MotoGP 2023
Round Nine Silverstone
Silverstone. One of the longest venues on the calendar, one of the fastest, and one that’s created some true modern classics and with everything to race for as the second half of MotoGP season 2023 swings into action.
The first part of the Championship has seen some ups and downs for reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), but in the last few race weekends the kinks have really been ironed out: two GP wins, a Tissot Sprint win and not off the podium when he didn’t take victory, it’s some form Pecco found before the summer break and he will be looking to keep that ball rolling.
Francesco Bagnaia
“It was a good summer break: I was able to rest but also dedicate myself to my training program, and I had a lot of fun on track, on several occasions, with my Panigale V4S together with the other Ducati riders. It is time to start again, and I am happy about that. Last year at Silverstone, I scored one of the most beautiful victories of my career in a weekend that did not start immediately in the best way. This year’s goal will be to get off on the right foot immediately and, above all, try to bring home more important points for the overall standings.“
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) is another who put together a serious charge heading into summer, slightly further back in Assen but still taking some big points and hanging on to that second overall in the championship, 35-points behind Bagnaia. Martin is just a single point ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) though and Bezzecchi was right back in the fight at the front last time out.
Marco Bezzecchi
“I went on holiday with the mood I wanted, I had a practically a perfect weekend at Assen and I enjoyed being at home in these weeks. I’ve missed the bikes, even though we often trained with the guys from the Academy, but the GPs are something else. Silverstone isn’t an easy track to interpret, it’s very long, with a series of guided corners and it won’t be obvious to be there with the strongest. Let’s start off on the right foot from Friday, let’s also try this new change to the format which should help us get familiar with the track, and let’s go back to work with full batteries for this second half of the season.”
Since Jerez means Brad Binder’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team) stunning Sprint win at the Spanish GP, and the South African is the first in the standings looking to hit back as we get back in business. He has a score to settle after missing out on those podiums after track limits infringements in Assen too. Binder is currently fourth in the championship, but a significant 44-points behind third placed Bezzecchi.
That painful take two on Sunday at the Dutch TT, meanwhile, saw Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) move up and take to the podium for the first time this season. And it clearly meant a lot. It’s been a harder start to the season than many expected for both Espargaro and Aprilia, but if there’s a venue with good memories to head back to after that uptick, it’s Silverstone.
That’s also true of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), with Assen falling flat but Silverstone another venue Vinales has previously taken by the horns. He took his first win there in 2016, and last year he almost made MotoGP history by winning with a third different bike as his Aprilia crossed the line just half a second off Bagnaia. That remains on the table as history to be made, and Top Gun will want to shoot from the hip after a tough start to 2023.
Assen was a downturn in momentum for a few, including the other rider in the running for that win with a third machine: Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). He took no points at Assen and neither did Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), who arrived at the Dutch TT on a roll of three MotoGP podiums in a row for the first time ever. Zarco is currently fifth in the championship on 109 points while Miller is seventh on 79-points.
It wasn’t a bad weekend for the likes of Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) at Assen, but it wasn’t the heights they’ve already raced at earlier in the season. Marini’s consistency is paying off as he sits in sxith place on the leaderboard, 11-points off Zarco, however, whereas AM73 will want to bank some more as he sits 10th despite also already taking a podium.
Luca Marini
“It was a long break but many important things have happened and I’m happy because now I’ll be back on track with even more motivation for this second half of the season. We come from a series of solid races, where I achieved good placements, but perhaps I was missing something to be there with the group of very first guys to fight for the positions that count. The goal till Valencia is this: to keep working hard, pay attention to the details and get closer to the strongest. Silverstone is a very complicated and technical track but we have an excellent package to be competitive, we will also try the new change to the format and the crowd here is always special.”
Alex Marquez
“Five or six weeks of break… I lost count. Holidays are always important to charge the batteries and now I’m looking forward to getting back on track and re-join the team. Silverstone is a very demanding track and I rested during this break, but also worked hard to be ready for what is a very important second part of the season. I like the English track, weather aside, and I can’t wait to be back.”
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), meanwhile, had a Dutch TT of two halves. Saturday was a stunner as he took his first Sprint podium, setting up some expectation for Sunday, but the GP race saw him crash out with Zarco and head into summer break apologising to his compatriot and with a broken toe to heal. He should be back up to full power at Silverstone and will want, as ever, to qualify well to try and replicate and extend that Saturday prowess from Assen.
Fabio Quartararo
“I‘m feeling good. The five weeks off helped me to recover from the toe injury. I had time to pick up training again after a week of rest, and I also had a nice time being around family and friends. I arrive in the UK in a good shape, that‘s important. I am looking forward to Silverstone, especially because I get to see the fans again after such a long break. Things will be a bit different this weekend: we‘re in the international paddock, so start-finish is in a different place. On top of that, we have a slightly different race weekend format for how we get into Q2. But it‘s all okay. I think it will be easy to get used to this.”
