2024 MotoGP Round 11: Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich - Red Bull Ring

Ducati knew it was going to be a dull race so they rigged Marc's holeshot device to make things more interesting behind the leading pack (just kidding). I expected Enea to come alive in the second half in usual fashion but it didn't happen. Pecco was too dominant and Lorenzo-esque, Martín could only minimize damages but good race from him too. Marc has to hope that he's using all of his bad luck for this year and begin anew the next season; Aragón next race should suit him. Best thing about the last two races is that the championship race is still really close.

JFM01 said:

Thank God for Marc.
If it wasn't for him exactly nothing would have happened in this race.
Eight consecutive podium lockouts, this isn't good for the championship at all.

Click to expand...

The GP24's are so far ahead of every other manufacturer it's disgusting.

Even the GP23's are just being caught up to somewhat by the other teams. I wonder what the GP25 is going to be like; small evolution or another large step.

MichaelBolton said:

Ducati knew it was going to be a dull race so they rigged Marc's holeshot device to make things more interesting behind the leading pack (just kidding). I expected Enea to come alive in the second half in usual fashion but it didn't happen. Pecco was too dominant and Lorenzo-esque, Martín could only minimize damages but good race from him too. Marc has to hope that he's using all of his bad luck for this year and begin anew the next season; Aragón next race should suit him. Best thing about the last two races is that the championship race is still really close.

Click to expand...

I think Enea had no chance to make a comeback today because of how few turns the Red Bull Ring has. There's so few opportunities to make up time in the corners that you have to hope you have a rocketship on the straights...and well when your main competition has it too, not much you're going to do about it.

JPSLotus said:

I wonder what the GP25 is going to be like

Click to expand...

Something on the lines of Godzilla snorting a Carolina reaper.

synn said:

Yamaha and Honda keeping the spirit of the open class alive a decade later.

Click to expand...

They're worse than some of the CRT bikes were.
Despite the concessions, there has been zero improvement. They've fallen further behind since the season started.
Marini got a DNF today, the broadcast didn't even bother to pick it up.

JFM01 said:

They're worse than some of the CRT bikes were.
Despite the concessions, there has been zero improvement. They've fallen further behind since the season started.
Marini got a DNF today, the broadcast didn't even bother to pick it up.

Click to expand...

Forget the Japanese, today must have been absolutely devastating for KTM and Aprilia. Just how exactly do you stop the Ducati runaway train?

So so bad, these missfortunes of Marc this year, always something goes wrong when he has speed to challenge gp24. I can't take it no mooor.

Segfault said:

Versatile chap this Marc Marques. Keeps finding new ways to make life harder for himself. Botched start, from 4th to 14th. Don't tell me cutting thru the pack is his hobby?

Click to expand...

Unlucky, always something.

From twitter:

First, the valve on Marquez’s tyre broke. So had to change to a new front tyre in a hurry. And front temperature dropped.
Secondly, was trying to put temperature into it on the WUP lap, braked and locked the front device, braked again and it released.

Ffs
https://x.com/denkmit/status/1825173794610446793/photo/1

synn said:

Forget the Japanese, today must have been absolutely devastating for KTM and Aprilia. Just how exactly do you stop the Ducati runaway train?

Click to expand...

KTM was humiliated on home soil. The Austrians simply do not appear to be up to the task currently. I was shocked by Pedro's form today which caught me off guard especially since Brad and Jack were at least somewhere for a bit even if one crashed out, and were simply blown away by the GP24's. Binder might've on any other day ridden the race of his life to only finish 18 seconds down on Pecco...and he couldn't do a thing about Marc Marquez.

I honestly don't think there is any way to stop the Ducati Express. You have to hope for the rule changes making for a shake-up in 2027, which I don't even see happening right at this moment. As an integrated aerodynamic package, the Ducati has what, 8 years worth of evolution on that front with a concept that was built from scratch by Gigi. He knew Ducati were never going to give up their engine so he thought outside the box and figured out the only way to work with the engine was to go the route they have gone. It's really incredible forgetting it's negative impact on the racing itself. Watching those bikes line up on the grid, and seeing how they lower with the touch of a button is mind-boggling...and to say nothing of the way they come out of the corners. Gigi is really a genius...might be the single most important person in GP history in terms of technological development outside of maybe Soichiro Honda. 2025 and 2026 are already completely over in terms of the constructors championship. Just a matter of which of their riders wins each year. I think he already has something up his sleeve for 2027.

