Austrian MotoGP Practice Results | Zarco tops timesheets amid depleted field

Johann Zarco picked up where Pramac Racing team-mate Jorge Martin left off at the Red Bull Ring by claiming the fastest time in Friday free practice for the Austrian MotoGP.

Five days after Martin made history for the team by securing its maiden MotoGP win after 19 years of trying, team-mate Zarco suggested he is well placed to achieve something similar this weekend by showcasing lap record pace.

Setting a remarkable 1m 22.827secs, Zarco was a huge eight tenths faster than anyone else in FP1, with that benchmark standing since damp conditions would go on to blight FP2.

Suzuki enjoyed a strong start to the weekend with Joan Mir and Alex Rins landing the second and third best laps, with Takaaki Nakagami - who finished fifth last weekend - a promising fourth as the best placed Honda man.

With Maverick Vinales suspended, Dani Pedrosa not wild-carding and Lorenzo Savadori out through injury, only 20 riders will line-up in Austria this weekend.

Despite being down to just one RS-GP entry, the Aprilia of Aleix Espargaro rode high in fifth position, ahead of championship leader Fabio Quartararo on the sole remaining Yamaha Factory bike.

Alex Marquez made it two LCR Hondas in encouraging positions in seventh, from Pecco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, while race winner Martin kicked off in tenth place.

Meanwhile, Iker Lecuona had the boost of topping FP2 on the Tech 3 KTM in a session that was only viable for slick tyres in the closing stages after earlier rain.

2021 Austrian MotoGP | Red Bull Ring | Friday Free Practice [FP1 + FP2] Results