The hole on the prime is now the bottom it’s been after a GP because the season opener, and the rider chasing that duel arrives from a weekend masterclass. Welcome to Austria!
After racing it out for 37 factors within the season opener in Qatar, the hole on the prime of the MotoGP™ World Championship was two factors. Having raced, battled, slipstreamed, duelled, attacked, defended and sweated for 333 extra since, that hole has solely elevated by a single one. It’s Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) again within the driving seat on the street to the Purple Bull Ring, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Group) on the chase, and a brand new identify in third after a surprising Silverstone double: Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Group). And that is certainly one of Ducati’s most oft-conquered venues on the calendar. Are you prepared?
The winner the final two seasons right here – together with doing the double final yr – is Bagnaia. He’ll be feeling assured sufficient of attacking that three-point margin with a document like that. However Martin additionally has good reminiscences right here, scene of his first MotoGP™ win, and received’t go down with out a battle. In the meantime Bastianini, having been considerably omitted of some narratives to date in 2024, put in a masterclass at Silverstone to place his identify into the hat. 49 factors was so much, however it’s much less when 37 factors are on provide each weekend. It appears even much less of a deficit contemplating it’s precisely the quantity Bagnaia pulled again on Martin between Catalunya and summer season break…
In the meantime Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had a strong weekend at Silverstone. Regardless of a crash on Saturday – similar to Bagnaia – Sunday was a very good haul of factors. However he’ll want to search out one thing extra to problem for the rostrum once more in Austria… and by chance sufficient he’s a veteran of ultimate nook showdowns for the win on the venue. This time although, he’d somewhat win one. This is likely one of the few venues the place he’s by no means finished that.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Group) is impressing as soon as once more, nonetheless, and was nearer to Marc Marquez by the flag at Silverstone than Marquez was to Bagnaia. He additionally pulled out a full Moto3™-style seat slap to inform Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) to comply with him – confidence clearly excessive. He’ll be seeking to make an impression once more in Austria on the again of his new contract too, and Alex Marquez will probably be seeking to flip the tables. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Group) likewise, and he arrives from a strong British GP regardless of an incident initially of the Tissot Dash that noticed him skittled by Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing). Bezzecchi was additionally on the rostrum in Spielberg final yr.
Nonetheless good the document for Ducati in Austria although, there’s one other manufacturing facility that has taken to the highest step – twice. KTM arrive on a more durable run because it stands however will probably be seeking to begin rebuilding their type in entrance of a partisan crowd, who will even have rookie celebrity Pedro Acosta (Purple Bull GASGAS Tech3) to cheer on for the primary time in MotoGP™. Brad Binder (Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing) is now trailing the rookie via no fault of his personal after some unhealthy luck at Silverstone so will need to change that in Austria, whereas teammate Jack Miller took strong factors and can need extra. For Augusto Fernandez (Purple Bull GASGAS Tech3), in the meantime, the hearsay mill has now began to swirl concerning a check position for subsequent yr with one other manufacturing facility, however with nothing confirmed. One factor that’s confirmed for Austria, nonetheless, is a wildcard for Purple Bull KTM check rider Pol Espargaro, so his equipment will probably be of curiosity because the manufacturing facility look to push again in direction of the entrance.
At Aprilia, extra could have been anticipated for Silverstone, however there was a Dash podium for Aleix Espargaro and from pole place too. Maverick Viñales had a more durable one, nonetheless, and each will probably be aiming larger in Austria. It might be a more durable venue, nonetheless, with the Noale manufacturing facility not but having completed higher than sixth – a end result taken one apiece by each riders within the final two years. They’re the one manufacturing facility lacking a podium on the venue, however on the planet’s most fun sport that’s not an indictment of the then, it’s a possibility within the now. Check rider Lorenzo Savadori will even be out so as to add extra knowledge with a wildcard.
For Trackhouse, in the meantime, bouncing again is sort of assured after a troublesome finish to Silverstone as Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez crashed out collectively early on. Because the centre of the hearsay mill too, it was a highlight Sunday and one they’ll be hoping to start out reshaping with extra factors Austria – now each on 2024 RS-GPs too.
For Yamaha, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Power Yamaha MotoGP™) continues to financial institution some factors however they’ll need extra. He has Yamaha’s finest MotoGP™ end result right here, taken in 2022, and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how their machine now takes on the much less flowing, extra cease go venue. We await information on teammate Alex Rins within the meantime after the Spaniard withdrew from Silverstone.
Honda will even be an attention-grabbing watch. After a primary level in Germany following a visual step ahead for Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Group), it appeared the Italian had extra from Silverstone till a tyre stress penalty. Nonetheless, the positives had been clear. Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) led the cost, nonetheless, and took 14th, with teammate Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) then promoted to that P15. Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Group) was pressured to retire from the race at Silverstone with a problem, so contemporary from a brand new contract he’ll be hoping extra is feasible in Austria – certainly one of his very a lot favoured venues. The squad will even be joined by Stefan Bradl wildcarding with HRC Check Group to collect much more knowledge.
Three factors cowl the duel on the prime, Bastianini has probability to double down on his momentum, and Marquez is seeking to stem the tide. The identical might be mentioned of KTM because the orange nook faces down Ducati on hallowed floor. Eight years in the past the Italian manufacturing facility put that successful cherry on prime of their comeback with victory in Austria, and now an armada of riders will pit out with confirmed, world-reigning equipment. Again then, KTM had been solely simply starting their journey in MotoGP™. However they’ll need to begin constructing their battle again to the very entrance this very weekend – so make sure that to affix us for the Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich!
SHOWTIMESaturdayTissot Dash: 15:00 (UTC +2)SundayGrand Prix: 14:00 (UTC +2)
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