MotoGP: BritishGP Preview – It’s More Than Just a Grand Prix

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone ventures into it’s 10th consecutive season as the host of the Modern era of MotoGP.

The 3.661 mile (5.891km) circuit has hosted racing since 1948, one year before the inception of the MotoGP Championship. What was once an airfield for WWII fighter planes has turned into a state-of-the-art racing complex. This mixed in with over 3 miles of arguably the best twists and turns in the world has made Silverstone into jewel within racing.

No wonder that winning at one of the worlds most elite Grand Prix circuits is high priority on your racing CV. All the riders seek for that taste of victory to have their name etched into the history books, along with the ultimate greats.

History

Although Silverstone has been on the calendar since 2010, it isn’t the first stint it has had on the calendar. It took over the place of the Isle of Man TT as the only British round in 1977 and the British Grand Prix was born. It held many classic battles, including the incredible showdown between Britain’s Barry Sheen (7) and America’s Kenny Roberts Sr (1). As a result, the race has been burned into the history books as one of the greatest races of all time and for one other reason.

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“I passed him and gave him the V-sign for a laugh. There was nothing malicious. I knew the cameras were there and thought it’d be good fun.” – Barry Sheene

Exiting the first corner at Copse on lap 16. Barry Sheene was leading the way ahead of Kenny Roberts Sr. Sheene looked over his shoulder a gave Roberts the “V” sign. Sheene told Motorcycle Journalist Phil West in 2002 – a year before Sheene’s passing – “I passed him and gave him the V-sign for a laugh. There was nothing malicious. I knew the cameras were there and thought it’d be good fun.” 40 years on, it’s still a moment that all fans of the sport talk about.

Donington Park took up the mantle of the British Grand Prix from 1987 to 2009. Giving the British Grand Prix it’s home for 23 years before Silverstone retook it’s slot on the Calendar. Where it has established itself as one of the stand out races of the year.

In Numbers

6 – Different winners in the MotoGP class since it’s return to Silverstone. Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner, Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi, Maverick Vinales and Andrea Dovizioso have all been victorious at the circuit.

3 – Jorge Lorenzo has the most wins at the Northampton and Buckingham circuit. Picking up the victories in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

7 – The United States of America has the most wins around the circuit. All coming in its first spell on the calendar, 1977 – 1986. Kenny Robert Sr (3 wins), Randy Mamola (2 wins), Pat Hennan and Freddie Spencer doing the hounour for the USA. Spain are the next closest win 5 wins.

7 – Yamaha are the most successful manufacturer, picking up 7 wins. Scoring their first win with Kenny Roberts Sr. in 1978 and most recently with Valentino Rossi in 2015. Suzuki and Honda share 5 wins a-piece.

4 – Marc Marquez has the record for the most pole positions, that’s two more than closest challenger Jorge Lorenzo. In the modern day era.

3.661 – the circuit length in miles. It is the longest race track on the entire calendar, with lap times exceeding the 2 minute barrier.

British Grand Prix in Numbers

71 – The amount of races to be held on British soil, Isle of Man has hosted the most (28), followed by Donnington (23) and Silverstone (20).

6 – The most Grand Prix wins in the premier class are held by 2 people. Mike Hailwood – Isle of Man (1961 and 1963 – 67). Valentino Rossi – Donington Park (2000 – 02 & 2004/05) – Silverstone (2015)

2 – Only two riders have won at two circuits to host the British Grand Prix. Valentino Rossi (as mentioned above) and Andrea Dovizioso taking victory at Donington in 2009 (1st MotoGP win) and at Silverstone in 2017.

18 – Most victories held by a single manufacturer across all circuits is held by Honda. Yamaha are only 3 wins further behind on 15 with MV Agusta and Suzuki sharing 13 wins each.

17 – Great Britain is the most successful nation at a British round, however their last victory came at the Isle of Man in 1975 with Mike Grant. Italy could equal this total, if an Italian rider wins this weekend, they currently sit on 16 wins.

Ghosts of 2018

There is a lot of attention surrounding this weekend. The attention is looking towards the circuit after the farce that was the 2018 British Grand Prix. Wet weather (which isn’t unusual for British summertime) caused standing water on the circuit but this wasn’t the issue. Over the 2017 winter period Silverstone had undergone resurfacing work to smooth out the bumps. Formula 1 drivers at the time of their race in July at Silverstone had suggested that MotoGP riders wouldn’t like the surface.

“Me and Franco (Uncini) – Grand Prix Safety Officer – made a lot of checks every half an hour to see if the situation was better but always, even with very little rain, didn’t improve. This is why we spoke with the riders and they said for sure it isn’t the right time to do the race today. The track conditions were really dangerous, especially for aquaplaning” – Loris Capirossi

Horror Show

The horror was confirmed during Saturday, standing water caused high speed crashes and a terrifying incident at the end of the hanger straight. Alex Rins had aquaplaned off the circuit and a few moments later, Tito Rabat unable to slow down came off his Avintia Ducati. Rabat was followed by Franco Morbidelli’s Marc VDS Honda. The result, Rabat was hit by Morbidelli’s bike, fracturing his leg in 3 places and severing an artery. Not only did the conditions nearly ruin Rabat’s career, it almost ended his life. Thankfully, Rabat made a full recovery and will compete this weekend.

