After the drama of Germany a week ago, this weekend needs no introduction: we’re back at Brno. The famous Czech venue returns for the first time since 2020 and has welcomed plenty of firsts in its time as home of the Czech Grand Prix. Perhaps we’ll see more this weekend? Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) leads the way and is guaranteed to go into summer as the rider at the top of the standings, but with reigning Champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) returning to action, can he cause a stir on his comeback?
THE RETURN
It’s been such a long run of bad luck and trouble for Martin, and a long road to full recovery, that his comeback is now even more eagerly awaited. The #1 has been on a road bike in Barcelona and then on the RS-GP25 last week at Misano to test himself out, and all signs point to him being very race ready. Since the first incident that started to derail his racing debut with Aprilia back in testing, the machine has been on the podium and won a Grand Prix – so it’ll be interesting in every single way to see where the reigning Champion is upon his return.
TOP THREE LOCKED IN: #93 out front
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez didn’t race here in 2020 but in 2019, he was pitch perfect, setting an iconic qualifying lap with slick tyres on a wet track to take pole before clearing off into the distance on Sunday. He’s coming from his strongest track on the calendar into one that has a lot more variables – but now aims for five in a row for the first time in six years. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) was an amazing P2 at the Sachsenring despite injury and arrives to Brno still P2 overall, that also safe to stay into summer.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was back on the podium in Germany as he rescued a tricky qualifying in the rain and a tough Sprint, charging up and then homing in on Alex Marquez. But he’ll want more than that as he looks to get back into attack mode.
CONTENDERS RISING: Di Giannantonio and Bezzecchi lead the charge behind
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) leap-frogged teammate Franco Morbidelli at the Sachsenring due to the #21’s crash out on Saturday but then fell himself on Sunday. Now in P4, Diggia also returns to a happy hunting ground. A first win in Moto3 in 2018 was followed up by a first Moto2 podium a year later, so expect him to challenge at the sharp end throughout Round 12. The form rider is Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) but he also crashed a week ago. P2 at Assen on Sunday and long-time Sprint leader at the Sachsenring, will ‘Bez’ and Aprilia shine at Brno? A qualifying specialist and always strong at fast, flowing circuits, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) also looks to replicate his Sprint rostrum from Germany and P4 on Sunday and convert the Yamaha’s one-lap pace into podium contention more permanently.
A FLURRY BEFORE SUMMER: looking to shine on our return to Czechia
Between Bezzecchi and Quartararo in the top ten, Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) was back on form at the Sachsenring with a front row followed up by Sprint points but then a Sunday crash. The #5 is one of the most experienced riders at Brno, and has a MotoGP pole and podium in 2020. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and fellow countryman Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) continue their battle and are P8 and P9 overall in the standings, although neither have been to Brno before – at all.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder, meanwhile, has very happy memories there. He took a sensational maiden win in 2020 – and in his rookie season – which was also KTM’s first MotoGP win. He’s having a tougher season so far this year but will look at Brno, and his experience there, as an opportunity.
BIG RESULTS ON ORDER: will there be more top ten shocks?
A strong qualifying last time out welcomed Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) back to the front. He’s got a MotoGP podium at Brno from 2019, too, and will be aiming to build on his German GP. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) took a fourth top ten in a row in Germany and he’s now ahead of teammate Ai Ogura in the standings, and Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) took his best result with Honda last time out. He took a career-first pole at Brno in Moto2 back in 2018. Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) both have eyes on improving the feeling with their respective Yamahas and moving forward, whereas Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) is just simply looking for a little more luck than in Germany.
ON OR OFF THE SIDELINES: a sit rep as we head for Brno
The Sachsenring weekend was tough for Red Bull KTM Tech3. Enea Bastianini didn’t even make it to Germany following his appendicitis but he’s been released from hospital and aiming to be back on form for Brno, whilst teammate Maverick Viñales is out following a small fracture in his shoulder after his Q2 crash last weekend and replaced by KTM test rider Pol Espargaro. Morbidelli’s withdrawal from the German GP after his Sprint fall on Saturday means he’s also on the unfit list and out of Brno, not replaced. Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU LCR Honda) continues to recover from knee surgery and is replaced by Takaaki Nakagami. As a wildcard though, we'll also have a fifth Yamaha on the grid with Augusto Fernandez in the Yamaha Factory Racing Team.
So, we’re back at Brno, home to special first victories – think Valentino Rossi’s 1996 breakthrough ride, Binder’s rookie stunner – as well as intense final lap showdowns: who can forget Dani Pedrosa getting one over Jorge Lorenzo in 2012? Marc Marquez’s outstanding pole lap in 2019 has its own place in the Brno hall of fame too. And finally, it may have been a penalty but it was also stunning execution from Zarco when the Frenchman did the first ever Long Lap in 2020. It's a stunning track and we’re ready to get back in action in Brno. Join us this weekend for the Tissot GP of Czechia!