MotoGP celebrates it 75th Anniversary this year and celebrations were in full regalia for Monster Energy British Grand Prix weekend at iconic Silverstone Circuit. For the first time in the sport’s 75-year history, every bike and rider on the main MotoGP grid raced with a special, one-off livery, all with a touch of emotion inducing retro style.
The series returned to racing after the summer break in unusual sunshine for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. With the severe lack of advertisement for any of the side entertainment ( one might have attended purely to watch the Kooks and Darkness perform) from the circuit organisers and together with extortionate entry prices that Silverstone mysteriously commands, it was of no surprise that there was a disappointingly low number of fans , with only 42,500 attendees over the course of the weekend, which is a crying shame. Some might say that it’s the sign of the times but with record breaking attendance at the recent British Superbike Round at Thruxton, the thirst for Motorcycle racing is there, one might argue it’s more a sign of the disdain for Silverstone – the unfriendly spectators circuit. Maybe that’s another article all together!
With the temperature dial in the UK turned up, Friday Free practice was pure entertainment with lap records being broken straight out of box. A new Moto2 Silverstone lap record handed Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) top honours with the Spaniard’s 2:03.602 time just under three tenths quicker than Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in second and setting the tone for the day. Home favourite Jake Dixon ended the days sessions P7 with plenty to build on for Saturdays morning practice and qualifying ahead.
Prima Pramac star, Jorge Martin put in a late flyer edging out the 2023 Silverstone Champ, Aleix Espargaro by a mere 0:045 and the current World Championship leader, Francesco Bagnaia landed P3 only 0:119.. tight at the top as always.
Saturday free practice and qualifying saw the weather cool somewhat, we knew it couldn’t last! For the first time since the 2022 Malaysian GP, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) would launch a Moto2 race from pole position after the Japanese rider beat pre-session favourite Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) by 0.052s . Ogura’s 2:02.940 smashed out Canets Friday time and became a new Silverstone Moto2 lap record.
Jake Dixon, with the home crowd watching on improved on his Friday positioning and started the race from P5 with aims to repeat his 2022 Silverstone Podium success as his goal.
Having looked strong all weekend throughout practice, another home crowd favourite Moto3 rider Scott Ogden left it too late leaving the box during qualifying and didn’t set a competitive time in Q2 and unfortunately had to start from P17. No doubt disappointed having been well inside the top 10 most of the Friday.
With the Tissot Sprint race the main feature on the Saturday Racing action, it was Enea Bastianini who sprinted to victory and took his firs