Is MotoGP Facing a ‘Boring’ Crisis After the Austrian GP?

Is there a need for MotoGP to worry about the 'dull' Austrian Grand Prix?

'There are claims that the Austrian GP was the dullest race of the entire season.'

The top ten racers in Sunday’s Austrian MotoGP at the Red Bull Ring were separated by an average interval of 3.4 seconds.

Despite an initial battle between championship contenders Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia, the Italian rider took the lead after the first lap and maintained it, ultimately winning by a margin of 3.2 seconds.

Enea Bastianini secured third place, maintaining his position throughout the race, which concluded with a podium finish for all GP24 riders within a 7.4-second gap.

Marc Marquez and Franco Morbidelli provided some excitement for the fans as they battled their way back to finish in fourth and eighth positions respectively, following an incident at Turn 1. However, the overall race lacked excitement.

In the most recent episode of the Crash.net MotoGP Podcast, Jordan Moreland, the host, inquired:

“I’ve noticed remarks on social media regarding Ducati's strong performance this year, particularly with the GP24, and some individuals are claiming that the race in Austria was the dullest one of the season.

"It's unrealistic to expect an outstanding game every weekend, and there are other elements at play. However, is it justified for people to label this as a 'dull championship' when the top two teams are separated by just five points?"

"Could it really be as terrible as everyone is saying?"

MotoGP reporter Lewis Duncan responded, stating, "No, I completely disagree. When you examine the other races this season, the majority have been thrilling. The first half of the championship was particularly exciting, with intense competition and a closely contested title race."

The championship consists of 20 rounds, but an intense and captivating battle for the title doesn't mean that all 20 races will be filled with continuous excitement and nonstop action. We won't witness countless overtakes in every single race. It simply doesn't function that way.

"Clearly, witnessing the Pecco-Martin clash either at the beginning, during, or towards the end of the Grand Prix would have been ideal."

Many people have been claiming that the addition of the chicane has ruined the Red Bull Ring. However, I believe that the recent poor-quality racing in Austria is not due to the chicane but rather the motorcycles themselves.

“There are numerous sections where riders need to accelerate at low speeds. With height-adjustable devices that allow riders to simply twist the throttle and accelerate, the differences in corner exits among riders are minimal. This is not beneficial.”

"The aerodynamics aren't doing any favors either. If you look back to 2020, the racing was fantastic. Prior to that, Austria always promised excitement. So, I don't believe the track is at fault. I think the issue lies with the design of the bikes."

"I disagree with the notion that the GP24 is making the championship dull. There has been plenty of thrilling competition among the GP24s, and we've also witnessed involvement from other manufacturers."

"Essentially, when a particular bike or manufacturer is leading the race, it's not their responsibility if the competition becomes uninteresting. In fact, the onus is on the other competitors. Brands like Aprilia and KTM need to improve their performance. Similarly, Japanese manufacturers should step up their game. It's not Ducati's job to intentionally hold back their development."

"It would be similar to observing the best football team in the league playing in reverse to make the game more interesting."

The current situation arguably reminds people of the "good old days" often mentioned, when Rossi and Lorenzo were competing on Yamaha bikes. It was a time when two riders were battling for the championship on identical equipment.

"I'd enjoy witnessing more direct competition between Pecco and Martin on the track. In recent years, there hasn't been much of that. Nonetheless, the championship remains exciting."

Moreland responded, saying, "It seems people overlook the fact that we've witnessed some incredible races, such as the ones at COTA, the battle between Marquez and Bagnaia at Jerez, and even the race at Le Mans was fantastic. Formula 1 fans would be ecstatic for such events!"

Reflecting on 2003, the leading five competitors in the championship were all riding Hondas, and it was almost certain that Rossi, Biaggi, and Gibernau would dominate the front positions each weekend.

“It’s impossible to have an ideal race every single time; that’s just the nature of sports. Pete, what are your thoughts on this?”

"Occasionally, even top football teams end their matches in a 0-0 draw," said Pete McLaren, editor at Crash.net MotoGP.

Austria's racecourse demands the most full-throttle driving, and as Lewis mentioned, this limits the influence a rider can have. During one point in the race, there were three Ducatis leading, followed by two KTMs and then two Aprilias. I believe this pattern was intentional.

"I believe Bastianini provided a clear example. We anticipated he would be significantly stronger towards the end of the race, but that wasn't the case. He mentioned that the numerous slow corners and intense acceleration caused the rear tire to spin, leaving him with no options. Bastianini typically excels by conserving the rear tire in prolonged turns."

MotoGP has acknowledged the necessity of giving riders more control and plans to alter the rules by 2027 to eliminate ride height devices and restrict aerodynamics. Although this change is several years off, it's important to remember that a single race doesn't define an entire season.

McLaren commented that the races nowadays seem somewhat "reversed." He noted that there are usually intense fights for the lead at the beginning, but the conclusions of the races tend to be uneventful.

Had the initial exchanges between Bagnaia and Martin in Austria, in both races, occurred closer to the end, we would have called it an exciting duel. However, it’s now a strategic move to push early and take the lead to manage tyre pressure better.

"Perhaps Martin should focus on improving his early performance in the future. While his speed is comparable to Pecco's, Pecco's ability to time his speed effectively is what sets him apart."

Duncan commented that nostalgia often makes the past seem better than it was. He mentioned that while people reminisce about Barcelona 2009, they overlook the fact that a last-corner overtake hadn't occurred for several years before then.

"History distorts your view since you tend to only recall the positive moments. The forgettable races are often overlooked, and in 5-10 years, we'll reflect on this season, remembering Jerez and all the exciting grands prix."

"This is simply the way your brain operates. It isn't necessarily superior or inferior compared to any other period in history. Additionally, having many different victors doesn't automatically equate to thrilling races."

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