As MotoGP 2018 shifts gear into the 11th round at Silverstone all eyes are on defending champion, current log leader and Honda hero, Marc Marquez. The Spaniard may have taken pole position and pumped out the fastest lap at last year’s British MotoGP but it was Andrea Dovizioso on a Ducati who stood tall with a bottle of Bollinger in hand.
Silverstone Circuit: The Super-Long Slipstreaming Track
At a little under six kilometres in length and featuring 23 corners, the track at Silverstone is a rider’s dream and spectators’ delight. It’s the kind of venue where you can immerse yourself in the action, get up close and personal with the $2 million plus racing machines and enjoy the deafening roar of superbikes in full flight.
It’s also a circuit that’s defied the odds by hosting eight back-to-back MotoGP races with a further three pencilled in until 2020. That’s an incredible feat considering the British GP was meant to move to the Circuit of Wales a couple of years ago. Fortunately for the legion of fans of the Silverstone circuit, the proposed new venue has still not even seen a sod turned, let alone the careful lay-out of a premier motorcycle racing track!
Can Marquez Take the British MotoGP?
Image Source: thestar.com
Now into its 40
th year on the mainland, the British MotoGP has proved to be an extraordinarily difficult challenge for Marquez, a man who has claimed the championships four times and is arguably in the process of escalating his overall title win-rate to five.
Despite Silverstone’s awesome slipstreaming opportunities and expansive open track, the Spaniard has only lifted the title on the Northamptonshire track once… and that was in 2014. Last year the race was an epic dual between Marquez and eventual winner Dovizioso. Can 2018 pan out differently for the Catalonian?
What is in his favour is his dominant form in this year’s MotoGP so far. He has won five races; two clear of his closest rival and countryman Jorge Lorenzo of team Ducati.
Moreover, the man closest to him in championship points, the inimitable Valentino Rossi is currently winless. Unless Yamaha somehow manages to sort out the rear grip problems that have been plaguing the bikes this year, Marquez may just be a shoe-in to take his sixth Grand Prix title in 2018 and his 41
st overall.
How About the Homeboys?
Image Source: motogpbrits.com
What of the British riders? Will they make an impact on their home turf? This season there are three Brits competing in the MotoGP - Cal Crutchlow of the Honda team, Bradley Smith of Red Bull and Scott Redding of Aprilla.
Crutchlow is clearly the one to watch. Apart from taking pole position in Spain this year, the 32-year from Coventry won the Argentine MotoGP. He’s currently in 8
th position on the championship points standings and although he hasn’t added any more podium finishes to his record, he’s finished in the top five in four events so far this season.
What Do the Bookies Say?
Who are the bookmakers backing for a win? Well… it probably comes as no surprise that reigning champion Marc Marques is the out and out favourite to win at Silverstone on 26 August 2018.
Thereafter it’s a toss-up between Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso, with Valentino Rossi coming in fourth favourite. Homeboy Cal Crutchlow is in with a shout to take the title in fifth place.
Who do you think will claim the kudos at Silverstone 2018?
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