Yesterday’s qualifying session has set the stage for this afternoon’s race perfectly, with Marquez qualifying just 0.002s in front of Dovizioso, it promises a thrilling race. This is the closest MotoGP qualification, since Jeremy McWilliams qualified 0.002s behind Max Biaggi at the German Grand Prix in 2003. Jorge Lorenzo starts from 3^rd with Petrucci hot on his heels in 4^th place, this is the first time in MotoGP history that there have been 3 Ducati riders in the top 4 on grid.

Zarco has qualified in 6^th position, as top Yamaha. It is undisputed that this weekend Yamaha have been having major struggles, the Iwata factory apologised to Rossi and Viñales for the poor results in the Austria and are working hard to improve the M1 as soon as possible. Yamaha have not won a race since Assen 2017, 20 races ago, the last time Yamaha has a winless streak of this length was pre-2000, the 15 races of the 1997 championship and the 7 opening rounds of 1998. Viñales starts from 11^th on the grid, whilst Rossi, who missed Q2, qualified in 14^th position.

Rabat heads the 3^rd row in 7^th position, and is the 4^th fastest Ducati on grid, this is his best qualifying since Argentina this year (4^th). 2016 race winner, Iannone has qualified on the 3^rd row in 8^th position. Whilst Pedrosa starts from 9^th on the grid, his best qualifying since Jerez this year.

Dovizioso topped the session with a time of 1:24:138. Marquez closely followed in 2^nd, with a time of 1:24:239, Lorenzo rounded out the top 3 with a time of 1:24:564.

Top Yamaha was Viñales in 10^th, setting a time of 1:24:964. Rossi set a time of 1:24:971, placing him 11^th.  Zarco placed 14^th with a time of 1:25:181. Contender for Rookie of the Year, Syahrin placed 18^th, with a time of 1:25:322.

Top Suzuki was Iannone in 4^th with a time of 1:24:633. Rins set a time of 1:24:856 placing him 8^th.

Top Honda was Marquez in 2^nd, with a time of 1:24:239, a small spill at turn 3 could not slow the Spaniard. Crutchlow set a time of 1:24:636, placing him 5^th.  Pedrosa set a time of 1:24:898, placing him 9^th.

KTM’s sole representative for their home round is Bradley Smith, he finished Warm Up Practice in 6th with a time of 1:24:785.

Top Ducati was Dovizioso who topped the session. Lorenzo placed 3^rd  with a time 1:24:564. Petrucci managed to set a time of 1:24:992 which placed him 12^th. Miller placed 13^th with a time of 1:25:147. Bautista, who has impressed in recent races, finished this morning’s warm up in 15^th setting a time of 1:25:193. Rabat set a time of 1:25:221, placing him 16^th.

Top Aprilia was A. Espargaro setting a time of 1:24:828, he placed 7^th.  Redding set a time of 1:25:444, placing him 19^th.

Top Rookie was Takaaki Nakagami in 17^th position with a time of 1:25:310.

The weather for the Austrian Grand Prix looks to remain sunny, with little/no cloud cover throughout the day and highs of 25ºC.