MotoGP: Czech Grand Prix Preview – Can Anyone Stop Marc Marquez?

The long await for racing to return is over. MotoGP returns for Round 10 of the 2019 season at the historical and picturesque Brno circuit in the Czech Republic.

Eight right hand corners and six left and 74m of elevation change from its lowest point (turn 10) to it’s highest (start/finish straight). The circuit winds itself majestically through the Brno countryside and allows fans to sit on the banking. Watching their MotoGP heroes blast around the 5.4 km (3.36m) Brno track.

The modern day circuit is situated inside the old road course and with it’s picturesque landscape and rolling topography. It is a favourite of many of the MotoGP riders.

History

The circuit which was built in 1987 after the original road circuit, which was used until 1982 was deemed too unsafe by the FIM, was originally host to the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix. This was until the country’s separation in 1992 from Czechoslovakia to create the Czech Republic and Slovakia. After missing out on hosting MotoGP in 1992, the series returned in 1993 and it has been on the calendar ever since.

Wayne Rainey took his final ever race win at the first ever Czech Grand Prix in 1993, before his career ending crash at Misano two weeks later. 

Automotodromo Brno would be long associated with Max Biaggi. The Roman Emperor – the Roman Italian, being so elegantly nicknamed –  would take victory at the circuit, no less than seven times throughout his career, 3 in the 500cc/MotoGP class and 4 in the 250cc category. This would include taking Yamaha’s first win in the MotoGP class back in 2002.

Brno In Numbers

7 – The number of race winners at Brno, Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi and Giacomo Agostini all taking 7 wins apiece. The latter taking all of his victories on the old road circuit.

5 – Valentino Rossi has won at the circuit on 5 different occasions in the 500cc/MotoGP class. His first coming in 2001 on the NSR500 Honda, on his way to his first 500cc title. His last (so far) coming in 2009, after holding off his team mate Jorge Lorenzo.

14 – Most number of podiums by any rider at Brno, held by Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini. Rossi’s first coming in 1996, when he won at the Czech circuit in the 125cc class. His latest coming in 2016, when he scored 2nd place in the rain affected race. A gap of 20 years and 3 days between his first and last podium, to date. Agostini scored his first podium at Brno on an MV Agusta in the 1965 500cc race and his last, 12 years and 13 days later on a Yamaha, in the 500cc class. This would be Agostini’s final ever podium in Grand Prix racing.

8 – The manufacturer with the most victories on the Grand Prix circuit at Brno. Honda hold that record. Their first win in the MotoGP class coming in 2003 with Valentino Rossi and their latest in 2017 with Marc Marquez.

5.3km – at 3.36 miles, the Brno circuit in the 4th longest circuit on the calendar, behind Silverstone (5.9km), Sepang (5.5km) and Circuit of the Americas (5.5km).

Preview

“We finished the first half of the season in a very strong way and now we must keep our focus to continue this”

Marc Marquez enters this weekends race with a 58 point advantage over his closest rival Andrea Dovizioso. The Spaniard has had his best start to the season since his 10 race winning streak at the start of 2014. Marquez knows that this isn’t a time to get complacent with a large advantage. “We finished the first half of the season in a very strong way and now we must keep our focus to continue this.” – Marquez said in his Honda statement. He has won at the circuit on two occasions in the MotoGP class and has scored 5 podiums. 

Marquez will be joined this weekend once again by Honda test rider, Stefan Bradl. The German continuing his stand-in rides for the injured Jorge Lorenzo. the Spaniard and the team not wanting to take any chances on his condition after Lorenzo broke his T6 and T8 vertebra’s at Assen at the end of June.

Last years race winner Andrea Dovizioso will be looking to repeat last years triumph. The Italian hasn’t had the easiest of times, as of late. Only scoring 3 podiums since his win at Qatar – Round 1. Brno is a circuit that suits the Ducati, as seen last year. The team picking up a 1-2 at the circuit.

With Danillo Petrucci a Grand Prix winner and only 6 points off his team mate Dovizioso. The Italian squad could be looking for their best reult since the Italian Grand Prix where Petrucci picked up his first win and Dovizioso finished in 3rd.

