Marc Marquez, Joan Mir back in saddle as riders return at British Grand Prix

SILVERSTONE: After a break of five weeks, the MotoGP World Championship resumes and begins an intense second half of the year at the historic Silverstone Circuit here with Joan Mir back alongside Marc Marquez in the Honda Team.

At 5.9 kilometres long, Silverstone is not only one of the oldest circuits on the MotoGP calendar but also the longest. First used in 1947, the British track has undergone a number of changes before arriving at its current 18-corner layout.

A mix of long straights, fast corners and tight and technical sections routinely produces close racing but 2023 sees a new challenge added as the MotoGP paddock returns to using ‘The Wing’ and changes the start/finish line to the Hamilton Straight as opposed to the National Pit Straight from the previous few visits.

The second half of the season is set to be an intense affair as the races come thick and fast, Marc Marquez taking full advantage of the break to prepare himself. Silverstone is what awaits this weekend, a circuit that has seen the rider No.93 take three podiums -– including a win in 2014. This year’s British Grand Prix will be about building and establishing growth for the second half of the year and beyond.

It will be a welcome return to action for Joan Mir as he is reunited with the Repsol Honda Team after an injury in Mugello. Now fully recovered, rider No. 36 is fully motivated to continue working and improving with the team. Mir’s best finish at Silverstone is ninth place in the premier class, achieved in 2021 on his way to third in the World Championship.

The full Honda Team is eager to return to the track and resume the hard work they have planned. The main race will take place on Sunday, ahead of the Moto2 race as is usual for the British GP.

“We have enjoyed an important summer break, a chance to reset and recover after a demanding start to the year. From the physical and mental side, I come back to the track refreshed and ready to work," Marc Marque was quoted as saying in a release.

"I am looking forward to seeing everyone in the Repsol Honda Team again and understanding the work that has been done over the break. Silverstone is a circuit where I have had a lot of good battles in the past. The most important is to get back on the bike, get back to working and try to improve on how the first half of the year has been,” he added.

Joan Mir is bullish on his return to the circuit after the break. “Our break was a bit longer than everyone else’s, but I am now fully recovered from the injury I suffered in Mugello. I’ve been back training and riding different kinds of bikes like normal for a few weeks now so I am feeling good physically," he said.

"The goal for the weekend is to make the most of every session and get back into the mindset of MotoGP and racing after so many weeks away. It will be great to see everyone again and get back on the Honda RC213V,” he added.