Espargaro is competing in his second grand prix weekend since coming back from a prolonged spell on the sidelines with severe harm.
Struggling a number of again and jaw fractures after an FP2 crash on the season-opener in Portugal, Espargaro was lastly cleared to return on the British GP two weeks in the past.
The Tech3 rider completed Friday’s working on the Purple Bull Ring in fifteenth however has been given a three-place grid penalty for Sunday’s grand prix after blocking Honda’s Marquez.
As Marquez was on a flying lap, he was compelled to abort his effort after discovering a touring Espargaro on the run down into Flip 4 within the closing levels of the session.
The stewards positioned this incident beneath investigation, with Espargaro deemed to have been “disturbing one other rider”.
This second finally price Marquez an opportunity to battle for a direct place in Q2 for Saturday’s qualifying, after the Spaniard ended follow in thirteenth.
A press release from the FIM stewards learn: “On 18 August 2023 at 16:06:42 throughout the Observe session of the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix Von Osterreich, you [Espargaro] have been noticed to be using sluggish solely disturbing one other rider at Flip 4.
“This contravenes the precise directions given to MotoGP rivals and groups, disrupting the session, and is taken into account irresponsible using. It’s due to this fact an infringement of Article 1.21.2 of the FIM World Championship Grand Prix laws.
Pol Espargaro, Tech3 GASGAS Manufacturing unit Racing
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“For the above causes, FIM MotoGP stewards panel has imposed a 3 grid positions penalty for the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix Von Osterreich MotoGP race.
“Following the Penalty Protocols issued to groups, this motion was deemed to be an incident of Kind 2.b: Sluggish using on line throughout final 10 minutes of follow session – disrupting one other rider instantly affecting development into Q2.
“As a primary offence for the season, the suitable penalty on this case is three grid positions penalty.”
Beneath the present laws, Espargaro’s penalty will solely be utilized for the grand prix and won’t have an effect on his beginning spot for Saturday’s dash.
Espargaro accepted full blame for the incident and says it was a misjudgement on his half based mostly on the very fact he’s had little or no bike time in 2023.
“I deserve it,” he stated of the penalty. “I talked with him [Marquez] and the issue is that you just can’t perceive how briskly these bikes are coming.
“And when you’re away for therefore lengthy, you can’t coordinate the gap and the velocity.
“So, I checked behind, I noticed him coming, that’s why I’m not on the road. However I anticipated him to overhaul me quicker.
“And since he didn’t overtake me as I anticipated, I made the nook. I believed he had shut off, however truly he was coming quick. So, I miscalculated every little thing. It’s only a matter of lacking lots of time on a MotoGP bike.”