circulated on the bubble of 1’40 as Maverick Viñales promoted the RS-GP to the lead with a 1’38.3. Miller quickly matching the effort by 0.001s before Oliveira once again mastered his manufacturer’s home track three-tenths quicker.

LCR Honda fielded a team attack in seventh and eighth at the half ways stage, neatly behind the Suzuki pairing, while Martin and Monster Energy Yamaha’s Quartararo rounded out the top ten. Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro demoting the reigning champion with his ninth revolution despite the Spaniard still carrying a broken heel after his Silverstone highside.

Suzuki was in charge in the second half as Mir led Alex Rins with a 1’37.153 lap. Zarco, Oliveira and Miller remained in the top five with Viñales, Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia, KTM’s Brad Binder and the LCR duo or Alex Marquez and Takaaki Nakagami