David Emmett

MotoGP is on a real roller coaster ride, both figuratively and literally the past few weeks. From the magical high speed of Mugello to the flat chicane-mutilated Balaton Park, then to the most three-dimensional track on the calendar, Brno. Fast, flowing, challenging, a place a MotoGP bike can stretch its legs. Neil, David and Adam ask if Marc Marquez can bring his Balaton form to Brno, or if South Moravia is Aprilia country. Will Marco Bezzecchi brutalize Brno? Will Pecco Bagnaia be back challenging for wins? Or is Marquez back in control of the championship?

It is hard to think of a greater contrast than MotoGP's last three races. From the fast and flowing Mugello to the tight, chicane-ridden Balaton Park. A week off, and then from the flat expanse of Balaton Park circuit to Horsepower Hill at Brno. MotoGP has gone from flat out in sixth to finicky first-gear corners to flat out in sixth again. Though the Balaton Park circuit doesn't have much going for it in terms of track layout, it does provide a nice contrast with the current sequence of circuits.

MotoGP is headed to Brno (and I am in the very lucky position to be headed to the Öhlins factory in Sweden on Wednesday), so another MotoGP double header b

Brno is a magical place. As Fabio Di Giannantonio was explaining how much he loves the track and why the circuit is in his top three tracks with Mugello and Phillip Island, I casually commented that it was my friend and colleague Adam Wheeler's first time at the circuit. (Adam works in MXGP as well, and if you think the MotoGP calendar is busy, you should see MXGP. The round clashed too often with motocross rounds.)

Marc Marquez has topped the first session of free practice for the MotoGP class at Brno. The Ducati Lenovo rider was under the race lap record and two tenths clear of the rest of the field. That he is pushing became evident on his final run, when he lost the front at the Turn 7 left hander.

Aprilia's appeal against the penalty issued by the FIM Stewards against Marco Bezzecchi, banning him from participating in the remainder of the Czech GP - that is, the warm up on Sunday and the race - has been rejected. The ban stands, and Bezzecchi has been excluded from the rest of the weekend.

The bikes are fast around Brno this weekend. Just how fast, we saw in timed practice on Friday afternoon. In Moto3, Malaysian rider Hakim Danish took a qua

Marco Bezzecchi's moment of madness may turn out to be a pivotal moment in the 2026 MotoGP championship. In a few seconds, with panic and terror descending after he found himself sliding through the gravel, crashing out of the sprint race, Bezzecchi ran over to his bike and slapped a marshal as he tried to recover Bezzecchi's bike, accidentally revving it up. That earned Bezzecchi a trip to the stewards and a ban from Sunday's Czech GP.

MotoGP is entering a new era today, but sadly for the fans, it is all happening behind closed doors. At Brno, 12 MotoGP riders are circulating on the 850cc MotoGP bikes which will be used in the 2027 season, using the 2027 tires. But because MotoGP still has a contract with Michelin as official tire supplier for the 2026 season, the test is happening behind closed door, as bike are riding around on development versions of the Pirelli tires to be used in 2027.

There is a huge amount going on in MotoGP this week. The first private test of the Pirellis at Brno on Monday, with official riders on the 2027 850cc prototypes. A test which happened behind closed doors, with no electronic timing, and team members sent to stand trackside all day with stopwatches.