MotoGP surprise as KTM produces remarkable home-race 1-2
Could Acosta be heading for a first MotoGP win? (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
Updated: 13:21, 18 Sep
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Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Eyebrows were sent skyrocketing at the Red Bull Ring as KTM utterly dominated first practice at their home race.
Pedro Acosta topped the timesheets of the opening MotoGP session in Austria, but even more surprising was Pol Espargaro coming through in second.
Showing just how surprising that is, Espargaro is a substitute test rider for satellite squad Tech3 and hasn’t touched the top 10 in qualifying for races in his three previous appearances this season.
Acosta’s lead time was 01:29.851, with Espargaro three-tenths behind, ahead of Jorge Martin, Marc Marquez and Johann Zarco. The other title contender, Marco Bezzecchi, put his Aprilia sixth.
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KTM achieves first MotoGP 1-2 since 2025
The result was KTM’s first 1-2 in any session in MotoGP since practice at the 2025 Catalan Grand Prix, and crucially, it’s a sign of what’s to come for Acosta.
The 22-year-old Spaniard will join Ducati next season and is widely seen as the challenger to Marquez’s throne; however, he’s yet to win a race.
A champion in Moto2 and Moto3, Acosta has 15 premier-class podiums to his name in three years, but is yet to score that elusive victory.
Should he take this form into Saturday and Sunday, KTM could well be celebrating their first MotoGP victory since 2022, and do so at their home Austrian circuit.
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Martin suffers technical issue amid surgery concern
Elsewhere in first practice, title contender Martin endured a tough session despite his third-place finish.
The Aprilia rider was seen shaking his right arm leaving the pitlane, with him admitting before the weekend that he may require surgery on his arm pump issue come Monday.
He also suffered a surprise technical issue when his RS-GP26 broke down and had to be removed from the circuit.
Ai Ogura, who has just returned from two races out with a broken thumb, could only manage 19th in his first session back.
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However, he quickly had some good news, as he passed a further medical check post-session, which will allow him to take part in the remainder of the weekend.
Full Austrain Grand Prix MotoGP practice results
| pos. | rider | Team | time |
| 1 | P. Acosta | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 01:29.851 |
| 2 | P. Espargaro | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | 01:30.084 |
| 3 | J. Martin | Aprilia Racing | 01:30.159 |
| 4 | M. Marquez | Ducati Lenovo Team | 01:30.186 |
| 5 | J. Zarco | Castrol Honda LCR | 01:30.364 |
| 6 | M. Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | 01:30.384 |
| 7 | R. Fernandez | SuperFile Trackhouse | 01:30.417 |
| 8 | A. Marquez | BK8 Gresini Racing | 01:30.482 |
| 9 | D. Moreira | Pro Honda LCR | 01:30.520 |
| 10 | L. Marini | Honda HRC Castrol | 01:30.531 |
| 11 | F. Aldeguer | BK8 Gresini Racing | 01:30.560 |
| 12 | F. Di Giannantonio | Pertamina Enduro VR46 | 01:30.651 |
| 13 | J. Miller | Prima Pramac Yamaha | 01:30.694 |
| 14 | B. Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 01:30.712 |
| 15 | F. Quartararo | Monster Energy Yamaha | 01:30.772 |
| 16 | F. Morbidelli | Pertamina Enduro VR46 | 01:30.848 |
| 17 | E. Bastianini | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | 01:30.861 |
| 18 | F. Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo Team | 01:30.973 |
| 19 | A. Ogura | SuperFile Trackhouse | 01:31.255 |
| 20 | T. Nakagami | Honda HRC Castrol | 01:31.289 |
| 21 | A. Rins | Monster Energy Yamaha | 01:31.338 |
| 22 | T. Razgatlioglu | Prima Pramac Yamaha | 01:32.363 |
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