Quartararo’s team-mate Franco Morbidelli is also looking for more despite the news that he will not race for the Yamaha MotoGP Team in 2024 as Alex Rins will take up his seat alongside Fabio Quartararo in the team next season.
Franco Morbidelli
“We go back to school after the summer break. It is nice to spend time with the team again after these five weeks. I made good use of the time off. I relaxed a bit, I went to Luca Marini‘s wedding, and I also trained. Being away for a bit has helped me recharge so I can tackle the busy time ahead in the right way. We have 12 rounds to go, and now we‘re able to use the first session of every race weekend to practise and work on settings without worrying about getting into Q2. This gives us the opportunity to test things we otherwise wouldn‘t have time for. We‘re in the international paddock at Silverstone this time, which is also a nice change. It‘s perfect, as we want to try to make a fresh start to the second half of the season.”
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP) is looking to start the second half of the season on a high.
Fabio Di Giannantonio
“It’s time to get back on the bike, enough with these holidays! The break was too long, but on one side it allowed to undergo arm pump surgery and to fully recover… On the other hand, we need to get back in the swing of things on the bike. Silverstone is an excellent track, among the longest ones on the calendar, and we’re really charged up. We need to take flip-flops off and put the boots back on as soon as possible!”
One of the headline quotes to come out of MotoGP’s visit to Goodwood, meanwhile, was Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) confirming he expects to be at 100 per cent from Silverstone. And he’ll be expecting to challenge at the front. There’s been a little more time for Miguel Oliveira (CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team) to recover some strength too, and teammate Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team).
Enea Bastianini
“I am happy to be back on track finally! During these five weeks, I rested but also worked hard to return as ready as possible for this second part of the season. Silverstone is one of my favourite tracks, so the goal will be to get a good result and fight for the podium. It will not be easy, and the weather is always unpredictable in England, but we will do our best, as always.”
Miguel Oliveira
“I think it’s a great time to come back after such a long break, that was really helpful for me to recover my shoulder 100 per cent. I came to a fitness level close to where I was at the start of the season. I obviously feel very confident and happy to get on working and really be competitive again back on my Aprilia RS-GP. It wasn’t the start of the season that we had hoped for, but we take on the second half and aim to bring back good results for all of us.”
Raul Fernandez
“I just had five weeks to prepare very well. After the surgery in May I think it will be interesting to try to do the second part of the season very well. Anyway, I am ready to go. I’m really happy to start again. I can’t stay at home anymore, because I just want to race. I can’t wait to arrive in Silverstone!”
Much of the spotlight will be squarely back on Marc Marquez as the Repsol Honda rider is expected back on track, and after a glorious start to 2023 with pole and a Sprint podium gave way to more injury struggles, the next story was then all about the bike.
Marc Marquez
“We have enjoyed an important Summer Break, a chance to reset and recover after a demanding start to the year. From the physical and mental side, I come back to the track refreshed and ready to work. I am looking forward to seeing everyone in the Repsol Honda Team again and understanding the work that has been done over the break. Silverstone is a circuit where I have had a lot of good battles in the past. The most important is to get back on the bike, get back to working and try to improve on how the first half of the year has been.”
We also expect the return of Repsol Honda team-mate Joan Mir after he was sidelined through injury, and the return of their two World Champions will surely be a boost for the team and factory.
Joan Mir
“Our break was a bit longer than everyone else’s, but I am now fully recovered from the injury I suffered in Mugello. I’ve been back training and riding different kinds of bikes like normal for a few weeks now so I am feeling good physically. The goal for the weekend is to make the most of every session and get back into the mindset of MotoGP and racing after so many weeks away. It will be great to see everyone again and get back on the Honda RC213V.”
We won’t see Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) back just yet though, with Iker Lecuona on duty from Most WorldSBK to Silverstone to replace his compatriot. Finally at Honda though, Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) keeps quietly bagging those points and retains that one singular DNF in a GP race this year, which is no mean feat in itself.
Another rider back on track will be Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3). After a first taste up The Hill at Goodwood, the Spaniard will be fully reunited with his whole team this time round as he takes his place back in the GASGAS garage to go racing again. It’s been a long few months of recovery, but he’ll be beaming to rejoin rookie teammate Augusto Fernandez. And Fernandez has been busy in the interim, taking a best GP finish of fourth so far and taking consistent points as one of only two riders, along with Morbidelli, to score in every Grand Prix race so far. He also loves Silverstone, so could prove a dark horse.
