DUCATI FACES TOUGHER TEST AFTER KTM SETS EARLY PACE IN AUSTRIA

Ducati’s prospects for a serious victory push at the Austrian Grand Prix are being tested after a strong home outing at Misano last weekend. With the MotoGP paddock now moved north across the Dolomites, the early signal from Friday in Austria came from KTM, which “threw down the gauntlet” as the session unfolded. The reporting frames KTM’s pace as a clear shift in the competitive picture, suggesting Ducati may face a tougher challenge than it did at Misano. However, the sources provided do not include specific rider or team quotes beyond the general assessment of KTM’s Friday performance, and they do not detail qualifying or race results.