16.08.2025
MotoGP 2025 - Round 13 of 22, Red Bull Ring – Qualification and Sprint
- Pedro Acosta rallied hard to his second Sprint podium of 2025 (and second in a row) after decent qualification potential from 7th on the grid
- Brad Binder showed flashes of exciting form and aggressive style to make his way up from P11 to P5 for his fourth Sprint score of the year
- Enea Bastianini was limited by a hectic start to the Sprint but was quick and eager once more to fight back to P7. Maverick Viñales attempted practice and qualification but does not have sufficient strength or flexibility in his left shoulder to complete the GP weekend
- Moto3™ milestone for rookie Valentin Perrone with his first Grand Prix Pole Position and the first for Argentina since 2021
Ten corners, full speed, heavy braking demands and a stunning, green mountain backdrop: MotoGP returned to Austria for round 13 of 22 and the first of three Grands Prix in four weeks that will also involve journeys to Hungary, Catalunya and San Marino. Red Bull Ring carries extra significance for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3 teams and is the circuit where the KTM RC16 has tasted victory on two occasions in the past.
On Friday Pedro Acosta obtained the 2nd fastest lap-time in Practice to earn direct Q2 entry. He was joined by Brad Binder, with just 0.7 of a second dividing the first ten riders. Enea Bastianini was only two hundredths of a second from following his brandmates into Q2. Maverick Viñales managed six laps in his early comeback from left shoulder surgery but then chose to sit out the rest of Friday. The Spaniard wanted mileage and rehabilitation through saddle time and qualified in P21 but eventually elected not to make it to the grid for the Sprint and withdrew from the GP to recover further.
Bastianini rocketed through Q1 on Saturday morning and found Acosta and Binder in the 15-minute Q2 chrono to sort the upper rows of the start grid. The Italian then grabbed the 5th best lap-time and earned a slot on the second row: his best qualification since the opening round at the Chang International Circuit. Acosta seared through a brave final time attack, almost crashing into the final corner, but could not slim the deficit more than 0.356 of a second from Pole and rested in P7. Binder was P11.
The Sprint lasted for 14-laps. Wheelspin for several riders at the start meant evasive action for many others, Bastianini included. Acosta found gaps and swiftly moved up to P3 where he then maintained the gap to collect his second trophy on the bounce. Behind the 21-year-old, Binder entered a dogfight and seized P5. Enea throttled the full capabilities of his set-up and race rubber to arrive to P7, ensuring a healthy Red Bull KTM quota in the points.
The usual 14.00 CEST start time will launch the 28-lap MotoGP Grand Prix into motion on Sunday.
Pedro Acosta, 7th in qualification, 3rd in the Sprint: “I really enjoyed riding at the ‘Ring this year. Last season was hard to even be in the top ten. KTM made a big job in the summer break and we were able to make a big step. We are still missing a little bit…but we have enough pace to be top five in every session and step-by step we are coming closer. We made a super-plan with the team and we have more potential than we showed in the quali. We have been showing podium potential from the beginning. It’s quite nice and I really enjoyed today. Let’s see what we can do tomorrow.”
Brad Binder, 11th in qualification, 5th in the Sprint: “Definitely much better. In qualifying I didn’t put one decent lap together, which was disappointing. Anyway, when the lights went out for the race I still felt there was a good chance to do something a bit better. I was happy to finish up 5th in the Sprint today; it’s the best feeling I’ve had in a really long time and I’m looking to improve it a little more for tomorrow.”
Enea Bastianini, 5th in qualification, 7th in the Sprint: “Overall I’m happy enough. Q1 to Q2 and I did a good job. I was fighting for Pole Position but I committed a few little mistakes and lost a bit of time. In the Sprint start riders spun and I was behind them. I tried to go around the outside but had to brake and lost many positions. I just tried to come back then but it was complicated. I could push only for part of the race and we need to learn from that. We have made a step, and we confirmed it on this track. Really nice. We will need to save the tire and enjoy the race tomorrow.”
