MotoGP: 5th consecutive double-whammy for Marquez as records tumble for Michelin at Brno
After four years off the MotoGPTM calendar, Automotodrom Brno returned to the championship for this season's twelfth clash: the Tissot Grand Prix of Czechia. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) claimed both the sprint and grand prix wins once again, while the MICHELIN Power range played a key role in the weekend's entertainment. Not only did it contribute to three new records, but it also helped three different bike manufacturers to finish on podium, with Aprilia Racing's Marco Bezzecchi and Red Bull KTM Factory's Pedro Acosta taking second and third. Read on for more about what happened at the #CzechGP.
Marquez followed up second place in qualifying with wins in both Saturday's sprint and Sunday's bill-topper to pocket a fifth straight double-whammy.
Clearly at ease on his factory Ducati fitted with medium MICHELIN Power slicks front and rear, the Spaniard completed the 21-lap grand prix a minute and three seconds faster than the previous shortest-duration benchmark.
After appearing in front on Lap 8, the championship leader posted a string of quick times to pull clear of early-leader Bezzecchi. He then took advantage of his medium-compound rear tire's consistency to establish a new race-lap record (1m53.691s, an improvement of 2.3s) on Lap 15.
He was actually the only rider to clock a time of less than 1m54s and he went on to pick up his eighth victory of the season, his 70th in motorcycle racing's premier class.
Bezzecchi was second over the line, chased by Acosta who scored his first top-three finish with KTM. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – who had secured pole-position with a new track lap record (1m52.303s) – was fourth, ahead of Raul Fernandez (TrackHouse MotoGP Team).
Defending champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) celebrated his comeback from injury with seventh place.
Mixed weather made tire choice complex for the different practice sessions. Friday morning's Free Practice 1 was an all-dry affair but rain then swept over the Czech venue, leaving little opportunity to evaluate the different options available. Only 20 minutes of FP2 were dry ahead of Saturday's qualifying and sprint race.
Conditions improved for Sunday's action and the track temperature stood at 47 °C for the start of the grand prix. With the exception of Johann Zarco (LCR Honda/soft rear), the entire field chose the medium front and rear MICHELIN Power slick, the versatility of which was confirmed by the fact that three different teams finished on the podium (Ducati, Aprilia and KTM).
Marc Marquez now totals 381 points in the provisional championship standings. Brother Alex Marquez (+120 points, BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Bagnaia (+168) are next in the order.
Next round: Grand Prix of Austria, Red Bull Ring, Spielberg (August 15-17).