MotoGP Austrian GP 2020 Pre-race Talking Points

The 10-turn, 4.318km Red Bull Ring is not supposed to be Yamaha’s happy place. And yet qualifying for the 2020 MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix saw a Yamaha on pole and two on the front row. The track made up of long straights and heavy braking areas were supposed to be a happy hunting ground for Ducati and KTM. Those manufacturers made it to the front row but behind Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales who will start the race on pole. Championship leader Fabio Quartarao is third on the grid. And yet, the day was overshadowed by Andrea Dovizioso

Desmo Dovi no more

The runner-up in the championship for the last three seasons for the factory Ducati team and a winner of 13 races would be a good candidate to continue with the team in the future. However, Ducati’s talks with Andrea Dovizioso appear to have broken down due to the Italian’s high salary demands. It became a big hurdle for a contract renewal due to the COVID-19 pandemic that caused industrial shutdowns all over the world. With Dovizioso leaving at the end of 2020, there are little to no options for him to stay on the MotoGP grid for 2021. Jack Miller, who joins the factory Ducati team next year, could be joined by Francesco Bagnaia. At the moment, however, it is all speculation.

Weather watching

The 2020 season has been an unpredictable one so far with injuries to star riders and surprise winners and polesitters. That unpredictability could continue on race day as it is currently expected to rain heavily at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday. Should the conditions remain dry, the Ducatis of Jack Miller and Andrea Dovizioso - second and fourth on the grid - and KTM’s Pol Espargaro can challenge Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo’s Yamahas. Should the rain come down as hard as is expected, all predictions get thrown out of the window.

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Proof of how much things can change in MotoGP depending on which track the field is racing on is where the top three finishers from the Czech GP are placed in qualifying. Brad Binder, who won is 17th, Franco Morbidelli is just seventh and third placed Johann Zarco is ninth. Not much is expected from Binder given his low starting position given that just a second covers the 17 riders from pole to Binder’s starting position. There will likely not be enough time to make it to the podium, but never say never in MotoGP. Ducati’s top speed advantage could allow Zarco to make his way up the order and possibly into the top five on Sunday.