Almansa, Arbolino lead Austrian GP Friday sessions
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 18, 2026
Moto3 Friday pace
David Almansa set the standard in Moto3 Friday practice at the Austrian Grand Prix, and he did it with authority. The Spaniard turned a best lap of 1:40.595 at the Red Bull Ring and stood alone as the only rider to break into the 1:40s in FP1. That time gave him the top spot in the opening session and put a clear marker on the field before the weekend moved deeper into the round.
Max Quiles followed in second, 0.648 seconds back, and he gave Spain another strong result in the session. Adrian Fernandez backed that up in third, then Alvaro Carpe took fourth and Brian Uriarte rounded out the top five. The first five positions all went to Spanish riders, a clean sweep that underlined how strong that group looked on Friday. Rico Salmela placed sixth, keeping himself near the front of the pack.
The rest of the top 10 stayed tight behind them. Joel Esteban finished seventh, Veda Pratama took eighth, Guido Pini landed ninth and Valentin Perrone closed the group in 10th. Almansa’s pace separated him from the rest, but the front of the field still packed in close enough to suggest a competitive session rather than a runaway. The gap from first to second was the kind that still leaves work to do, yet Almansa’s one-lap speed gave him the clearest statement of the Moto3 day.
David Munoz also made his way back into action after his crash in Hungary, and he finished 16th in FP1. That result mattered beyond the order sheet. It marked his return to the track after his Hungary crash and added another note to a session that already featured a strong Spanish presence at the top and a wide spread through the field. In a practice run built around lap times and rhythm, Munoz’s return added another line to a session that already featured a strong Spanish presence at the top and a wide spread through the field.
Moto2 Friday pace
Tony Arbolino led Moto2 Friday practice at the Austrian Grand Prix with a best lap of 1:33.074, and he set the fastest pace of the day across the two classes mentioned in the report. Arbolino held the top spot after FP1 and did enough in one lap to stay ahead of a close group behind him. His time gave Moto2 its benchmark for the opening day at the Red Bull Ring.
David Alonso came closest to matching him. Alonso finished second, only 0.042 seconds behind Arbolino, and that margin kept the session tight at the front. Izan Guevara took third, while Manuel Gonzalez finished fourth and Celestino Vietti claimed fifth. The top of the Moto2 order stayed compact, with the leading riders separated by small gaps that left plenty of room for movement later in the weekend.
Filip Salac was next in line in sixth, followed by Aron Canet in seventh. Daniel Holgado took eighth, Barry Baltus placed ninth and Deniz Oncu completed the top 10. That group filled out the front end of the session and showed how many riders could stay within striking distance of the pace. Arbolino’s lap set the headline, but the names behind him kept the session from opening up. The order stayed dense from first through 10th, which gave Friday practice the feel of a field still sorting itself out rather than one rider or one team taking full control.
The Moto2 session also delivered strong individual results from several riders who kept themselves in the upper half of the standings. Guevara and Gonzalez both stayed close enough to challenge the front group, and Vietti put himself among the quickest five. Salac, Canet and Holgado all secured places inside the top eight, which gave the session depth at the sharp end. The first Friday run did its job for Moto2. It exposed the early pace, set the target and left the class with a tight order to build on.
Moto2 crashes and response
Moto2 FP1 also brought heavy crashes for Angel Piqueras, Adrian Huertas and Collin Veijer. All three riders were walking afterward, which was the key detail from the session after the crashes. That update mattered more than the order sheet around them, since practice results quickly fade behind the condition of the riders when the hits are as hard as they were in Moto2.
The crashes added a serious note to the opening Moto2 run. Arbolino and Alonso pushed the pace at the front. Piqueras, Huertas and Veijer were involved in the crashes and still came away on their feet.
That left Moto2 with a clear Friday snapshot. Arbolino led the way. Alonso stayed close. Guevara, Gonzalez and Vietti kept the pressure on. Salac, Canet, Holgado, Baltus and Oncu filled out the top 10. The session also carried the reminder that the margins in practice can vanish in a single corner. For now, the headline belonged to Arbolino’s speed and the front-runners’ close chase, with the crash updates providing the other important note from a busy day at the Austrian Grand Prix.
