Six weeks have passed since the last MotoGP action in Assen, with lots of talking points and races to look forward to in the second half of the season.
Maverick Vinales will compete in the MotoGP paddock for the first time since the announcement of its split from Yamaha at the end of this season amid speculation about its future as the Japanese manufacturer evaluates its options as its 2022 replacement.
In the meantime, attention on the Petronas SRT Yamaha team will return to Valentino Rossi and his own future after taking the summer break to weigh his options as speculation for his VR46 MotoGP team continues.
On the other side of the SRT garage, Cal Crutchlow will return to racing as an injury replacement for Franco Morbidelli in Austria. The Briton will at least step in for the Red Bull Ring one-two and the Silverstone race, with Morbidelli being out until at least the Aragon GP in September.
Another familiar face returns to the MotoGP grid this weekend as Dani Pedrosa Wildcards for KTM at the Styrian GP. It’s the 31-time race winner’s first MotoGP race since the end of the 2018 season and the first time he has ridden anything other than a Honda motorcycle.
MotoGP will also adjust to the 2021 calendar adjustments announced during the summer break, after both the Australian and Thai laps were canceled, with a second race called in at Portimao to replace the Phillip Island race.
Joan Mir, Team Suzuki MotoGP
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Why is it called GP Steiermark?
Since races in the same MotoGP World Championship season cannot be given the same race name, Austria’s first race of its double winners was called GP Steiermark, named after the region of Austria in which the track is located. The name was also used in the Red Bull Ring Double Header last year.
It is inspired by the other double winners of MotoGP, which were held both in 2020 and this year as part of the calendar that was re-mixed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this season, Qatar hosted the first Doha GP as the second leg of its back-to-back races, while Portimao will host the Algarve GP in November, having hosted the Portuguese GP earlier this season in April.
Why is MotoGP holding two races in Austria?
As part of the COVID-19 hit campaign, the MotoGP calendar 2021 has been adjusted due to various travel restrictions around the world.
The MotoGP races in Finland, Japan, Thailand and Australia have already been canceled for 2021, while the Argentina GP remains postponed.
To add to the calendar, Losail, the Red Bull Ring and Portimao will host every two races.
Danilo Petrucci, Ducati team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Dates of the Styrian MotoGP session 2021
MotoGP will run according to its standard schedule for the entire Styrian GP weekend, with two training sessions on Friday, each lasting 45 minutes. The third practice session on Saturday will also last 45 minutes, with the top 10 of the combined FP1-2-3 time table automatically entering Q2 of qualifying. A final 30-minute FP4 session takes place on Saturday afternoon before qualifying.
In Q1 of qualifying, all drivers who did not end up in the top 10 of the combined training times take part, with the two first-placed drivers entering Q2 alongside the top 10 who have achieved an automatic place through their training times.
Q2 is the pole position shootout that determines the order of the first four rows, with the rest of the grid being organized on Q1 times for the Styrian GP on Sunday.
Moto2 and Moto3 are also used at the GP Styria.
Friday 6th August 2021
Free practice 1: 8: 55-09: 40 a.m. BST (9: 55-10: 40 a.m. local time)
Free practice 2: 13: 10-13: 55 p.m. BST (2: 10-2: 55 p.m. local)
Saturday 7th August 2021
Free practice 3: 8: 55-9: 40 a.m. BST (9: 55-10: 40 a.m. local time)
Free practice 4: 12: 30-13: 00 BST (1: 30-2: 00 p.m. local time)
Qualifying: 1:10 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. BST (2:10 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. local)
Sunday 8th August 2021
Warm up: 8:40 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. BST (9:40 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. local time)
Race: 1:00 p.m. BST (2:00 p.m. local time)
Alex Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
How can I see the Styrian MotoGP?
- Channel: BT Sport 2
- Channel numbers: Sky – 414 (BT Sport 2)
- Channel Numbers: Virgin Media – 528 (BT Sport 2)
BT Sport’s live coverage of the action on Sunday starts with the 7.30am warm-up sessions taken from the world feed, before moving on at 9.15am for the pre-race show leading up to the Moto3 race a separate transmission can be converted.
The construction of the MotoGP race starts at 12:30 p.m. or if the Moto2 race ends before the lights go out at 1:00 p.m.
Can I stream the Styrian MotoGP?
Viewers in the UK can also stream the Styria GP by purchasing a video pass from MotoGP.com. A one-time video pass for the remainder of the 2021 MotoGP season costs £ 85.35.
The video pass provides access to every live session, qualifying and race, as well as world feed content and the ability to watch previous races.
Weather forecast for the Styrian MotoGP
The Red Bull Ring is prepared for warm conditions throughout the weekend, starting with sunshine on Friday, but with the possibility of rain and thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday. On race day, maximum values of 24 degrees Celsius are forecast, which is around three degrees warmer than at the Dutch GP.