2024 Austrian MotoGP

It’s a weird one: after a race like yesterday’s Austrian Grand Prix the spotlight should be firmly aimed at Pecco Bagnaia and Ducati for their faultless performances in what may have looked like straightforward conditions but in fact were anything but.

Instead we’re left wondering what might have been if one front row-starter hadn’t been ruled out of the victory fight by a problem with his holeshot device and several other battles hadn’t been diminished by issues with downforce aerodynamics and front-tyre temperature.

Like former MotoGP winner Cal Crutchlow told me in a recent blog, “The only thing that’s letting the championship down is the bikes”.