Yamaha

“During this summer break it was important to take some time off after the first part of the season and rest a bit. But now I can’t wait to be back on track, back aboard my M1, and concentrate on this second part”

Valentino Rossi arguably had his worst period in career on the run up to the summer break. He only manged to amass 8 points from the previous 4 rounds and crashed out of 3 on the bounce. Not all his own fault. He will be looking to get back on the podium after a well earned rest. “During this summer break it was important to take some time off after the first part of the season and rest a bit. But now I can’t wait to be back on track, back aboard my M1, and concentrate on this second part” – Rossi said in a Yamaha press statement. 

It’s not just this weekends racing that he is focused on but development for 2020, something Rossi is very much focused on. “It will be an important second half of the season because we need to improve, and we’ll also begin preparing for 2020, starting with Monday’s test” 

His team-mate Maverick Vinales, has had a much better time of things recently. Winning in Assen and scoring a 2nd place at Sachsenring last time out. “We’re starting the second part of the championship in a very positive mood. After the victory in Assen and the second place at Sachsenring we went on holiday feeling very happy, with the conviction that we’re on the right track and with the peace of mind that you get after a job well done.”

Others

Alex Rins is arguably the form man, if you discount Marc Marquez. The Suzuki rider has crashed out of two certain podium positions in the previous two races but he has shown the form to be a consistent podium contender. The Suzuki does lack the power of the other bikes, which could be a problem on the hills at Brno but the bikes very precise and sweet handling could help the riders through the long corners.

LCR Honda rider Cal Cruthlow has always gone well at the Czech circuit. The Brit taking his first MotoGP podium on the Tech 3 Yamaha in 2012 and claiming his first win in 2016. Crutchlow found form at Sachsenring, taking 3rd position after carrying an injury throughout the weekend. 

Tito Rebat comes into this weekend as the first rider to be secured for 2021. The Spaniard signing a two year contract extension with the Reale Avintia squad. This will put him out of sync with the rest of the rider market during the 2020 silly season.

Moto2

One rider that had been tipped for the Avintia Ducati ride was Alex Marquez, the Moto2 championship leader comes into this weekends race on the back of 4 race wins from the previous 5 races. The Spaniard has only secured one podium during his career at the circuit. Finishing 2nd in the Moto2 race in 2017.

Lorenzo Baldassarri was another rider rumoured to enter MotoGP with the Avintia outfit but during the week, he and his team-mate Agusto Fernandez both signed a contract to stay with the Sito Pons team for the 2020 season. This puts them perfectly in line for the 2020, MotoGP silly season.

Iker Lecuona will replace the MotoGP bound Brad Binder at the Ajo KTM Moto2 squad for 2020. The young Spaniard has shown promise as of late. Narrowly missing out of a maiden podium at the Sachsenring last time out, crashing on the final corner.

Moto3

Lorenzo Dalla Porta enters this weekends round of the championship holding a 2 point advantage over Aron Canet. The Italian Dalla Porta scoring his first win of the season at Sachsenring and only his 2nd career victory. 

Moto3 has seen 8 different race winner from the previous 9 races, only Tony Arbolino has secured 2 wins in the 2019 season. 

Scotsman John McPhee, is one of those 8 winners. He is also the only rider in the Moto3 class to have won a race at the Brno circuit. Claiming his maiden win on a Peugeot named Mahindra in 2016.

Can Oncu will make more history this weekend at Brno. The youngest ever Grand Prix winner will line up alongside his twin brother Deniz Oncu. The Oncu brothers will become the youngest twins to start alongside each other in Grand Prix racing on Sunday’s Moto3 race at 16 years and 9 days.

This could be the final race to be held at the stunning Brno circuit. The government cutting funds to the circuit to host MotoGP and the organisers under increasing difficulty to find money to extend the contract. 

No matter what the outcome is of the circuit, we could be in for another classic Czech Grand Prix. The circuit with its fast and flowing corners, extreme elevation and 15 metre circuit width produces some of the closest racing in history. Just look back to 2003, 04, 12, 13 and 18 for examples of what the Brno circuit can provide in therm of action packed racing.

If I could predict a winner for the weekend, it would be the fans.