Spanish rider Pedro Acosta, nicknamed the Shark, stood firm on the Red Bull Ring as the Moto2 Austrian Grand Prix unfolded. He battled through a day full of setbacks and still claimed his third pole position of the season, reminding everyone why he remains a dominant force on the Kalex machine.
Early on, Acosta hit the ground in the early phase of the session, and a fast lap was erased when yellow flags waved around the track. Despite that stumble, he regrouped quickly and led the field when it mattered most, proving his resilience in the face of adversity.
Sergio Garcia, a student of the Sito Pons outfit on Kalex, entered the session with expectations high as he prepares for the 2024 season, during which he might seek a new team as a two-time 250cc world champion contemplates a possible departure from the competition. Garcia briefly led the proceedings under the South African flag, but he was soon overtaken by rivals, with Darryn Binder on a Kalex and Dutch youngster Bo Bendsneyder also moving ahead of him.
In the morning, news had already broken about Bendsneyder’s contract renewal with Eduardo Perales’ outfit, a move that would see him joined by Jaume Masiá as his teammate for the forthcoming season. The shifts on the grid added extra spice to a session already buzzing with anticipation.
Sergio García Dols briefly grabbed top spot again, though the clock suggested there was still ample room for improvement as six minutes remained on the timer. The session remained tightly contested as the quartet of Germans joined the battle for position, with Lukas Tulovic on Kalex, Izan Guevara on Kalex, Dennis Sisi on Kalex, and Darryn Binder all in the mix, separated by mere milliseconds on the final laps.
When the second free practice started, fresh drama emerged with Acosta suffering a fall after climbing to the lead in the previous minutes. He did not crash into the barriers but chose to ride back to the garage and assess his bike, leaving the pit area a moment later with both calm and determination to return to action.
Arón Canet also faced trouble, crashing and returning to his workshop in sixth place on the timing sheet, squeezed between Italian rider Tony Arbolino and Spaniard Fermín Aldeguer of Boscoscuro. The incident added to the tense atmosphere as teams worked to salvage competitive time from the session.
Despite the hiccups, Acosta pressed on, returning to the track with a focused mindset. He set out for a launch lap and immediately reclaimed a provisional advantage, driving with the pace that had become his signature. His surge culminated in a lap that put him atop the leaderboard, signaling a strong stance for the afternoon qualifying.
Acosta’s best lap came in at 1:34.040, a time that placed him ahead of the then-leader from Japan by a slim margin of 0.271 seconds. Moon Nakagami? No—the text records Ogura on Kalex and the presence of Vietti on Kalex with Somkiat Chantra close behind, all chasing the top slot as the session progressed toward its end.
As the clock wound down, Acosta continued to push, shaving a few more tenths from his personal best. The effort culminated in a pole position that reflected his persistent energy, even as a yellow flag incident involving Sam Lowes in the fourth sector briefly disrupted the flow of the session. The overall result, however, left Acosta ahead of the pack, reinforcing his status as the rider to beat on the day.
The final order saw Acosta in first place, followed by Albert and Ogura in the runners-up positions, with Vietti close behind. Britons Jake Dixon and teammate Chantra trailed in the next spots, while Fermín Aldeguer and Tony Arbolino completed the top tier, showcasing a grid crowded with talent. Other capable riders like Arenas and Manuel González faced technical troubles with their bikes, ending their session in less favorable positions than hoped, underscoring the ongoing challenge of mastering this technically demanding track.
Arón Canet finished in tenth after a rough session, while Spain’s Alonso López and Czech rider Filip Salac hovered in the middle of the pack, hinting at an unpredictable race day ahead. The Austrian circuit delivered another chapter in the ever-evolving story of Moto2, with young riders proving that speed, strategy, and nerve are all essential ingredients for success.