Probably would add that every team save for Ducati and Aprilia are throwing .... at a wall hoping it sticks aerodynamically. Regarding KTM and Honda who play around with this rear wing on the tail, where is it really getting them? It reeks of desperation tactics unfortunately because if Ducati or Aprilia haven't gone this route, I feel logic would dictate it's a dead end concept when compared to the use of fins on the tail of the Ducati bikes in particular. Falling behind in aero was the kiss of death for all the manufacturers save for Ducati really since this was a completely new avenue that was gone down...and no one seemed to have any idea how it was going to all work because they never really considered the sport going in this direction. You'd have to go back 8 years in the past to fix this at this point because I really think that is how far down the Japanese teams are at the moment. MM was the only reason Honda even saw any success the past 8 years and now that he left, they are ....... DOA.

Credit where it's due. Gigi and Ducati Corse have understood the new Michelins much better than anyone else.

Thankfully Jorge Martin is committed to stealing the number one plate. He'll be keeping Pecco honest throughout the season. One crash from the championship leader, and the table will turn.

Meanwhile Sergio Garcia is adamant that the Moto2 title should be decided on track, so he gallantly gave this race up and waited for his teammate to get back in the ring again.

Alonso in Moto3 is much more selfish. He doesn't care that Holgado and Veijer tried to close his lead. He is just in the business of winning.

Das war ein schnooze-fest

JPSLotus said:

Probably would add that every team save for Ducati and Aprilia are throwing .... at a wall hoping it sticks aerodynamically. Regarding KTM and Honda who play around with this rear wing on the tail, where is it really getting them? It reeks of desperation tactics unfortunately because if Ducati or Aprilia haven't gone this route, I feel logic would dictate it's a dead end concept when compared to the use of fins on the tail of the Ducati bikes in particular. Falling behind in aero was the kiss of death for all the manufacturers save for Ducati really since this was a completely new avenue that was gone down...and no one seemed to have any idea how it was going to all work because they never really considered the sport going in this direction. You'd have to go back 8 years in the past to fix this at this point because I really think that is how far down the Japanese teams are at the moment. MM was the only reason Honda even saw any success the past 8 years and now that he left, they are ....... DOA.

Click to expand...

To KTM’s credit, everyone else is copying their dual layer ground effects solution, so Red Bull Racing is doing something right. The Batbike also showed promise, so here’s hoping they’ll have a stronger showing next year. If Ducati doesn’t move the goalpost, that is.

I think their chief struggle is that they haven’t yet figured out the balance of their carbon chassis. This is why Binder is constantly losing the front. They’ll figure it out in due time I think.

Acosta started out strong, but is receiving a humbling of sorts rom the machinery and it’s showing in his on track confidence. But as they say, it’s easier to teach a fast rider to not crash than a slow rider to go fast. He’ll get back to it in due time as well.

Aprilia is showing a lot of promise, but I think the missing piece for them is a top tier rider that can wring every drop of performance from the package. Which Martin should do next year. They also need a properly fast test rider and Savadori isn’t it. Maybe that’s a possible career path for Morbidelli after his farewell tour?

JPSLotus said:

I was shocked by Pedro's form today which caught me off guard especially since Brad and Jack were at least somewhere for a bit even if one crashed out,

Click to expand...

He crashed a ton during the practice sessions, I think that hurt his confidence. He's in his rookie mid-season blues, akin to what Lorenzo's rookie season in 2008 looked like. He'll figure it out.

synn said:

To KTM’s credit, everyone else is copying their dual layer ground effects solution, so Red Bull Racing is doing something right. The Batbike also showed promise, so here’s hoping they’ll have a stronger showing next year. If Ducati doesn’t move the goalpost, that is.

I think their chief struggle is that they haven’t yet figured out the balance of their carbon chassis. This is why Binder is constantly losing the front. They’ll figure it out in due time I think.

Acosta started out strong, but is receiving a humbling of sorts rom the machinery and it’s showing in his on track confidence. But as they say, it’s easier to teach a fast rider to not crash than a slow rider to go fast. He’ll get back to it in due time as well.

Aprilia is showing a lot of promise, but I think the missing piece for them is a top tier rider that can wring every drop of performance from the package. Which Martin should do next year. They also need a properly fast test rider and Savadori isn’t it. Maybe that’s a possible career path for Morbidelli after his farewell tour?