The heavens opened for race day and although the rain eased off later in the day. The track was deemed too unsafe to race on and after much deliberation, the event was cancelled. At the time former MotoGP racer, now Safety Advisor – Loris Capirossi – tried everything to get the racing underway. Stating – “Me and Franco (Uncini) – Grand Prix Safety Officer – made a lot of checks every half an hour to see if the situation was better but always, even with very little rain, didn’t improve. This is why we spoke with the riders and they said for sure it isn’t the right time to do the race today. The track conditions were really dangerous, especially for aquaplaning”.

Silverstone Gets Another Face Lift

“It’s still really bumpy in some areas. I don’t think the MotoGP guys are going to like Turn 6. They’re going to kick up a fuss.” – Daniel Ricciardo

MotoGP looked to terminate the contract that it had with Silverstone if nothing could be done. However, Silverstone invested £5 million to resurface the track for 2019 and before the weekend even begins, the response seems positive. The track has been given an ark in the middle of the hanger straight to allow water to drain to the edge.

Ahead of the weekend that may cause an issues could be turn 6 at Brooklands. “It’s still really bumpy in some areas. I don’t think the MotoGP guys are going to like Turn 6. They’re going to kick up a fuss.” – Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo told Motorsport.com in July.

A Familiar Face Returns

After a lot of speculation regarding his motivation to return and his lack of desire to see out his Honda contract, Jorge Lorenzo returns this weekend. Lorenzo has been missing in action since his Free Practice crash at Assen back in late June. Although not being in the paddock since the Dutch Grand Prix, Lorenzo has been dominating much of the MotoGP headlines, all for the wrong reasons. He tried to part ways with Honda and return to Ducati, albeit at Pramac for 2020 in place of Jack Miller. Once that fell through, he decided to see out his contract to the end of 2020 with Repsol Honda.

Lorenzo currently sits down in 19th in the standings on 19 points. All eyes will be on the Spaniard and his relationship with his team and the Honda management. Alberto Puig – Repsol Honda Team Manager – is reportedly furious at Lorenzo seeking work elsewhere. Also with him posting pictures out in The Maldives on his social media accounts. The best thing for Lorenzo this weekend would be to keep his head held low, get on with his work and bag his first top 10 of the season.

Sylvain Guintoli will once again be racing this weekend. The 2014 World Superbike Champion and Suzuki test rider has stepped up to replace the injured Joan Mir. The young Spaniard had a crash at the post Czech Grand Prix test at Brno. Fluid was found in his lung and he missed the Austrain Grand Prix and has been ruled out of the British Grand Prix as a precaution.

What To Look Out For

The epic last lap duel between Andrea Dovizioso has certainly wet the appetite for the weekend ahead at Silverstone. Dovizioso coming out on top for the fifth time in six of the pairs last corners battles. The last lap battles between the two have become stuff of legends and with Marquez at the top of his game and Dovizioso rediscovering his form, could we be in for another fight to the end?

Yamaha might have something to say about that prospect. The Hamamatsu manufacturer has been on a voyage of rediscovery as of late. A Yamaha rider has been on the podium in four of the past five races, including a win for Maverick Vinales at Assen. The biggest hint of light the factory will take is their performance at the Red Bull Ring in Austria last time out. Fabio Quartararo on the Sepang International Racing Team Yamaha finished 3rd and only 6.1 seconds from the win and the two factory bikes, just over 1 second behind. This at a track that has never suited their machine.

Take that with fact that both Rossi and Vinales fought for the win all the way to the end at Silverstone in 2017 (the last time a race went ahead) and narrowly missed out to Dovizioso’s Ducati.

Home Heroes

A brit hasn’t been victorious in any class since Scott Redding won the Moto2 race in 2013. Cal Crutchlow won’t just be looking to break that streak but will be looking to add another victory to his previous 3 and send the British crowd into overdrive with a win.

Sam Lowes will be looking to regain his form in Moto2 with a strong weekend, he will be looking to feature at the front of the pack. Jake Dixon knows the circuit well and this weekend out play into his hands for a strong result on a struggling KTM chassis.

Scot John McPhee has already won in Moto3 in 2019 (Le Mans in May) and picked up a hard earned 3rd at Austria and will be looking to add to the win tally and podium tally. Tom Booth-Amos has struggled in 2019 onboard the CIP run KTM but returning to a track that he has raced on many times could be the ingredient he’ll need to kick start his season.

The British Grand Prix is steeped in history and after the failure of 2018. Both the circuit and the championship will be looking for a successful weekend. The only thing standing in their way is the weather. Unlike 12 months ago, this year should be a totally different outcome.