Let battle commence: MotoGP back in action at Silverstone

July 29, 2024

Let battle commence: MotoGP back in action at Silverstone

Vintage style, modern spectacle, and one of the greatest racetracks on Earth. Buckle up as the world’s most exciting sport fires up for the Monster Energy British GP!

It’s been some time since we’ve seen a swing as significant as the drama that unfolded for former Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) in Germany, with the #89 seeing a 10-point lead before the weekend become a 10-point disadvantage to the new rider at the top of the table: old rival and reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). But all is far from lost and the tale far from its conclusion as we get back on track at the behemoth of Silverstone, with another 37 points on offer at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix – and that’s only the first haul of a maximum 407 still in play in 2024. The next bout of this great game will also take place in stunning vintage liveries on Sunday, with every team on the premier class grid running a one-off colour scheme to celebrate #MotoGP75.

Whether in 2024 colours on Saturday or in vintage style on Sunday, however, Martin will be the first looking to hit back – and especially after losing out at the Sachsenring, a venue somewhat penciled in as one where he was likely to be the rider to beat. He’s also had to lick those wounds throughout summer break and wait for his right of reply. Silverstone, on paper, could be more of a Bagnaia track too – and as the #1 starts to gain some ominous momentum – but that’s why riders take Championships weekend by weekend. Austria is already appearing on the horizon.

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), meanwhile, is starting to drop off the lead two in the title fight but he’s very much still got the edge on his fellow GP23 riders. He is still “waiting” for that first win on Ducati machinery, but there have been a few where he’s come very close. Is Silverstone a venue more likely to see that attack able to bear more fruit? We’re about to find out as the #93 rolls into town.

Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) is closing in on the top three in the title fight, now 11 points behind Marc Marquez, so that’s one to watch, and the next rider in the standings is one with a mighty record at Silverstone: Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing). He could very well be a protagonist at a track where the RS-GP has also shone year after year – most recently in 2023 as teammate Aleix Espargaro won. Espargaro is another whose record – on top of that win – has been history-making at the venue. Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) showed great speed last season to almost get on the podium too, and Raul Fernandez, now confirmed to remain with Trackhouse for two more seasons, will be an interesting watch as he debuts with the 2024 spec RS-GP.

That’s as Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) remains on a steady roll of good speed as we wait for confirmation of his future, with the Italian having teased news soon just before summer. Teammate Marco Bezzecchi is looking to reset after summer following a tough first stint to 2024, but he did get on the Tissot Sprint podium at Silverstone last year. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) went better than that though – taking his first Saturday win in some style in 2023. Can they cut the gap to the GP24s? And can Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) continue his steady rise back to Q2 and beyond?

Meanwhile at KTM, there are good podium memories from 2023 as well, and the Austrian marque would welcome a few more this season. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) led the charge then and will want to do so this season as he looks to reassert his form ahead of superstar rookie – and 2025 teammate – Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). Acosta has a little less experience of Silverstone compared to many venues… but that may make no difference whatsoever, such is his record in the World Championship. He is now two points ahead of Binder as it stands.

On the other side of the Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 garage, Augusto Fernandez remains on the search for more points, and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) will want to reset after a tough stint and at a venue where the fans always show plenty of love, one incident involving friend and former teammate, home hero Cal Crutchlow, aside.

Speaking of, the Brit will not be able to take back to the stage for his wildcard as previously planned, still in recovery from an injury. Instead, Yamaha will field Remy Gardner in his place, fresh from getting on the bike for the first time at the German GP as a replacement for Alex Rins. Rins, meanwhile, should be back in action alongside 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo at Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™. With some signs of good progress shown for the Iwata marque as the season rolls on, and as private testing continues, it will be an interesting watch from here on out – especially at a venue where they’ve shone plenty of times in the past.

At Honda, there has been some key news ahead of the British GP, on the tails of more released just before summer break in the back-to-back. Aleix Espargaro joining their test team from 2025 was the first news, and then last week the Japanese giants confirmed their 2025 line-up as Joan Mir was announced for both next season and 2026. Luca Marini, meanwhile, is already confirmed for next year. That puts more pieces of the jigsaw in place, with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) confirmed for another season too. Their work towards bringing Honda back to the top continues, alongside Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR), and Silverstone will see them come out swinging to try and take more and more points week-on-week.

The Championship remains close as ever as we head into the second half of the season, albeit with a new name at the top. But those 407 points still on the table speak for themselves… so make sure to tune in for the next twist in the tale this weekend as Silverstone welcomes the world’s most exciting sport back from summer – in vintage style!

SHOWTIME
Saturday
Tissot Sprint: 15:00 (UTC +1)
Sunday
Grand Prix: 13:00 (UTC +1)