MotoGP: Iannone triumphs in frantic qualifying

Andrea Iannone has triumphed in a frantic MotoGP qualifying session in Austria that saw the lead change a handful of times in the closing stages of the session on MotoGP’s first trip in nineteen years to the Red Bull Ring.

Jorge Lorenzo was a surprise holder of the top spot, rallying back from a poor start to the weekend, only to lose out minutes later to the first of the dominant factory Ducatis in the hands of Andrea Dovizioso.

But the real surprise of the session came from a late charge by Valentino Rossi, able to take the top spot for a few seconds before Iannone demoted him to second as the flag came out.

Marc Marquez recovered from a heavy fall in FP3 to take fifth, with Maverick Viñales only able for sixth as the Suzuki’s problems in higher temperatures continue.

Cal Crutchlow was top British rider in seventh, ahead of countryman Scott Redding. But one of the performances of the day came from Eugene Laverty, stunning the paddock to top Q1 and progress for the first time to Q2, where he qualified eleventh.