Watch Austrian MotoGP — Practice 2 Free.

What's at Stake

The second practice session at the Red Bull Ring is one of the most critical hours of the weekend, as it directly determines which ten riders secure automatic entry into Saturday's Q2 qualifying shootout. Fleeing the high-pressure Q1 session is essential for any rider harboring ambitions of a front-row start, making every tenth of a second vital on this high-speed Austrian layout. With the championship battle intensifying, securing a direct route to Q2 is crucial for maintaining momentum and avoiding the midfield traffic during the sprint and main race.

Form Guide

Heading into Spielberg, the battle at the front of the grid remains incredibly tight, with Ducati continuing to showcase dominant pace on stop-and-go tracks that reward late braking and immense acceleration. Recent rounds have seen fierce battles between the factory GP26 riders and their satellite counterparts, while KTM looks to mount a formidable home-turf challenge at their sponsor's signature circuit. Momentum is key at this stage of the summer stretch, and teams with refined electronics packages and strong front-end stability are carrying the upper hand into this afternoon session.

Key Players to Watch

• Francesco Bagnaia — The Italian has historically excelled at the Red Bull Ring, utilizing his late-braking prowess and Ducati's superior acceleration to dominate this venue in previous seasons.
• Jorge Martín — Known for his explosive single-lap pace, the Spaniard is always a threat to top the Friday timesheets and secure an easy passage into Q2.
• Brad Binder — Carrying the hopes of KTM at their home circuit, the South African's aggressive riding style is perfectly suited to the demanding braking zones of the Austrian track.

Prediction

Ducati's sheer horsepower and stability under heavy braking make them the overwhelming favorites to dominate the top of the timesheets in this crucial afternoon session. Expect Francesco Bagnaia to lead a tight pack of Desmosedicis to claim the fastest time of the session, closely followed by Jorge Martín. The battle for the final automatic Q2 spots will likely come down to the final flying laps, with KTM pushing hard to secure at least one bike in the top five.