MotoGP: Marquez looking to use Brno test to good measure in Austria

Marc Marquez heads to the Red Bull Ring in Austria for round 11 of the MotoGP championship with a rather assertive 49 point lead in the championship and raft of changes and updates awaiting implementation on his Repsol Honda.

Marquez was a potential winner last year, thwarted by only Andrea Dovizioso’s dismissive left hand flick on the run to the line. The Red Bull Ring – formerly known as the A1 Ring, and for people with very good (and ageing) brains, the Osterreichring – has seen Ducati dominate in the two years since its return to the MotoGP calendar and the reigning champion and champion-elect for 2018 is looking to end their run.

“We come from a good test in Brno, where we found several positive things. We’ll try some of them at the Red Bull Ring and see how everything works. Austria is another track where Dovizioso and Lorenzo are strong, but we were also strong there last year so we’ll see if it comes down to the last corner again! We’ll try to be fast from the start of the weekend and then fight up at the front,” began a confident Marquez, with nearly two race wins worth of points over his nearest rival, 9-time champion Valentino Rossi.

“Actually, it will be the second time this year for me at the track, after the unbelievable experience we had with the F1 Toro Rosso test run in June! On the way to the Red Bull Ring, we stopped in Vienna to attend an event dedicated to safe motorcycling riding on the roads, which is something I believe is very important. People sometimes forget how vital is to wear the proper gear and not drink before riding, and anytime possible I try and give my inputs about the importance of being fit and lucid before riding.”

With Marquez now making sure that the streets of Austria are clear of any hooligan riders who like a bottle of Heuriger, he can focus on winning this weekend – although he arguably doesn’t have to.