Pol Espargaro
“I am really happy to finally have the opportunity to come back after this tough period. I have been working more than ever in my life to arrive to this day, and for me, being in Silverstone is already a big prize. I know that I will need to be patient, and that it will take time to be at my 100 per cent again, with both my bike and my body, but I am full of energy to take on this challenge! Let’s get on the gas again!”
Augusto Fernandez
“It has been a long break, so I am really excited to go back to racing, see my team and ride my bike. We had a positive first half of the season, so our goal is to continue improving our level and our adaptation to the MotoGP class, and get closer and closer to the top guys. Silverstone is a track that I like a lot, having won there in Moto2 last season, so starting the second half in England is a positive point for me. Can not wait!”
Bagnaia just extended that gap thanks to that glorious win at Assen, but Martin and Bezzecchi remain close enough for everything to change in a weekend. Check out the times for the racing action below to see how chapter nine unfolds at the fierce and fabulous Silverstone circuit, and see if we make a little history with a ninth different winner in nine races at the track!
The Monster Energy British Grand Prix sees the introduction of the new entry system for Q2. The first session for MotoGP is now FREE Practice 1 and doesn’t count towards Q2, with only the re-named Friday afternoon session, called Practice, deciding who goes through.
The British GP also sees a change to the running order on with the Grand Prix set to race before Moto2. Full schedule in our AEST time zone can be found further down the page.
MotoGP Championship Points
| Pos | Rider | Bike | Points |
| 1 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati | 194 |
| 2 | Jorge Martin | Ducati | 159 |
| 3 | Marco Bezzecchi | Ducati | 158 |
| 4 | Brad Binder | KTM | 114 |
| 5 | Johann Zarco | Ducati | 109 |
| 6 | Luca Marini | Ducati | 98 |
| 7 | Jack Miller | KTM | 79 |
| 8 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | 77 |
| 9 | Fabio Quartararo | Yamaha | 64 |
| 10 | Alex Marquez | Ducati | 63 |
| 11 | Franco Morbidelli | Yamaha | 57 |
| 12 | Maverick Viñales | Aprilia | 56 |
| 13 | Alex Rins | Honda | 47 |
| 14 | Augusto Fernandez | KTM | 42 |
| 15 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Ducati | 34 |
| 16 | Takaaki Nakagami | Honda | 34 |
| 17 | Miguel Oliveira | Aprilia | 27 |
| 18 | Enea Bastianini | Ducati | 18 |
| 19 | Marc Marquez | Honda | 15 |
| 20 | Dani Pedrosa | KTM | 13 |
| 21 | Lorenzo Savadori | Aprilia | 9 |
| 22 | Jonas Folger | KTM | 9 |
| 23 | Raul Fernandez | Aprilia | 8 |
| 24 | Michele Pirro | Ducati | 5 |
| 25 | Danilo Petrucci | Ducati | 5 |
| 26 | Joan Mir | Honda | 5 |
| 27 | Stefan Bradl | Honda | 5 |
| 28 | Iker Lecuona | Honda | 0 |
Moto2
Tony Arbolino’s (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) advantage is now just eight points as the Jaws music of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) continues to close in, but the Italian’s worst finish is still only that seventh place at Assen as Acosta rues that DNF in France and tough race at the Argentina GP. The pressure of Acosta’s momentum since then is quite something, however, so can Arbolino hold fast at the top and find a step back forward to the electric pace of earlier in the season?
The headlines, however, have to be shared at the British GP. And not even because Jake Dixon (Tensite GASGAS Aspar Team) is racing on home turf, but because he won his first Grand Prix last time out in some style. No pressure? Some of that has already gone now he has that first winner’s trophy and he’s already been on the podium at home though, so can he do it again or challenge for it? And can compatriot Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) find some of that Jerez form?
Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), meanwhile, was back on form at Assen and only just off the podium last year at Silverstone… and Alonso Lopez (CAG SpeedUp) was very much on the rostrum. It was his first visit, as a rookie, and after he led much of the race, ultimately only losing out to eventual Champion Augusto Fernandez by less than a tenth…
Moto2 Championship Points
| Pos | Rider | Points |
| 1 | ARBOLINO Tony | 148 |
| 2 | ACOSTA Pedro | 140 |
| 3 | DIXON Jake | 104 |
| 4 | LOPEZ Alonso | 92 |
| 5 | CANET Aron | 76 |
| 6 | SALAC Filip | 72 |
| 7 | CHANTRA Somkiat | 59 |
| 8 | LOWES Sam | 58 |
| 9 | GONZALEZ Manuel | 52 |
| 10 | VIETTI Celestino | 51 |
| 11 | ALDEGUER Fermín | 49 |
| 12 | ARENAS Albert | 41 |
| 13 | GARCIA Sergio | 37 |
| 14 | OGURA Ai | 31 |
| 15 | BALTUS Barry | 24 |
| 16 | ALCOBA Jeremy | 23 |
| 17 | BENDSNEYDER Bo | 18 |
| 18 | ROBERTS Joe | 14 |
| 19 | BINDER Darryn | 12 |
| 20 | FOGGIA Dennis | 8 |
| 21 | TULOVIC Lukas | 6 |
| 22 | PASINI Mattia | 5 |
Moto3
Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) had just about the worst end to the first part of the season possible at Assen as he qualified last, crashed early and failed to score. Now the question is, can he reset from that and come back out swinging?
