Thrilling racing at 2020 MotoGP Round 5 BMW M Grand Prix of Styria with KTM taking emphatic win with Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira pulling maiden win at Red Bull Ring at the weekend.
From first race of 18 laps with Suzuki’s Joan Mir holding 2 second gap to rest of field, to Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales making ‘how-you leave-your bike-unscathed at 200kph, to re-start with battle up front between KTM’s Pol Espargaro and Ducati’s Jack Miller, to final taking centre stage, flying through to claim victory – KTM’s Miguel Oliveira.
Sensational racing. Not just how the race played out up front, but also how riders mitigated risks given how uncertainty abounds amid such tightly contested class of riders within compacted MotoGP season.
So, what variances came into play? Full credit has to be given to Australia’s Jack Miller for staying the course given nursing shoulder injury from FP3 incident as well as fighting for position in first half and second half of 12 lap sprint race.
This guy has such grounded-no-drama-character surrounding whichever happens on or off track- making matter of fact comment in post racing interview that he hadn’t seen time-sheets which confirmed he’s narrowed the gap of points standings to 14 from current leader Fabio Quartararo.
If the unpredictable weather put everyone on edge, it was most certainly eclipsed by tyre management when red flag came out after 18 laps. Here, rider’s decisions on what to run hit all time high with then, leader Joan Mir unable to change to fresh rubbers, pushing advantage to Miller’s change to soft Michelin front and rear’s proving to be stronghold for battle up front.
And Miguel’s -wait-for-right-moment to pass couldn’t have been timed to better perfection in what must be greatest reward for rider who knows his potential along with Brand who gained 2 podiums at GP.
Nothing short of keeping all watching glued to screens which seems amazing feat given we are all still in world where no fans are allowed on venue site. For certain, race performance has not just been confined to pole position, but also rests on rider’s own character make-up on delivering results within changeable situations.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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