Marquez tops FP2 and Dovi crashes as 1.3s covers field

Marc Marquez led a tightly-contested in second free practice for the 2019 Austrian MotoGP with only 1.3secs covering the entire 21 rider pack.

As ever, Marquez went against the grain of his rivals by focusing on getting a fast time in early, his effort of 1m 23.916secs at one stage almost half a second quicker than his rivals, who waited until the closing stages to go for a soft tyre flyer.

However, no-one could usurp the champion-elect, with only Maverick Vinales getting close, six hundredths off his countryman on the best of the Yamahas.

Andrea Dovizioso ended the day third on the timesheets but down on the ground after losing the front-end of his Ducati as he accelerated out of turn three. However, his time from FP1 was good enough for third position, which could prove crucial due to forecasts for rain on Saturday.

Takaaki Nakagami was an impressive fourth quickest at the end of FP2 aboard the year-old LCR Honda, unusually emerging as the leading independent ahead of one-lap specialist Fabio Quartararo and Pramac Ducati’s Jack Miller.

Miguel Oliveira was an eye-catching seventh fastest to put the Tech 3 KTM well inside the top ten and on course for Q2, seeing off the underwhelming Danilo Petrucci, LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow and factory KTM rider Pol Espargaro.

Outside the top ten and hoping rain will hold off until after FP3, Valentino Rossi didn’t improve on his best lap leaving him 11th, while Alex Rins was also left in a surprisingly precarious position in 12th.

However, with just 1.3s between Marquez at the top to Hafizh Syahrin in 21st, there remains all to play for in FP3 should it remain dry.