The Red Bull Ring always seems to be painted in Ducati red, doesn’t it? Pecco Bagnaia is clearly in his element here, practically dancing on the track while his rivals play catch-up. It’s like his personal playground where he’s happily inviting others to join him—though they’ve got to stay behind him if they want to play at all. Bagnaia’s dominance is evident, as he effortlessly outshines the competition. Meanwhile, in Moto2, Celestino Vietti is finally back to smiling again, a welcome sight after some tough times.
Let’s talk about the good stuff first—Pecco Bagnaia. With his seventh win of the year, he’s not just having a stellar season; he’s making history. With 25 MotoGP victories under his belt, he’s earned his place among the all-time greats. No need for a fancy jacket and tie here; a leather suit and a pile of achievements are his credentials, and they’ve certainly opened doors for him.
But not everything was rosy. While Italian riders shone in MotoGP and Moto2, Moto3 saw a quiet period for Italy. It’s been ages since we’ve seen an Italian triumph in the Moto3 category. I’m not even going to check how long it’s been—I don’t want to spoil the mood.
Aleix Espargarò had quite a dramatic week. On Thursday, he was featured in a sort of “senior riders” showdown, and by Friday, he was in a spat with the Spanish press. He’s managed to upset quite a few people in just a couple of days. Hopefully, he’ll shift his focus to aiming for the podium in the Sprint instead of creating more drama.
KTM had high hopes for their home Grand Prix but ended up disappointing. The wing on their swingarm drew some criticism, and Pedro Acosta’s frequent falls didn’t help. It turns out, being the first in their home GP wasn’t enough, and even an energy sponsor couldn’t quite give their RC16 the boost it needed.
On a brighter note, Jorge Martin proved to be a worthy adversary, making sure that Bagnaia’s Austrian journey wasn’t a solitary cruise. Martin’s persistence on the track, mixed with a bit of risk-taking, was impressive and made for exciting racing.
Ai Ogura had a perfect record going into the Austrian GP—no falls in the first 10 races. Unfortunately, that streak ended in Austria when he took a tumble and was forced to miss the race. It’s always tough to see a good run come to an end like that.
From the Piedmont mountains to Styria, Celestino Vietti was reinvigorated. Instead of a leisurely hike, he preferred to zoom around the track, showcasing speeds that were simply out of reach for everyone else. It’s wonderful to have him back at his best.
Marc Marquez had a tough race when his shapeshifting device didn’t work as expected. Sure, it was a setback for him, but it gave us the chance to see his incredible overtaking skills once again. Silver linings, right?
Ducati has been making the podium look like a red carpet for eight consecutive Grands Prix. That’s a total of 17 times, matching Honda’s record. I guess the next challenge is to beat that record.
And here’s a little gem from Pol Espargarò: “I lapped faster than Bagnaia’s record in the tests at the Red Bull Ring.” Nice, but that was last year’s record. Still, it’s a fun reminder of the ongoing competition.
Overall, the Austrian Grand Prix was a mixed bag of triumphs and trials. What stood out to you the most from this weekend’s racing?
