The Czech Grand Prix returned to Brno this weekend, marking its first visit since 2020. Both Miguel Oliveira and Luca Marini were among the few riders who tested at Brno earlier this summer. Oliveira, riding for Honda HRC, expressed a positive view of the new track surface, praising the improvements since the last MotoGP race held there five years ago.
Oliveira told Motogp.com during the Brno preview, “The track is very wide and felt like a highway coming straight from Assen. The grip was especially impressive, which is a big change from before since low grip was one reason the race wasn’t held here recently. They did an excellent job resurfacing the circuit.”
Yamaha’s performance usually benefits on high grip tracks with cooler conditions, and with track temperatures expected to be about 20°C lower than in June’s private test, Oliveira is hopeful for a strong outing this weekend. He mentioned, “Starting with a good grip level could help us, and that’s what we want. Our bike usually performs well where there’s good grip and less rear tire overheating.”
Oliveira also shared that it took him just 5-10 laps to reacclimate to the Brno circuit, which has changed since the last race five years ago, and believes testing here doesn’t necessarily offer a major edge. “The bike setup and electronics are already very refined now, so any advantage from knowing the track is minimal. It feels like a normal weekend, so I’ll approach it from the first practice session.”
Fan Take: The return of the Czech GP at Brno with a newly resurfaced track is a thrilling development for racing fans, revitalizing a classic venue with better conditions for intense competition. This resurfacing and altered grip could shake up the usual team dynamics, potentially leading to surprising results and fresh rivalries in the championship.