Maverick Viñales, 21st in qualification, DNS in the Sprint: “It was important to be on the bike and to understand where I am after this injury. To be back in 30 days was a miracle and, clearly, I was not fit enough to ride at the maximum. So, we decided to stop, and to comeback when I’m 100%. I know my limitations now and I will try really hard to recover muscles in my shoulder. The doctors already told me it was a miracle to be riding here and these types of injuries take two-three months. We will see when I can come back to be fast.”
Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “A generally positive day with three riders in Q2 and great results in the Sprint: if we can make 3rd, 5th and 7th then we need to be happy. The start of the GP went well, except for Maverick but we knew that risk was there. It was still good for him to judge where he is for his recovery. Enea did great through Q1 and the race itself saw three decent performances. Technically and in our working methods we have made steps in the last two-three months and I have to say the atmosphere and the attitude and the spirit in the box is very good at the moment and this is an important thing. I think we had the potential today for even better results and tomorrow I believe we have the chance to repeat or be higher.”
Grand Prix of Austria photographs can be found HERE
Results Qualifying MotoGP Grand Prix of Austria
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Aprilia 1:28.060
2. Alex Marquez (ESP) Ducati +0.016
3. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +0.142
5. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +0.176
7. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +0.356
11. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +0.701
21. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3 1:29.586 (Q1)
Results MotoGP Sprint Grand Prix of Austria
1. Marc Marquez (ESP) Ducati 20:56.071
2. Alex Marquez (ESP) Ducati +1.180
3. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +3.126
5. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +4.782
7. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +8.294
DNS. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3
KTM GP Academy
Moto3 championship-leading Red Bull KTM Ajo star, Jose Antonio Rueda, attacked the simplistic Red Bull Ring layout together with rookies Alvaro Carpe and Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Valentin Perrone. After Friday’s Practice and then the grid-deciding sessions of Q1 and Q2 it was Perrone who set the standard with a brilliant maiden Pole Position. The youngster found a margin of 0.046 of second for his first P1 in a debut campaign. Carpe was 7th fastest and Rueda 8th to assume two of the three gaps on the third row. Jacob Roulstone pushed through Q1 to seal 12th in Q2: just 0.6 from his teammate.
Valentin Perrone: “A super-fun two days here at Red Bull Ring. We’ve been fast since the beginning of the GP and I feel really good on the bike. I have good pace. I knew I might be able to fight for Pole Position and we worked with the other KTM riders in a decent way. I think I could have made an even better lap if I could have caught Alvaro’s slipstream but, anyway, super-happy with this first Pole of the season. Why not fight for the victory tomorrow?!”
Moto2 outings saw Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Collin Veijer accompanied by Daniel Muñoz, replacing Deniz Öncü who is recovering from a broken left leg sustained in a training accident. Veijer set a strong Q2 lap for P9 on the grid: under half a second from Pole. Muñoz, who has picked up Moto2 European Championship trophies and has walked the podium in Austria during Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup races, emerged through Q1 and was 16th fastest.
Speaking of young hopefuls, the Red Bull Ring was home to the sixth and penultimate round of the 2025 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The series has produced a title dispute between Hakim Danish and Brian Uriarte with Thai youngster Veda Pratama also drawing close in the standings. The first of two races in Austria took place on Saturday afternoon and in a late summer downpour. Uriarte charged to the flag after a wet duel with Pratama and separated by 0.073 of second. American Kristian Daniel was 3rd. Race two will lay rubber on Sunday morning for 16 laps.
Results Qualifying Moto3 Grand Prix of Austria
1. Valentin Perrone (ARG), Red Bull KTM Tech3 1:39.938
2. Angel Piqueras (ESP), KTM +0.046
3. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN), KTM +0.146
4. Dennis Foggia (ITA) CFMOTO Aspar Team +0.152
5. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team +0.179
7. Alvaro Carpe (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.415
8. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP), Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.463
12. Jacob Roulstone (AUS), Red Bull KTM Tech3 +0.652
Results Qualifying Moto2 Grand Prix of Austria
1. Manuel Gonzalez (ESP) 1:32.779
2. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team +0.094
3. Diogo Moreira (BRA) +0.198
5. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team +0.285
9. Collin Veijer (NED) Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.457
16. Daniel Muñoz (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.815
PRESS CONTACT
Evangelia Sissis
PR Manager MotoGP
+43 676 665 2742
evangelia.sissis@ktm.com