He’ll certainly have some tough competition from Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), winner last time out and now on a consistent roll within 16 points of the top, and Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) as the Japanese rider hasn’t been off the podium since France. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) can be expected to shine again too, now a Grand Prix winner after that Sachsenring stunner and back on the podium at Assen to back it up.
Will it be all change again at Silverstone? Can Holgado pick up where he left off? Or are the trio of Masia, Sasaki and Öncü set to march on?
Aussie youngster Joel Kelso had the earlier part of this season marred with injury but has been climbing his way back up the leaderboard of late, will Silverstone be the scene of a breakthrough…?
Moto3 Championship Points
| Pos | Rider | Points |
| 1 | HOLGADO Daniel | 125 |
| 2 | MASIA Jaume | 109 |
| 3 | SASAKI Ayumu | 99 |
| 4 | ORTOLÁ Ivan | 94 |
| 5 | ÖNCÜ Deniz | 94 |
| 6 | MOREIRA Diogo | 77 |
| 7 | ALONSO David | 65 |
| 8 | ARTIGAS Xavier | 57 |
| 9 | RUEDA José Antonio | 52 |
| 10 | NEPA Stefano | 46 |
| 11 | SUZUKI Tatsuki | 38 |
| 12 | TOBA Kaito | 36 |
| 13 | MUÑOZ David | 35 |
| 14 | YAMANAKA Ryusei | 35 |
| 15 | VEIJER Collin | 27 |
| 16 | OGDEN Scott | 20 |
| 17 | SALVADOR David | 20 |
| 18 | KELSO Joel | 19 |
| 19 | MIGNO Andrea | 17 |
| 20 | FENATI Romano | 16 |
| 21 | BERTELLE Matteo | 11 |
| 22 | ROSSI Riccardo | 10 |
British Grand Prix Schedule
Brought to you in AEST by Kayo Sports
Friday
| Time | Class | Event |
| 1725 | MotoE | FP1 |
| 1800 | Moto3 | FP1 |
| 1850 | Moto2 | FP1 |
| 1945 | MotoGP | FP1 |
| 2125 | MotoE | FP2 |
| 2215 | Moto3 | FP2 |
| 2305 | Moto2 | FP2 |
| 0000 (Sat) | MotoGP | FP2 |
| 0200 (Sat) | MotoE | Q1 |
| 0220 (Sat) | MotoE | Q2 |
Saturday
| Time | Class | Event |
| 1740 | Moto3 | FP3 |
| 1825 | Moto2 | FP3 |
| 1910 | MotoGP | FP |
| 1950 | MotoGP | Q1 |
| 2015 | MotoGP | Q2 |
| 2110 | MotoE | R1 |
| 2150 | Moto3 | Q1 |
| 2215 | Moto3 | Q2 |
| 2245 | Moto2 | Q1 |
| 2310 | Moto2 | Q2 |
| 0000 (Sun) | MotoGP | Sprint |
| 0010 (Sun) | MotoE | R2 |
Sunday
| Time | Class | Event |
| 1845 | MotoGP | WUP |
| 2015 | Moto3 | Race |
| 2200 | MotoGP | Race |
| 2330 | Moto2 | Race |
2023 MotoGP Calendar
| Rnd | Date | Location |
| 10 | Aug-06 | Great Britain, Silverstone |
| 11 | Aug-20 | Austria, Red Bull Ring |
| 12 | Sep-03 | Catalunya, Catalunya |
| 13 | Sep-10 | San Marino, Misano |
| 14 | Sep-24 | India, Buddh (Subject to homologation) |
| 15 | Oct-01 | Japan, Motegi |
| 16 | Oct-15 | Indonesia, Mandalika |
| 17 | Oct-22 | Australia, Phillip Island |
| 18 | Oct-29 | Thailand, Chang |
| 19 | Nov-12 | Malaysia, Sepang |
| 20 | Nov-19 | Qatar, Lusail |
| 21 | Nov-26 | Valenciana, Valencia |
