After recharging their batteries with three race-free weekends, the MotoGP riders are back in action at the Austrian GP, which will be held for the 34th time.
The first edition took place in 1971 at the Salzburgring, where Giacomo Agostini immediately laid down the law, winning both the 350cc and 500cc races on his MV Agusta.
In 1996 the event moved to the A-1 Ring, but after just two editions Austria was dropped from the world championship calendar, only to return in 2016.
The GP data
According to Brembo engineers who work closely with all MotoGP riders, the 4.348 km Red Bull Ring in Spielberg ranks among the most demanding circuits for braking systems.
On a scale of 1 to 6, it scores a maximum difficulty rating of 6, with 5 Hard braking zones and 3 Medium. Each lap, the brakes are in use for nearly 29 seconds, roughly one-third of the race.
From the start to the chequered flag of a standard race, each rider applies a cumulative load of 1.1 tonnes on the brake lever.
The toughest corner
The most demanding braking point for the Red Bull Ring is Turn 4: MotoGP machines shed speed from 301 km/h to 81 km/h in just 5.2 seconds over 246 meters, with riders applying 5.3 kg of force on the brake lever.
Deceleration peaks at 1.5 g, Brembo brake fluid pressure hits 11.3 bar, and carbon disc temperatures climb to 630 °C.
Full throttle
The last Austrian GP at the Salzburgring took place on May 22, 1994: Mick Doohan dominated, taking the win, fastest lap, and pole position with an average speed of 197.677 km/h.
It was madness by the safety standards of the time, so much so that the Australian described the stretch between Turns 7 and 10 as “threading a motorcycle through the eye of a needle at 290 km/h, brushing fairings with others, with guardrails on both sides.”
In those moments, the Brembo brake system on his Honda was irrelevant, what really mattered was courage.
The Dovi move
The 2020 Austrian GP was Andrea Dovizioso’s last career win: with 16 years and 120 days between his first and last GP victories, the rider from Forlì boasts the third-longest winning span, behind Valentino Rossi and Loris Capirossi.
Even more memorable was his 2017 Austrian triumph, outsmarting Marc Marquez: the Spaniard passed him on the final corner but ran wide on the brakes.
Dovizioso let him through and got on the gas first, reclaiming the lead with a perfect switchback. In MotoGP, it’s not always the one who brakes the hardest who wins.
The red thumb
If today’s Ducati has become the bike to beat, credit goes not only to Luigi Dall’Igna and his team but also in part to Dovizioso. After Rossi’s disappointing stint, Dovi revived the Borgo Panigale manufacturer, claiming 10 wins across 2017–2018.
He also reintroduced the Brembo thumb brake during his Ducati days to control the rear brake. Dovi used it in right-handers, as he struggled to operate the foot brake at maximum lean angles.