MotoGP™ heads for the rolling hill of Styria for Round 11 as the 2024 Championship passes the half way point. As riders prepare to lock horns at the Red Bull Ring, MotoGP™ Fantasy players are ready to do the same with some fantastic prizes up for grabs.
What happened last time out?
Before we look ahead, let’s quickly review how things played out in Silverstone. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) did the Tissot Sprint and race double, and he is unsurprisingly the British GP’s top rider with 49 points. A double P2 for Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) helped him reclaim the Championship advantage and 40 points for his owners.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) took pole and a Sprint podium which saw him tally 32 points, while reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) recovered from a Sprint crash to take a Sunday podium and 25 Fantasy points.
Again, there are no surprises as Ducati were the top manufacturer, picking up 44.5 points for anyone who had them in their team, while the Bologna bullets factory outfit were the top team of the weekend, with Bastianini and Bagnaia’s efforts collecting 37 points.
Who should I get into my team for Austria?
The question is straightforward, and so is the answer: Ducati has dominated the Red Bull Ring since its full-time introduction to MotoGP™ in 2016. The Italian brand has seen its riders take the top step on all but two occasions. Most recently, reigning World Champion Bagnaia ($5.4M) has been leading the charge on the Desmosedici, aiming for his third consecutive victory at the circuit after a particularly impressive clean sweep last season.
Then there's the current points leader, Martin ($5M), who claimed his maiden MotoGP™ win here in 2021 and followed it up with another podium during the Austrian doubleheader. Although the Spaniard hasn't been on the podium in his last two visits (excluding the Tissot Sprint), his current form suggests he's poised to change that this weekend.
Bastianini, fresh off an impressive weekend at Silverstone, is also a rider to watch. Priced at $4.2M, he offers a more affordable alternative to the top two in the title race. Although ‘The Beast’ has yet to score a podium at the Red Bull Ring, his current form makes him a strong contender.
At the risk of stating the obvious, picking out the top three in the title race is not exactly the most groundbreaking analysis, so let’s take a look at some riders who could make a difference this weekend.
As mentioned, Ducati has only missed out on victory at the Red Bull Ring twice, both times to KTM machinery. The first was in 2020, when Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) pulled off a last-corner miracle, followed by Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) taking victory in one of the most sensational Grand Prix finales ever. Binder, who scored a double P2 in 2023, is a solid option at $2.7M, especially given his knack for racking up points in MotoGP™ Fantasy.
The RC-16 is expected to perform well at the Red Bull Ring, with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) expressing confidence ahead of his visit. Although the rookie hasn't secured a Sunday podium since Austin, he has consistently earned good points throughout the weekends. At just $2.3M, he could be a valuable addition to your team this weekend.
Don’t forget to join the official MotoGP™ Half Season League!
With just 10 Grands Prix to go, there is a new Fantasy league you can join where everyone starts on equal footing! The MotoGP™ Half Season League offers gamers the chance to win some fantastic prizes, and you can join it by clicking below!