The long summer break is finally over, and MotoGP roars back to life in the heart of the Styrian Alps. The Red Bull Ring, with its incredible views and long straights, is ready to host one of the most intense weekends of the year.

So what can we expect after a pause?

Marc Marquez will arrive as the man to beat. He has been almost perfect so far this season, winning five races in a row and leading the championship by 120 points. But Austria has never been kind to him. He has never won here, and his last podium was back in 2019 after a famous fight with Andrea Dovizioso. This year, however, could be his best chance yet, but it will not be easy. His teammate Francesco Bagnaia has not lost at this circuit since 2022, and his younger brother Alex Marquez is chasing his first Austrian podium.

Another aspect is Aprilia, which is in great form. Marco Bezzecchi has collected four podiums from the last three weekends, including Sprints, and has been pushing Marc hard. With Jorge Martin, who is back from injury and confident from Brno, they are pushing hard. Their satellite rider Raul Fernandez is also worth a watch, as he has finished in the top ten five races in a row and took his career-best result in Brno.

KTM will have their home race, and the fans will fill the stands in bright orange. And the fans could be in for something special, with Pedro Acosta, who took a podium in Brno, Enea Bastianini, who also stood on the Sprint podium, Brad Binder, who won in Austria in 2021, and Maverick Viñales, who will return from a shoulder injury, all wanting to make an impact.

There will also be drama, as Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo is in ninth place in the standings, only seven points away from Johann Zarco. So a battle for eighth in the standings between these two riders will be worth a watch.

On the other hand, Honda will have a hard time. Their rider Somkiat Chantra is still out after knee surgery, and their possible wildcard Aleix Espargaro crashed during a cycling event, meaning he will not be able to step in. Iker Lecuona and Takaaki Nakagami are also injured, and even Stefan Bradl has said no to riding, leaving the team in search of other riders, as they have yet to confirm a replacement. Luckily for them, test rider Tetsuta Nagashima could be called up as a replacement.

The Red Bull Ring is fast and always unpredictable, meaning this could be the weekend when Marc finally wins in Austria. Or it could be the one where KTM, Aprilia, or even a surprise name takes the spotlight. Either way, we are up for an exciting battle and probably last-corner showdowns.