Marc Marquez and the Honda RC213V showed their speed with an incredible race for the Red Bull Ring that ultimately went unrewarded.
A productive morning warm-up session by Pol Espargaro and Marc Marquez made the two check off the last items on their to-do lists before the race. Under a strong Austrian sun, Espargaro finished ninth, 0.885 seconds behind the first and Marquez just 0.025 seconds behind his teammate.
The eyes were again directed to the sky when the starting field formed shortly before 2:00 p.m. local time, threatening gray clouds and the occasional raindrop made many nervous, but the Austrian Grand Prix was ultimately declared a dry race. Marc Marquez saw his chance and shot forward from the line and fought the fast-starting Ducatis into the first corner. After the first corners, the # 93 found its rhythm, took off Zarco and Martin and pushed towards Bagnaia in the lead with Martin in tow.
The gap between leading trio Bagnaia, Quartararo and Marquez was a yo-yo for much of the race, but with seven laps to go, Marquez got his first taste of the lead. Then the rain came. In true Marc Marquez fashion, the eight-time world champion attacked and took the lead with increasing rain until he reached a turning point and pitted his wet motorcycle four laps before the end. Unfortunately, a fall at Turn One two laps later ended Marquez’s incredible challenge to victory and returned to the race to collect a single point for his incredible performance. Marquez rates this Sunday as his best of the season, can fight for victory in the dry and is significantly better than last weekend.
On the other side of the Repsol Honda team garage, Pol Espargaro experienced another difficult weekend in Austria, mingling back on the first few laps and working to gain positions as the race progressed. Espargaro later stayed on slicks than his teammate, battling for a top ten finish, but when the rain got worse the # 44 pitted on the final lap and eventually crossed the finish line in 16th.
After two intense weeks in Austria, the championship will continue on August 27 at Silverstone for the Great Britain Grand Prix – the MotoGP World Championship is returning there for the first time since 2019.