MotoGp, Bagnaia’s mission in Austria: to make it a hat-trick and regain the lead

The race for the 2024 title promises to be a rollercoaster ride MotoGpin the ten stages remaining until the end of the world championship. Back at the top of the drivers’ standings by just 3 points, in Austria Jorge Martin will have to defend itself from the return of the official Ducatis Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini, the latter ready to confirm that he has reached the crucial phase of the season in excellent shape, as demonstrated by the double victory at Silverstone. A podium, for now virtual, that could be upset by Marc Marquezwho has been chasing the top spot for three years and who has never gone beyond second place in the Styrian mountains.

Bastianini and Martin: young, talented and fighting for the world championship. But evicted by Marquez

by Massimo Calandri

05 August 2024

In Austria the Ducati sign

So if there is uncertainty about who will benefit most from the weekend, it is easier to predict that he will still be racing on a Ducati. On the Red Bull Ringback on the calendar since 2016 (with a double date in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid), the Desmosedici have won eight of the ten editions held so far. A red domination that began with Andrea Iannone and continued with Andrea Dovizioso (three wins), consolidated by Jorge Lorenzo, up until Bagnaia’s back to back in 2022 and 2023.

The mission of Bagnaia

With such a track there is enough to legitimize the confident approach of the world champion. “It is a track where the Ducatis have always been very fast – confirms Bagnaia -, therefore, I expect many riders capable of fighting for the top positions. Now the goal will be to try to return to the top of the general classification and then try to open the gap in the championship in the next races”, namely in Aragon, San Marino and Misano, a triple that could already direct the rest of the world championship and elect a favorite for the MotoGP title, before leaving for the long Asian trip.

Bastianini’s trust

In Austria “in 2022 I got my first pole in MotoGP – recalls his teammate Bastianini -. At Silverstone we managed to be fast right from Friday and qualifying also went better than in past GPs; therefore, I think I can start again like this in Austria and find the same sensations that allowed me to be so competitive in England. The feeling with the bike is there and we are working well so I am confident that I can do well here too”. His gap from the top has been reduced to 49 points, but the rider from Rimini remains concrete: “Now I don’t want to think about the Championship: the fight for first place is not yet realistic, but we will work hard to continue to be consistent and always be up front in the race”.