Moto2 qualifying, Spielberg: Salac sets record lap, Moto2 elite in Q2

During FP1 in the middle division of the World Championship, there had been a number of crashes on a track that was still dry but very cool. Alongside KTM Ajo ace Collin Veijer, rookie Angel Piqueras was also involved. The MSi rider, who had taken himself, Dani Holgado and Senna Agius out of the race at Misano last Sunday immediately after the start, broke a bone in his right hand in the crash at the Red Bull Ring.

Piqueras will be unable to serve the penalty imposed for the Austrian Grand Prix – a double long lap – as the Spaniard is already on his way home to undergo surgery tomorrow. Veijer is also out of action – the Dutchman fractured his collarbone in his crash.

Conditions had improved for the crucial free practice session, which sends the 14 fastest riders straight through to the second qualifying session on Saturday. The top contenders in the World Championship standings were also well ahead in FP1. Tony Arbolino was followed by David Alonso, Leader Gonzalez and his main rival Izan Guevara. Senna Agius, who was officially confirmed as a MotoGP rider for Tech3 for 2027 ahead of the GP weekend, was only listed in 13th place in the morning session.

After a brief warm-up phase, Izan Guevara was the first to go on the attack. And what an attack it was – on his second flying lap, the Pramac rider smashed the lap record with a time of 1:32.755 minutes. Ivan Ortola, team-mate of the absent Piqueras, was second, 0.275 seconds slower. Behind Guevara after ten minutes: Salac, Gonzalez, Holgado and Alonso. Minutes later, Alonso stepped up the pace and lapped 0.001 seconds faster than Ortola.

Whilst Boscoscuro rider Luca Lunatta crashed into the gravel trap at Turn 4, his team-mate Celestino Vietti managed to secure a place ahead of Senna Agius. Arbolino, the fastest rider in the morning, rounded off the top 10 at the halfway point of qualifying. Remarkably, Gresini rider Sergio Garcia fell victim to mechanical issues. The Triumph engine in his Kalex gave up the ghost in a cloud of smoke – session over for the former Moto2 winner.

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The Spielberg qualifying session was once again a close affair. Honda Asia rider Mario Aji, who had been sitting in a precarious 14th place before the final sprint, was 0.819 seconds off the fastest time. Just under ten minutes in, the field of 27 Moto2 riders switched back into attack mode.

Ivan Ortola knocked Guevara off the top spot. The Spaniard was once again 0.2 seconds faster than Pramac’s rising star Guevara. Then Filip Salac jumped to second place, Holgado to fourth and Alex Escrig to sixth – meaning championship leader Gonzalez had dropped to seventh. Frustratingly for the Spaniard: just as Gonzalez was trying to fight his way back to the front, Zonta van den Gorbergh and Barry Baltus crashed – the Intact rider’s time was disallowed.

Filip Salac had better timing, taking the lead with a time of 1:32.402 minutes. Gonzalez, who had even dropped as far as 11th at one point, secured eighth place. When the chequered flag was waved after 40 minutes, American Racing were delighted with Filip Salac’s fastest time. Izan Guevara put in a solid performance to finish fifth. Alongside Holgado (3rd), Ortola (2nd), Alonso (6th), Vietti (9th), Lopez (11th) and Senna Agius in 12th, further Moto2 winners made it through to Q2. Jose-Antonio Rueda claimed the final direct ticket in 14th place – his deficit: 0.761 seconds.