The special appeal of MotoGP is that it is racing in its purest form – no need for clever tactics, pit stops or DRS. Since 2023, sprint races have provided an additional element of excitement in the motorbike premier class, and this weekend at the Red Bull Ring is no exception. The battle for the world title has got tighter in the run-up to the Austrian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Jorge Martin has a three-point lead over Francesco Bagnaia, who is hot on his heels, as was emphatically underlined by Bagnaia’s double victory on the most recent race weekend.
A fact that is particularly interesting when you consider that the Red Bull Ring is one of the tracks where Ducati riders have most frequently run out winners. Since their return to the series in 2016, Ducati have won eight times at Spielberg. Local favourites Red Bull KTM Factory Racing have been party poopers on only two occasions, with Miguel Oliveira winning the Steiermark GP in 2020 and Brand Binder lifting the trophy a year later.
MotoGP winners at the Red Bull Ring:
3 wins : Andrea Dovizioso (2017, 2019, 2020/Austrian GP)
2 wins: Francesco Bagnaia (2022, 2023)
1 win each:
- Andrea Iannone (2016)
- Jorge Lorenzo (2018)
- Miguel Oliveira (2020/Steiermark GP)
- Jorge Martin (2021/Steiermark GP)
- Brad Binder (2021/Austrian GP)
Curious fact
Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez have chalked up at least one win at pretty much every track in their MotoGP careers, with only the Red Bull Ring as a blank spot on their impressive CVs. Unlike Rossi, who announced his retirement at the start of the 2021 Steiermark GP, Marquez could still tick this particular box. If not this year, then perhaps in 2025 as a Ducati works rider.
Sporting fact
Fuel consumption and tyre wear are set to be the dominant issues this weekend. In addition, the Red Bull Ring is one of the toughest circuits in terms of braking. Even if the track layout looks simple at first glance, you still need to use your brain.
Interesting fact
If GASGAS Factory Racing rider Pedro Acosta wins the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, he will be the second-youngest MotoGP winner in history at the age of 20 (and 85 days). Marc Marquez holds the distinction of being the youngest race winner (Austin 2013 aged 20 years and 63 days). Incidentally, if the Spaniard wins on Sunday, precisely 1,029 days will have elapsed since his last victory in Italy in 2021.
Historical fact
The last lap attacks at the Red Bull Ring are legendary! There have been some classics, like in 2019 when Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez fought a thrilling duel right up to the final corner. Marquez was the first to turn into T10, but after a brief contact, Dovizioso pipped him to the finish line, with just 0.213 seconds separating them. In 2017, the gap between these same two riders was a mere 0.176 seconds. The first 15 across the finish line were separated by just 28.096 seconds – the narrowest Top 15 gap of all time.
