MotoGP: Austria named as 2019 Race of the Year

The Austrian Grand Prix has been voted as the Best Grand Prix of 2019.

It’s the second time that the event, held at the Red Bull Ring, has been named as the best race of the year. It also won the award in 2016, the year that Austria returned to the championship.

The winner of the award is chosen by IRTA (International Road-Racing Teams Association) and then ratified by the Grand Prix Commission.

President of IRTA, Herve Poncharal, said: “It was almost a unanimous decision to vote Spielberg as the best GP of the year once again. What everyone said is that there’s everything we need and want, and if everywhere was like Spielberg it would be a dream!”

Since its return to the calendar, the Red Bull Ring as produced some of the most entertaining races in recent memory. 2019 was no exception. 

Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez, like they did in 2017, battled until the very last corner. However, this time the roles were reversed. Dovizioso was the hunter and he lunged down the inside of Marquez at the final turn. Unlike Marquez two years ago, the Italian was able to pull the move off and take his second win of 2019.

Dorna Sports CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta, added: “It makes me proud that MotoGP has returned to the Red Bull Ring and created some of the most spectacular races of the past few years at the venue, most definitely including this season’s incredible show. I think we are all already looking forward to returning again next year.”

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