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!
Monday, 29 July 2024
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)
What’s happening at the #BritishGP?
In short, a lot! On Thursday afternoon, the MotoGP™ 75th Anniversary Special reveals the vintage liveries teams will be racing with on Sunday, with a special one-hour live show starting at 14:00 local time.
That’s alongside the Day of Champions, the flagship event of official MotoGP™ charity Two Wheels for Life, with a host of different fan events culminating in the ever-popular memorabilia auction, attended by MotoGP™ riders. Fans with paddock DoC tickets can also see the MotoGP™ 75th Anniversary Special live as part of the pitlane walk.
Meanwhile, the broadcast continues following the Anniversary Special as podcast Last On The Brakes welcomes the legendary Loris Capirossi at 15:05 (UTC +1).
The first Press Conference at 16:00 then hosts Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™).
The second line-up at 16:35 is Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team).
On Friday, we will then induct a new MotoGP™ Legend into the Hall of Fame: Mike Trimby. The founder and CEO of IRTA, who sadly passed away in 2023, will become the first non-rider to be made a Legend, honouring his off-track contributions to the sport.
Throughout the weekend, the R&G British Talent Cup will be on its biggest stage of the season, racing alongside MotoGP™. Race 1 is on Saturday afternoon and Race 2 on Sunday morning.
Finally, #MotoGP75 celebrations will continue across the weekend, from special vintage touches from MotoGP™ partners to a retro twist on our incredible opening music on Sunday. There’s even a special bike exhibition, with the iconic Wing hosting around 30 vintage motorcycles throughout the GP – celebrating the history of the sport and the industry thanks to Amicale Spirit of Speed, Sammy Miller Museum, National Motor Museum Beaulieu, Gresini Team, Collection Nougier and Yamaha. Better yet, access is free and open to all fans and personnel on site, no paddock pass required. See you there!
Moto2™: Can Garcia defend from Ogura as Silverstone kicks off the second half?
As we land into the second half of the season, Sergio Garcia’s (MT Helmets – MSI) lead in the Moto2™ Championship stands at seven points after teammate Ai Ogura secured his fourth podium in five races with a P3, as the former had to settle for a lowkey P7 – his worst result of the year. He’ll want to stamp his authority back on proceedings as we get back on track.
Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing), while nursing his fractured right collarbone, salvaged a highly commendable P8 at the Sachsenring to limit the title race points damage. The American is 24 points down on Garcia ahead of the British GP, where he’ll start the weekend pretty much back to full fitness following the summer.
Elsewhere, Assen and Germany were – much needed – strong rounds for Fermin Aldeguer (SpeedUp Racing). A P2 in the Netherlands was followed by a dominant victory in Germany, as the #54 returns to the venue he claimed his maiden win at in 2023. A repeat will go down nicely, with Aldeguer needing to continue clawing points back on the top three to reel himself back into the title frame.
Silverstone signals a homecoming for Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) and after two podiums in the last four outings, including a strong P2 finish in Germany, the run up to the summer break will have given the Briton a nice injection of confidence as Dixon aims to stand on the British GP rostrum for a second time.
Tune in to see the stunning Triumph-powered Moto2™ machines take on Silverstone this weekend, with the intermediate class out at the later time of 14:30 (UTC+1), after the MotoGP™ race.
Moto3™: can anyone halt Alonso’s charge?
Following a brief intermission at Assen, the David Alonshow continued at the Sachsenring as the CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team star claimed his sixth victory of the season to extend his Championship advantage to 58 points ahead of a date with Silverstone. And who won in Northamptonshire last year? That’s right, David Alonso.
The Colombian is currently sailing towards a first Grand Prix title at a considerable rate of knots, but with 11 races to go, Alonso’s chief chasers still hold hope. The first of those after a P3 finish in Germany is Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI), with the Spaniard leapfrogging Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) in the standings after the latter’s recent tougher run of form.
Holgado and Ortola finished P3 and P4 respectively at Silverstone last year, so like Alonso, they too have good pedigree in Great Britain. Meanwhile, Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) will be aiming to respond after his crash from the lead in Germany saw him relinquish 25 points to Alonso, with the Dutch star now P4 in the Championship chase.
Can anyone halt Alonso’s charge? That’s the goal for everyone on the grid, so tune in at the slightly later time of 11:15 (UTC+1) to find out!
