Pedro Acosta once again showcased his prowess at the Red Bull Ring. The KTM rider dominated the Austrian GP 2026 practice session with a time of 1:28.381, ahead of Fermin Aldeguer by 0.127 seconds and Ai Ogura by 0.187 seconds. This performance underscores Acosta's positive momentum, having secured two consecutive podiums.
From the start of the session, Acosta was unstoppable. He immediately set the pace and never relinquished the top spot. His late braking prowess and KTM's improved performance were key to his dominance. It's no wonder the young Spaniard is now tipped to challenge at the front, even contending for the title.
Behind him, the competition was fierce. Aldeguer and Ogura kept close, while Marc Marquez had to settle for fourth, 0.204 seconds adrift. Jorge Martin followed in fifth, ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio and Brad Binder. Surprisingly, Alex Marquez, who is usually solid, ended up eighth.
However, the spotlight fell on Francesco Bagnaia. The two-time world champion struggled again, finishing 18th, 0.885 seconds behind Acosta. This is a significant blow for Bagnaia, who is fighting to overcome a difficult period. Ducati seemingly still hasn't found the right setup for the Italian rider.
Meanwhile, Marco Bezzecchi had to settle for ninth, while Fabio Quartararo was the fastest Yamaha in tenth. Luca Marini and Johann Zarco completed positions 11 and 12. Enea Bastianini, on the KTM, could only manage 14th, behind Pol Espargaro.
With this result, Acosta is growing in confidence ahead of qualifying and the sprint race. He has a great chance to deliver a strong result in front of KTM's home crowd. Bagnaia, on the other hand, must bounce back quickly to avoid falling further behind in the title race. Qualifying will take place tomorrow, followed by the sprint race in the afternoon.
Read Also
Pedro Acosta dominates Austrian MotoGP Practice at Red Bull Ring, leading KTM 1-2. Marc Marquez fourth, Jorge Martin fifth. Full results and analysis.
Pedro Acosta tops MotoGP Austria 2026 practice, while Pecco Bagnaia faces Q1 for the fifth consecutive weekend.
Pedro Acosta fastest in Austrian MotoGP Practice 2026 at Red Bull Ring. KTM dominates session, Aldeguer and Ogura in top three. Read full analysis.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!