The first half of the season couldn’t have gone much better for Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). A 58-point advantage heading into the summer break was more than he would have bargained for at the start of the season and at the Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky, Marquez is out to increase his lead at the top of the table.
Discounting the slip-up in America, the number 93 has claimed P1 or P2 in every race this season. It’s been a frighteningly consistent year for the seven-time Champion but he hasn’t had it all his own way at the Automotodrom Brno in the past, with wins coming his way on Czech soil on just two occasions in the premier class. The last of those was in 2017 when he dominated a flag-to-flag race, while in 2013 the then-rookie beat his teammate Dani Pedrosa to victory.
Marquez claimed P3 in Brno last season, finishing behind the Ducatis of Andrea Dovizioso and now-teammate Jorge Lorenzo. A repeat result wouldn’t be bad, but the 75-time Grand Prix winner will no doubt be looking for victory number six of the season, even though he knows it won’t come easy.
“I am very excited to get back on the bike,” began Marquez. “Summer break is always nice to relax a little bit and see friends and family, but soon you miss the team and the bike! I am ready to get back to work and Brno is a fun circuit to ride. We finished the first half of the season in a very strong way and now we must keep our focus to continue this. Brno is a circuit where lots of riders are often strong so we can’t take anything for granted. I hope Jorge’s recovery is going well and we will soon have him back in the team.”
During the summer break, it was confirmed that the aforementioned Lorenzo will sit out the Czech GP, as well as the Austrian GP, after his injury sustained in Assen. So, that means HRC test rider Stefan Bradl gets another runout on the Repsol Honda after a more than respectable P10 display on home turf at the Sachsenring.
“Of course I’m looking forward to Brno and it’s great to be back with the Repsol Honda Team as I really enjoyed working with them at the Sachsenring,” said Bradl, a winner at the Czech layout in 2008 in the 125cc class.
“Our aim is to carry on from where we in Germany and keep moving forward with the bike. I’m happy to get this chance again and I want to thank HRC and the Repsol Honda Team and of course all the best to Jorge in his recovery and that he can come back strong.”
See both Marquez and Bradl in action for the first time this weekend at 09:55 local time (GMT+2) on Friday morning as FP1 gets underway.