Click to expand...

Now that Adrian Newey is pretty much gone from RBR, you have to wonder how far they will go with their designs now without his knowledge guiding the chassis/aero side of things at RBR in F1. RBR is starting to look weakened in F1 now with only Max Verstappen being the saving grace there. And for how long? Who knows. But anyhow, I am curious to see how this all affects KTM since @mylexicon made that good post about KTM...and if RBR starts falling down the order in F1, I don't know how committed they will be to R&D for the KTM project. Plus the ongoing power struggles between Horner and Marko. The Austrians tend to be thicker than thieves I've been told, but RB isn't 100% Austrian at the end of the day.

That turn 4 crash might not have been great for Acosta mentally. Can't imagine going down at 180MPH like that and not having a moment or two till you can get your head back in for Aragon. I think going to a Spanish circuit should be good for him if nothing else.

Agreed on Aprilia. Outside of Ducati they have impressed me since they came back into GP. Never thought they would stick around to actually win GP races. I'm really interested to see what Martin does with next year's bike. I think Bezzecchi is going to be interesting to watch since he's not had to be in any sort of possible developmental role like this. Morbidelli should go that route as a test rider if offered it. I think testing for Aprilia would be a pretty sweet gig...plus you get a couple of wild card entries per season which isn't so bad at the end of the day.

After that race, I really feel sad ... I have this feeling for many races but after this one it's too much.
11 Sunday races : 10 wins for the Ducati GP24.
11 Sprint races : 8 wins for the Ducati GP24.
Treat me as a conspiracist if you want : I'm sure Banania's bike provides more torque than any other GP24. Look at how easily he overtakes Martin everytime, only with throttle (the one of today was insane). Even in the airstream, Martin can't overtake him ! Mapping 8 is already engaged ?? Please let us think, at least until the end, that this championship isn't rigged...
Fortunately for the show, Marquez is competitive again and he's the only one at the moment who makes races not so boring.
Bestia seems to be like Vinales : untouchable when planets are aligned but it happens twice in a season...

Segfault said:

Versatile chap this Marc Marques. Keeps finding new ways to make life harder for himself. Botched start, from 4th to 14th. Don't tell me cutting thru the pack is his hobby?

Click to expand...

mmnumaone said:

Unlucky, always something.

Click to expand...

Yea, I posted it when the cause was not known yet. As it has been said, many times, get rid of that crap. Aero, TC, ride height – all out, let men race each other, not engineers. I just read some chap named Casey Stoner said that, too. I wonder who he might be to say such a thing?

Except for the visual splendor of watching bikes go fast in a beautiful Austrian alpine meadow, the Austria GP didn't have much to offer. Twenty years ago the visual splendor might have been enough, but the modern layout doesn't dazzle like the old A-1 Ring.

Bagnaia and Martin were predictably awesome, and Bastianini joined them again this weekend at the front. Marc was the sole entertainer, but mainly because he lost the plot. He didn't get his holeshot activated, and after getting swamped on the front straight, he guided Morbidelli offtrack before crossing through the green to rejoin the race. I expected a penalty for rejoining before completing the escape road, but maybe that's not a rule anymore. Anyway, the lack of penalty allowed Marc to engage semi-pro rampage mode, the setting in which he juxtaposes legendary overtakes against a handful of muggings. Good value for the spectators' money.

Mav is Pedrosa's shadow. I've characterized his skillset as Pedrosa with 10% better braking and 50% less mental fortitude, but I'm not sure that's accurate. He really struggled to get by Aleix who knows how to ride defense late-apex lines. When he finally got by, he disappeared. I wasn't seeing the +10% braking stat at Spielberg.

Binder did solid work, but it was sad to see him get the message for mapping 2. I presume that softened the power delivery to save fuel or tires. It didn't take long for Marc to bounce.

Next installment of the Bagnaia-Martin show in 2 weeks at Aragon.

synn said:

Forget the Japanese, today must have been absolutely devastating for KTM and Aprilia. Just how exactly do you stop the Ducati runaway train?

Click to expand...

By stealing as many Ducati engineers as you can.

About the race, on the podium Bagnaia looked like he hadn't even cracked a sweat. But, I don't think he has a bike advantage. It's just that if he doesn't fall off, he's too consistently fast.

Moto2 was fairly processional as well, with only Dixon providing a bit of excitement. MotoE and Moto3 were the best races this weekend for me.