Marc Marquez has received 70 instances as a MotoGP rider however none of them have been on the Pink Bull Ring, regardless of seven appearances on the Austrian observe.
Whereas the circuit has confirmed to be Marquez’s hardest, he got here agonisingly near victory on three events – dropping out to Andrea Dovizioso by 0.176s in 2017, 0.130s to Jorge Lorenzo in 2018 after which 0.213s to Dovizioso once more in 2019.
And people defeats all got here by the hands of Ducati riders, whereas Marquez was at Honda.
However the tables have now turned with Marquez having fun with a dream debut season on the manufacturing unit Ducati squad, successful eight of 12 GPs and the final ten races in a row, together with Sprints.
The eight-time world champion is now poised to take advantage of the onerous braking and acceleration strengths of the Desmosedici on the Pink Bull Ring, which he beforehand battled towards.
“I am unable to wait to get again on observe after the vacations: I’ve taken a break and rested,” stated Marquez, who begins the weekend with a 120-point lead over youthful brother Alex (Gresini).
“The Austrian observe has by no means given me nice satisfaction, but it surely has supplied loads of duels proper all the way down to the final nook, the final meter earlier than the checkered flag.
“I am able to sort out this second a part of the season in the absolute best manner”.
Because the Pink Bull Ring returned to the calendar in 2016, Ducati riders have received on all however two events:
Miguel Oliveira triumphed in a restarted 2020 Styrian spherical in a last nook showdown, whereas fellow KTM rider Brad Binder snatched victory with slicks within the rain in 2021.
Pecco Bagnaia: Austria ‘beneficial to Ducati’
In the meantime, Marquez’s team-mate Francesco Bagnaia returns to Austria holding a five-race win streak on the circuit relationship again to 2023.
Nonetheless, Pecco remains to be trying to find an answer to braking and nook entry points on the GP25 this season.
“This observe has at all times been very beneficial to Ducati and within the final three seasons we have achieved the absolute best outcomes,” Bagnaia stated.
“I am completely happy to get again on observe right here and restart this second a part of the season. Lots of my favorite tracks await us: technical, but spectacular! I am unable to wait to get out on observe”.
Bagnaia, who joined Marquez and the opposite Ducati MotoGP riders in a latest coaching session at Balaton Park, begins this weekend 48 factors behind Alex Marquez.
