Ducati Dominate Austria test
Ducati were dominant as the MotoGP paddock returned for the first time in 19 years to the Red Bull Ring in Austria for a pre-race test.
The test was put on to help acclimatise the teams and riders to the new circuit, as well as help to continue the development of their bikes. The riders spent two days testing in Salzburg, with Ducati coming out on top.
It was Andrea Iannone who came out on top, with the Italian setting a time of 1m23.240s. Teammate Andrea Dovizioso was the only one who could get close to Iannone’s time, with Dovizioso finishing the day 0.440 seconds behind.
Ducati Test Rider Casey Stoner was the only other man able to break through into the 1m24 barrier, with the Australian setting a time 0.652 seconds slower than Iannone. Hector Barbera added to Ducati’s dominance, making it an all Ducati front four.
The Yamaha pair of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo were the best of the rest, with the pair only 0.025 seconds between each other. However, they finished over a second behind Iannone’s time.
The Suzuki pairing of Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro were seventh and eighth. The pair continued to develop the GSX-RR even though they will both be departing the team at the end of the season.
The top Honda rider was Cal Crutchlow in 11th, fresh from his first podium of the season at the Sachsenring.
KTM also debuted their new bike in an official test session. Test riders Mika Kallio and Tom Luthi were both only 2.5 seconds off Iannone’s time. Sam Lowes also gained another outing on the Aprilia machine.