WATCH: Pedro Acosta’s double crash woes overshadow Austrian MotoGP FP1 at Red Bull Ring

Pedro Acosta faced a challenging session during MotoGP FP1, marked by two significant crashes that disrupted his performance on the track. Acosta, who had been pushing hard to keep up with the frontrunners, experienced his first crash at turn 2b, a corner that had already claimed two other riders earlier in the session.

Notably, all three riders involved in crashes at this turn were using the hard-compound front tyre, raising questions about the tyre's performance on that particular section of the track. As the session progressed, Jorge Martin set the pace with the fastest lap time, but Acosta's struggles continued.

Here is Pedro Acosta's first crash: 

Finding the limit, the hard way! 😱@37_pedroacosta crashes out at T2 but he's already on his way back 👍#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/rNuk6bT7we

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 16, 2024

While attempting to regain his rhythm, Acosta encountered yet another setback, this time at turn four. The crash occurred when Acosta locked the front tyre the moment he applied the brake, causing his bike to veer off to the inside of the track and collide with the inside wall. Fortunately, Acosta was able to walk away from the incident, but the crash triggered a red flag, with just three minutes remaining in the session.

Here is Pedro Acosta's second crash: 

A scary one for @37_pedroacosta at T4! 😱😱😱



The session has been red-flagged after the rookie's second crash 🔴#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/k5vCP60fD9

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 16, 2024

Television replays later revealed the extent of the damage to Acosta's bike, particularly on the left-hand side, following the crash at turn 2b. After this initial incident, Acosta did not return to the pits, opting to continue on the track. However, his second crash at the left-hand kink before turn four ended his chances of completing the session on a positive note.

Jorge Martin topped the FP1 session

As the session resumed, all riders except Acosta returned to the track, but with just over two minutes remaining, there was little time to challenge Martin's fastest lap of 1:29.654. While other riders, including Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia, attempted to improve their positions, Acosta's crashes overshadowed the final moments of FP1.

In the end, Jorge Martin topped the session, followed by Franco Morbidelli and Pol Espargaro, while Acosta's double crash served as a stark reminder of the risks and challenges inherent in pushing the limits on a MotoGP track.