The 2023 MotoGP season is gearing up for an exhilarating ride in its second half. Kicking off this thrilling phase is the Catalan GP, signalling the start of a remarkable sequence – ten races within a span of merely 13 weeks. This rapid succession of races promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats, as the world’s top riders, including stars like Marquez and Mir, battle it out on the track.
About Upcoming Round 11 of Catalan GP
Round 11 is here, and it’s a significant moment for the Repsol Honda Team and its riders. The action unfolds at the iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a track spanning 4.66 kilometres. This venue holds a special place in the team’s heart, as well as in MotoGP history, being part of the calendar since the early 90s.
Meanwhile, Honda’s progress is evident on this track, securing an impressive 23 victories across all classes. Among these, ten victories were achieved in the premier class, with the latest triumph occurring in 2019. As the riders gear up for this round, the anticipation is high for another memorable performance on this legendary circuit.
Marquez’s Home Triumphs and Steady Progress at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
In 2019, Marc Marquez showcased and utilized his skill set to achieve the World Championship title. Among his impressive track record, he has celebrated victory twice at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a track conveniently located just a stone’s throw away from his hometown.
As the upcoming weekend approaches, the eight-time World Champion will adopt a familiar strategy, collaborating seamlessly with the Repsol Honda Team and HRC engineers. Meanwhile, this focused and composed approach aims to facilitate continued advancement. Notably, this method bore fruit recently as Marquez made a successful comeback to the points in the previous race held in Austria.
Home Turf and Determination: Mir’s Barcelona Challenge
In Barcelona, Joan Mir has the chance to shine on his home turf. Coming from Palma, situated just off the coast, this race holds special significance for him. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has witnessed some of his best performances in the premier class. He secured two fourth-place finishes, a second-place, and a sixth-place finish, showing his consistent prowess.
Despite a less favourable outcome in Austria, where his results didn’t mirror his efforts, Mir remained competitive, vying for top honours for Honda. Sustaining this momentum becomes pivotal for the 2020 MotoGP World Champion as he strives to impress his home supporters. Beyond this weekend, the Repsol Honda Team’s journey continues to Italy for the San Marino Grand Prix – a crucial European race and a final in-season test.
Official Statement
Marc Marquez said, “The weekend in Barcelona is always a special one, seeing all of the stands full of people and as my home race I love to see all the fans there. No matter what, the objective is to put on a great show for everyone there and give them an enjoyable and memorable weekend. From our side, there’s work to do and we need to keep the calm approach we have had in the past few weekends. In Austria, we saw that this way of working let us get through the weekend and gather good data for the project. We go again and begin a busy end to the year.”
Joan Mir said, “I am looking forward to the weekend in Montmelo, my home GP. Of course, I want to produce a good result in front of the local fans but we need to keep on working. In Austria, we had an overall good weekend that unfortunately ended in not the best way. I am confident that we can have another weekend where we are fighting to be the top Honda.”