With eleven races to go until the end of the season, the MotoGP World Championship comes to Austria with Bagnaia as Outstanding Leader, with 41 points ahead of Martín. In the last race in Great Britain, Bagnaia crashed in the sprint test, the first time he did not score points on a Saturday, but he managed to fix it on Sunday, with a creditable second place, only behind Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) and surpassing in a great end of the race Brad Binder (KTM) and Miguel Oliveira (Aprilia). In addition, Martín could only be sixth in both races, so the Italian came out with an even higher income.
(Check the MotoGP World Championship classification)
This weekend in Austria, Pecco arrives at a circuit that he is great atand in which he knows what it is to win up to three times, once in Moto2, in 2018, and twice in the premier class, the last one in 2022, in a spectacular battle with Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) that was not decided until the last turns.
Since the World Championship came to the Red Bull Ring in 2016, Ducati has been the absolute dominator, only in 2021 did victory escape them, which went to Brad Binder’s KTM. This, added to the superiority that the Italian brand is showing in this 2023, indicates that one of the eight Desmosedici will be on the top of the podium on Sunday in Spielberg.
As the great alternative to Bagnaia appears the best Spaniard so far in the contest, Jorge Martín, who despite winning only one long race, the German GP, he is making regularity his great asset. He is the only driver who has scored points every Saturday, having won two and on Sundays, despite starting with two zeros in the first three races, he has managed to recover and since Jerez his worst result is sixth place.
(Check the MotoGP calendar)
As alternative to the Ducati appears KTM, among which stands out that of the South African Brad Binder, who comes from being third in the last race and is fourth in the World Championship, yes, far from Pecco. In addition, Binder has been the only one capable of taking a victory at this circuit from Ducati since it has been raced on it. His teammate Jack Miller may also have copies of him, despite the fact that he is not in his best form.
For Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda) and his new focus after the break will be a weekend of going step by step, as he did two weeks ago at Silverstone. The one from Cervera, in search of rebuild your confidence and take steps with the Honda towards 2024He has never won on this circuit and it doesn’t look like this is the year.
Schedule of the Austrian GP of MotoGP
Friday August 18
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Moto3 – P1: 9:00 a.m. – 9:35 a.m. (CET).
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Moto2 – P1: 9:50 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. (CET).
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MotoGP – FP1: 10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (CET).
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Moto3 – P2: 1:15 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. (CET).
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Moto2 – P2: 2:05 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. (CET).
Saturday August 19
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Moto3 – P3: 08:40 a.m. – 9:10 a.m. (CET).
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Moto2 – P3: 9:25 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. (CET).
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MotoGP – FP2: 10:10 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. (CET).
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MotoGP – Q1: 10:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. (CET).
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MotoGP – Q2: 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (CET).
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Moto3 – Q1: 12:50 p.m. – 1:05 p.m. (CET).
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Moto3 – Q2: 1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (CET).
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Moto2 – Q1: 1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (CET).
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Moto2 – Q2: 2:10 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. (CET).
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MotoGP Sprint Race: 3:00 p.m. (CET).
Sunday August 20
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MotoGP Warm-up: 9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. (CET).
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Moto3 – Race: 11:05 am (CET).
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Moto2 – Race: 12:15 p.m. (CET).
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MotoGP Race: 2:00 p.m. (CET).