News Summary
- Álex Márquez crashed when the front of his Gresini Ducati touched down after a wheelie at Turn 1.
- Debris and dirt left across the circuit forced officials to stop Practice with approximately 12 minutes remaining.
- Márquez returned on his second bike and recovered to eighth, securing a direct place in Q2.
Álex Márquez caused a late red flag during Friday’s MotoGP Practice at the Red Bull Ring after suffering an unusual crash on the exit of Turn 1.
The Gresini Ducati rider accelerated up the hill and lifted the front wheel, but lost control as the tyre returned to the ground. Márquez was thrown from the motorcycle and slid towards the advertising barriers.
He immediately stood up and climbed over the barrier without assistance. With no visible trackside opening nearby, Márquez had to make his way across the advertising structure before returning to the paddock.
The accident scattered pieces of the Ducati across the circuit and carried dirt and grass onto the racing line. Marshals also needed time to retrieve the damaged bike, leading race control to stop the session with approximately 12 minutes remaining.
Márquez appeared confused by the accident and gestured towards the motorcycle while speaking with marshals. The front had folded almost immediately after touching the asphalt, giving the Spaniard little opportunity to react.
At the time of the crash, Márquez was outside the ten positions that guaranteed direct entry into Q2. He was transported back to the garage on a scooter and switched to his second motorcycle once the pit lane reopened.
The stoppage left the MotoGP field with a ten-minute shootout. Márquez initially climbed to fifth before late improvements from his rivals pushed him down to eighth.
His 1:28.702 lap was still enough to qualify directly for Q2, leaving the Gresini rider 0.321s behind Pedro Acosta. The KTM rider completed a Friday sweep after also leading the opening practice session at the Red Bull Ring.
Acosta ultimately headed Fermín Aldeguer and Ai Ogura, while Marc Márquez and Jorge Martín completed the top five. Fabio Quartararo claimed the final Q2 place by only 0.004s over Luca Marini.
FAQ
When is the next MotoGP race?
The next race is the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, taking place from September 18-20. Friday practice begins on September 18, the Sprint takes place on Saturday and the Austrian GP is held on Sunday.
What time is the 2026 Austrian MotoGP?
The Austrian MotoGP starts at 14:00 local time (13:00 UK) on Sunday, September 20. The Sprint starts at 15:00 local time (14:00 UK) on Saturday. GRANDE PRÊMIO has the full Austrian MotoGP schedule and start times for the UK, India, South Africa and Australia.
Who leads the 2026 MotoGP championship before the Austrian GP?
Marc Márquez and Jorge Martín arrive at the Red Bull Ring level on 274 points, with Márquez leading the championship on the Grand Prix wins tiebreaker. Marco Bezzecchi is third, 33 points behind, with 8 rounds remaining.
Why was Austrian MotoGP Practice red-flagged?
Debris, grass and dirt were left on the circuit after Álex Márquez crashed at Turn 1. Marshals also needed to remove his damaged motorcycle.
