Talking points from MotoGP’s Austrian GP
19 August 2025MotoGP’s visit to Austria delivered much more than Marc Marquez’s relentless march towards a seventh premier class title.
The Red Bull Ring weekend was packed with storylines on and off the track, from the debut of controversial rider aids to a rookie showing next-level tyre management.
And away from the premier class action, Harley-Davidson confirmed its biggest-ever move into international racing with the announcement of the Harley Davidson Bagger World Cup.
Stability control divides the paddock
The big talking point as the weekend got underway was the arrival of MotoGP’s controversial new stability control system – designed to reduce the risk of high-sides.
Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta openly criticised the technology at the start of the weekend, while retired double champion Casey Stoner compared it to F1’s traction control era, warning that MotoGP risked becoming “a championship for engineers.”
As the weekend wore on, the noise around the system dropped to a simmer. Not every team ran it all the time, and at a stop-start circuit like the Red Bull Ring, the benefits appeared limited.
Even Marquez backtracked slightly, hinting that electronics could aid consistency but not outright speed. For now, at least, the jury is out.
KTM on the charge at home
KTM arrived in Austria with renewed optimism after Brno, and the progress made by its new aero updates was clear to see.
Pedro Acosta finished on the podium in the Sprint and fourth in Sunday’s race, while Enea Bastianini and Brad Binder were also in the fight for the top five in both races.
With Barcelona looming, KTM could be on the verge of its strongest run of results this season.
Jorge Martin’s struggles continue
It was another tough weekend for Jorge Martin, who crashed out of Sunday’s race while running 15th.
Mercifully, he escaped another injury, but the Aprilia rider is still searching for form after a disrupted first half of the season.
With favourite circuits Mandalika and Phillip Island still to come, Martin will be hoping to reset and rebuild confidence in the closing rounds of 2025.
Aldeguer shadows his mentor
Marc Marquez may have regretted mentoring Fermin Aldeguer quite so well when the 20-year-old Gresini Ducati rider’s name appeared on his pit board late in Sunday’s race, having come through from ninth on the grid.
He managed his tyres with an efficiency usually associated with Marquez himself and while he might not be the finished article just yet, Aldeguer showed he can mix it with the very best when the stars align.
Harley Davidson Bagger World Cup revealed
One of the biggest headlines from Austria didn’t come from the track, but from the paddock. Harley-Davidson launched the Harley Davidson Bagger World Cup, the world’s first global racing series dedicated to performance touring motorcycles.
Developed in partnership with MotoGP rights-holder Dorna Sports, the six-round championship will begin in Austin in March 2026 before visiting iconic circuits like Assen and Silverstone, with the finale at the Red Bull Ring.
2026 Harley Davidson Bagger World Cup calendar
- Austin, USA – March 27–29
- Mugello, Italy – May 29–31
- Assen, Netherlands – June 26–28
- Silverstone, Great Britain – August 7–9
- Aragon, Spain – August 28–30
- Red Bull Ring, Austria – September 18–20
The bikes will be adapted and tuned for racing, bringing the noise and bagger culture to the global stage for a truly unique spectacle.
Harley-Davidson senior VP Kolja Rebstock described it as “a bold new era” for the brand, while Dorna’s Carlos Ezpeleta said the series will connect MotoGP with “one of the most iconic lifestyle and cultural brands in North America – and the world.”
