Just over four weeks after leaving the Sachsenring, the MotoGP riders had a chance to recharge during the summer break. This weekend at Silverstone, the thrilling title chase continues under tricky conditions. Riders can expect a “cool track” at the British Grand Prix, says former MotoGP rider Tom Lüthi, but it is “anything but ordinary”. The circuit boasts “very many long straights”, as well as “technical sections” and “blisteringly fast stretches”.
Weather can often be a key factor on the island. “You’ll often get rain, and a quarter of an hour later it’s dry again,” says Lüthi: “Honestly, I’ve seen it all there.” According to forecasts, it will be “far from scorching this time. So, naturally, a big topic is getting the tyres up to temperature or keeping them at temperature. “That’s the name of the game in the MotoGP class.”
After eleven of 22 season races, the standings are razor-tight. Jorge Martín (Spain/208 points) leads the charge ahead of Japanese rider Ai Ogura (both Aprilia/194) and world champion Marc Márquez (Spain/Ducati/190). “The points really tightened up before the summer break,” says Swiss rider Lüthi. Márquez “pulled off a masterclass at the Sachsenring to haul in a serious points tally,” and meanwhile, the rivals stumbled a little or weren’t quite at the front. “That makes it incredibly exciting for us spectators, of course.” The burning question, according to Lüthi, is whether defending champion Márquez “can keep closing the gap on the others so effectively.”
