2017 MotoGP preview, Rd12, Silverstone, Great Britain, August 25-27

As a sheer expanse, the 5.9km Silverstone circuit has few peers on the global motorsport roster -- and it's a place that riders enjoy because they can use the full potential of their bikes.

That's why the MotoGP round at the classic British circuit is always one to look forward to, and so it will be again this weekend as the championship moves onto round 12 of 18.

Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha) is one rider who will be looking forward to the return trip after powering to his first MotoGP win in 2016 on the factory Suzuki. The Spaniard sits third in the championship, and a victory at Silverstone – a former airfield turned race track –
would be the perfect tonic to help get himself back on level terms with the likes of world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) – the two riders who fought out a thrilling battle in the last round at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

"I'm really excited to arrive at Silverstone again," said Vinales, who's also a Moto3 winner at the circuit.

"It's a special track for me as I won my first MotoGP race there last year, so I will give my 100 per cent. We completed the private Misano test with a good feeling and we will work hard to find a good set-up when we start work in Silverstone on Friday.

"I like the track lay-out a lot, because there are many fast corners, many chicanes, and that's something that really suits my riding style. Honestly, it's one of the best tracks on the calendar. It's one of the Grands Prix that I'm always eager to go to and I will do my best and give my maximum to repeat last year's victory."

Marquez leads the championship by 16pts (174 to 158) over Dovizioso, followed by Vinales (150), Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha, 141) and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda, 139). The 2017 champion will be one of those five riders, and on current form Marquez is the man most likely.

“Step by step, we’ve been able to find a good base for our bike and this is very good, as one of my goals is to always be there at the front and be very consistent at all tracks and in all conditions," said Marquez.

"Of course we’ll try for the same at Silverstone; a circuit that I like although we know it will be a challenging round as our opponents are usually very strong there. Last year we did a good job during the weekend and only on race day we probably didn’t make the perfect choice with the front tyre. This year we’ll try and do everything to be able to fight for the podium again.”

If the notoriously fickle British weather becomes a factor and it's a flag-to-flag race, watch out for Marquez…

Vinales won at Silverstone in 2016 ahead of British gun Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and Rossi, but it's Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) who has the best record of the current MotoGP brigade with three wins – the same number of pole positions that Marquez holds around the 18-turn circuit. Pedrosa is the lap record holder.

Meanwhile, the indefatigable Rossi will set another record this weekend by becoming the first rider to contest 300 MotoGP races. With 299 starts, Rossi is currently well ahead of Pedrosa (245), Lorenzo (218), Mick Doohan (217) and Giacomo Agostini (196).

Crutchlow – who will have a new teammate in 2018 in the form of current Moto2 rider Takaaki Nakagami – will be keen to push for victory in front of his home crowd again, and other Independent Team riders in the mix will include Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Ducati).

Aussie Jack Miller (EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda) struggled at Silverstone with injury in 2016, so he's looking to put on a good show this year.

"This year I head to England fully fit and feeling good after a week spent training in Andorra," said Miller.

"It's the first time I've been back here since I left for the Dutch TT in June and it's been good to get out on the bicycle and do some proper training. We need to get the season back on track at the British Grand Prix after two difficult races in the Czech Republic and Austria.

"We started the season finishing regularly inside the top 10 and that's where we need to be again this weekend."

Moto2
The 2016 British GP saw a 1-2 for this year's two key championship protagonists: Tom Lüthi (CarXpert Interwetten) and Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS). Now, it could be time for a re-run…

The gap between the two is 26pts, in Morbidelli's favour, but both have to keep on pushing and take every chance with seven rounds still to go.

The joker in the pack could be Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), who still remains in the title fight himself. With some good pace at the venue in Moto2 and Moto3, Marquez could take the 25pts for his first win outside Spain – or become an important pawn between the two men ahead of him in the standings.

Also on the podium last year was Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), who is looking to recover some form this year. But the Japanese rider will also be buoyed by his impending move up to MotoGP next year, with a result at Silverstone the perfect way to celebrate.

There are plenty more riders to keep an eye on, too. Hafizh Syahrin (Petronas Raceline Malaysia) came fourth last year, Simone Corsi (Speed Up Racing) was in the top 10, and Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team), too – before his awesome form this year.

The likes of superfast rookie Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) and rising star Xavi Vierge (Tech 3 Racing) can’t be counted out either, while Aussie Remy Gardner (Tech 3 Racing) will be pushing for another top 10 finish.

Moto3
Championship leader Joan Mir (Leopard Racing Honda) is now 64pts in front, and on his current trajectory cold even wrap up the title at Aragon's round 14.

On that basis, Mir will be all guns blazing at the British GP – enough of a buffer to take a risk, and enough on offer to make it worthwhile. The pressure would appear to be off, and shifted down the table to those on the chase.

It wasn’t just the win in Austria that gave Mir such a gain – it was a difficult race for key rival Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers Honda) who came home in 13th. How he bounces back could be the key to his end of season form, and his last stand against Mir.

Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda) is the man in the top three who has both maths and time on his side.

Jorge Martin and Fabio Di Giannantonio (both Del Conca Gresini Moto3 Honda), John McPhee (British Talent Team Honda) and Marcos Ramirez (Platinum Bay Real Estate KTM) are others to watch at Silverstone.

Schedule
The three world championship races at Silverstone will be held over the following distances and times:

• MotoGP: 20 laps, 118km, starting at 3:30pm local time (12:30am August 28 AEST)
• Moto2: 18 laps, 106.2km, starting a 2:00pm local time (11:00pm AEST)
• Moto3: 17 laps, 100.3km, starting at 12:40pm local time (8:40pm AEST)