ServusTV broadcasts the British Grand Prix live on Saturday and Sunday. Expert Gustl Auinger recalls the starting position after the long MotoGP break.
After a five-and-a-half week summer break, MotoGP is back to business – and everything points to the leaders moving closer together. ServusTV expert Gustl Auinger: “Winning with a long-lap penalty in Silverstone is rather unlikely for Fabio Quartararo – but not impossible.”
No break for the works
While the MotoGP aces were charging their batteries, there was no vacation for the works. Auinger: “Honda had the greatest need to catch up. Yamaha and Ducati were able to work much more precisely. After the withdrawal announcement, Suzuki will not have taken any development steps that would put a great strain on the budget. But maybe you don’t need that.”
Experience has shown that the World Championship fight comes to a head after the summer, and the customer teams usually fall behind. “This time this gap will not be too big, but it will be noticeable,” suspects Auinger, citing the example of Ducati: “Pramac already has a 2022 engine, so the disadvantage will have less of an impact. And Gresini rides last year’s model, which is considered the most successful Ducati motorcycle in terms of rideability.»
Nevertheless, the ServusTV expert expects the top team from Borgo Panigale to launch a general attack. “The driver’s title was formulated as a clear goal. And Pecco Bagnaia is 100 percent behind the whole plant.” However, the 25-year-old’s season so far has been a rollercoaster ride. In the last six races, the Italian has won three times, but has retired just as often, and is 66 points behind championship leader Fabio Quartararo.
Yamaha ahead of two tough races
“It can go very quickly in MotoGP,” Auinger knows. «Fabio scored a zero in Assen and takes a penalty into the race. It will torment him immensely.” Now the mental strength of the defending champion is required. “The question is whether the slip at Assen was a panic reaction or simply an attempt at a stage when he could afford to make that mistake. Nevertheless, restlessness arises automatically. And within two races everything is open again.”
Above all, after Silverstone, the Red Bull Ring at Spielberg is a track that is not necessarily tailored to the Yamaha, and the new chicane after the starting corner should mean more rather than fewer difficulties for the Japanese. “The fact that Pecco can make up for his deficit is not so far-fetched.”
Auinger also estimates the development potential of the motorcycle from the Italian manufacturer to be higher. «The Ducati has more power but is more difficult to control than the Yamaha. However, the means of making aggressiveness more user-friendly are easier to implement than 15 kilometers per hour to make up for the top speed deficit. »
Motivation boost for Aleix Espargaró
Quartararo’s first pursuer remains Aleix Espargaró, who put in a spectacular performance in Assen after the involuntary excursion into the gravel bed. “He needed this race after the blackout in Barcelona.”
The ServusTV expert also gives the Andorran by choice good prospects for the World Cup crown. “For Ducati, the title is the goal, for Aprilia it’s a dream, which makes things easier.” The manageable distance of 21 points to the French also speak for Espargaró. “And the Aprilia is extremely balanced, it works on all routes. It will be a very interesting three-way battle.”
Eighth winner in the eighth race?
A circuit comparable to that of Assen awaits at Silverstone, seven winners in the last seven races on the island give hope for an exciting Grand Prix. “You rarely have a consistent weekend weather-wise. The different conditions in the individual sessions mix up the field.”
Accordingly, Auinger is once again assuming a new winner. “Pecco’s mission is to win. Fabio’s penalty is a godsend for him – but only if he gets the 25 points.” The assumption that the series would continue with different winners in the “Home of British Motor Racing” would also come true if Aleix Espargaró were successful. “Maybe he’ll find it easier to be an underdog.”
How the aces keep fit
Around the racing action there is a review of the highlights of the first half of the season and the last World Championship stop in Assen. ServusTV also shows how the MotoGP stars spent their summer. Another contribution deals with the long tradition of two-wheelers in Great Britain.
Alina Marzi and Sandro Cortese report directly from the pit lane of the Silverstone Circuit, Christian Brugger and Alex Hofmann provide the commentary.
Silverstone GP LIVE on ServusTV:
Saturday (6 August):
13:25 Uhr: Qualifying Moto3 LIVE
2:30 p.m.: 4th free practice session MotoGP LIVE
15:10 Uhr: Qualifying MotoGP LIVE
16:10 Uhr: Qualifying Moto2 LIVE
4:50 p.m.: Qualifying analysis
Sunday (7 August):
11:40 a.m.: Start of the live broadcast
12:20 p.m.: Race Moto3 LIVE
2:00 p.m.: Race MotoGP LIVE
2:45 p.m.: Analysis MotoGP
3:30pm: Race Moto2 LIVE