Marc Marquez arrives in Austria for the first MotoGP weekend this season in which he sits at the top of the world championship. The Ducati rider erased a 102-point deficit and drew level with Jorge Martin after completing his latest double at Misano.

Their contrasting form explains the shift in the standings. Martin has one Grand Prix victory this season, whereas Marquez has won five Sunday races across the past seven rounds. Ducati also returns to a circuit where it has taken at least one victory in each of the previous ten seasons. That run includes Marquez’s own double there on his way to last year’s title.

Marquez said the Misano win, combined with the support of the many Ducatisti fans, had provided a “huge boost”. He added that he was competitive in Austria last year and that he and the team must turn the current momentum into results as they continue fighting at the front.

A difficult run for Bagnaia

Francesco Bagnaia’s position is markedly less comfortable. The two-time MotoGP champion has collected only one point from the last six races and is still struggling to find grip and feel with the GP26. He has dropped to ninth in the championship, behind Gresini’s Alex Marquez, who missed three rounds because of injury.

Bagnaia said it had been difficult to finish the Misano weekend with a crash in front of the Ducati supporters. He nevertheless considers Austria a circuit where Ducati has historically been able to make a difference. His message was that the team will keep working and pushing until it returns to the front.