WATCH: Jorge Martin tops crash filled FP1 of Austrian MotoGP

The opening practice session of the 2024 Austrian MotoGP at the Red Bull Ring saw Pramac Ducati's Jorge Martin assert his dominance by setting the fastest lap. The session's high-octane action was punctuated by a red flag incident following a severe crash involving rookie Pedro Acosta.

Acosta, riding for GASGAS Tech3, experienced a heart-stopping moment when he lost control of his bike at a staggering 300 km/h, just after braking for Turn 4. Despite the speed and severity of the crash, the young Spaniard was fortunate enough to walk away unscathed.

Here is the winning moment: 

It's a @pramacracing 1-2 in FP1! 🙌@88jorgemartin draws first blood in Spielberg ahead of @FrankyMorbido12 👊#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/h83d9w7vGA

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 16, 2024

The accident occurred shortly after Acosta had already sustained damage to his bike's aero during a minor fall at the newly configured Turn 2 chicane. The crash, which may have been exacerbated by the damage and the use of a hard front tyre, led to the session being temporarily halted.

Although Acosta’s accident was the most dramatic, it wasn't the only one in a session that tested riders' skills and nerves. Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro had a challenging time, crashing twice at the tricky Turn 2 chicane, while Marco Bezzecchi of the VR46 team and Brad Binder of KTM also faced low-speed slides, adding to the chaos on track.

Franco Morbidelli shows a fight

Amidst the turmoil, Franco Morbidelli, who is rumoured to be confirmed as a VR46 Ducati rider for the 2025 season, led the timesheets for most of the session. However, Jorge Martin eventually eclipsed Morbidelli, finishing 0.218 seconds ahead to claim the top spot.

KTM wild-card Pol Espargaro, testing several new components including innovative swingarm-mounted wings, leveraged his recent private testing experience to secure an impressive third place. He was followed closely by reigning MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia.

On the other hand, Marc Marquez had a challenging start to the weekend. Although he briefly surged to 8th place during his final lap, the time was ultimately disqualified due to a track limits violation, leaving the Gresini rider languishing in 18th position.

Here are the final results: