Written by Finn Glover, Edited by Tarun Suresh
Roll back the years! MotoGP celebrates a retro 75th anniversary weekend at Silverstone, with some spectacular special liveries being on show. As the championship returns after its summer break, just what can we expect as MotoGP heads to one of its longest circuits of the season?
Last year…
Last year, it was Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro who reigned supreme- in a weekend hampered by rain and uncertainty. As the rain began to fall, Espargaro seized victory with a daring move into the ‘Maggots’ corner on the final lap, with the top 4 being separated by just 0.75 seconds as they crossed the line.
It was an extremely strong weekend for Aprilia, with all 4 of their bikes finishing in the top 10. With a blend of slow-speed sections and fast, flowing parts, it is completely different when compared to the last circuit MotoGP raced on, the Sachsenring.
Rain hammered the circuit on Saturday, causing a rather unexpected front row with Marco Bezzecchi taking pole. The forecast for Saturday is similar again, so will history repeat itself in
2024?
Round 9 in Germany proved to be absolutely pivotal in the championship battle, with the lead changing hands. Francesco Bagnaia clawed back the championship lead for the first time since Lusail. After a fierce battle with rival Jorge Martin, it was the Factory Ducati man who came out on top after Martin crashed at Turn One.
Yet in the sprint, it was a bit of Martin magnificence with the Pramac rider dominating the field and retaliating against Bagnaia’s recent impenetrable form.
He was followed home by Trackhouse’s Miguel Oliviera in what was a sterling weekend for the American-based outfit. With Oliviera seemingly leaving the squad at the end of 2024, his performance has certainly claimed the interest of many manufacturers and teams.
Following Germany, the top 5 in the championship are as follows:
1- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) 222 Points
2- Jorge Martin (Pramac) 212 Points
3- Marc Marquez (Gresini) 166 Points
4- Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo) 155 Points
5- Maverick Vinales (Aprilia) 125 Points
From one of the shortest circuits to the longest, Silverstone is a track steeped in history and plays host to its 23rd MotoGP race this year. At 3.661 miles, the race will consist of just 20 laps around a challenging layout of 18 corners.
For just the second time, the grid will be located on the ‘Hamilton Straight’, the same as the likes of Formula One. Previously, it was located on the ‘Old Pit Straight’, the first corner being Copse.
With 3 straights, hard braking zones and high-speed corners, there are a plethora of overtaking opportunities on a track renowned for its last-lap battles. Yet it still has some very technical and twisty sections, meaning that it is a real rider's circuit due to the mixed challenge it offers.
Recent data shows that this is a track that favours Aprilia, with Aleix Espargaro claiming the Italian outfit's first podium in 2021, Vinales coming extremely close to victory in 2022, and Espargaro grabbing a scintillating win in 2023. Yet, you can never rule out Ducati, and maybe even KTM, in a track notorious for closely fought races.
So, who will take gold at Silverstone? In what will be a retro weekend, will Marc Marquez pull out a vintage performance and finally end the win drought lasting back to 2021?
Or will Aprilia continue their Silverstone brilliance, claim their 2nd victory of the season, and stop the Ducati barrage?
Yet the main question on everyone’s lips is: What will this round mean for the Championship battle? With just 10 points between the rivals, it is bound to be a Silverstone sizzler.
The race begins at the earlier time of 1 pm local.
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