The MotoGP championship returns from its summer break this weekend, with MotorLand Aragon set to host the opening round of an intense second half of the season.
The Aragon Grand Prix runs from August 28 to 30 and begins a demanding stretch of the calendar, with 10 races scheduled across the next 14 weekends. With the championship battle still wide open, every point will become increasingly important as the riders and manufacturers enter the decisive phase of the season.
Much of the attention will be on Marc Marquez, who returns to one of his most successful circuits. The Ducati rider has won seven premier-class races at MotorLand Aragon and has been particularly strong at the track since joining Ducati in 2024.
However, Marquez heads into the weekend looking to bounce back after a difficult British Grand Prix. He finished seventh at Silverstone and struggled to match both his Ducati teammates and the impressive Aprilia machines.
Aragon could provide the perfect opportunity for Marquez to respond. His record at the circuit makes him one of the favourites, while a strong result would also help him strengthen his championship challenge as the season enters its crucial second half.
Aprilia, meanwhile, arrives with plenty of confidence after producing a dominant weekend at Silverstone. The manufacturer locked out the top three in qualifying, the Sprint and the main race, delivering one of its strongest performances of the season and putting Ducati under pressure.
The big question is whether Aprilia can maintain that momentum at Aragon, where Ducati has traditionally been competitive.
Jorge Martin will be looking to build on his improved performance at Silverstone, while Marco Bezzecchi will continue his recovery and aim to make another step forward physically. The Trackhouse riders will also have an important role to play as Aprilia looks to maintain its advantage across the field.
If the entire Aprilia line-up can remain consistent and avoid mistakes, the manufacturer could once again challenge Ducati at the front.
The weekend will also mark the return of Johann Zarco, who is expected to make his MotoGP comeback with LCR Honda after more than 100 days on the sidelines.
Zarco suffered a knee injury during a crash at the Catalan Grand Prix in May and has spent the subsequent weeks recovering. He will undergo a fitness assessment on Thursday before being cleared to race, but even if he returns, expectations will be modest given his lengthy absence and limited time on a MotoGP machine.
His return is nevertheless a welcome boost for LCR Honda as the team looks to return to full strength.
Fermin Aldeguer is also set to return with Gresini after missing the previous two race weekends. With Maverick Viñales still absent, Aldeguer's comeback means the full-time grid will be close to complete at Aragon.
KTM will also arrive with renewed hope after completing important engine modifications. The manufacturer had previously reduced engine performance to address reliability concerns after problems affected Pedro Acosta's bike earlier in the season.
After receiving approval from rival manufacturers, KTM has completed the necessary work and is expected to restore more engine performance at Aragon.
The changes could provide a significant boost for all four KTM riders. The RC16 has established itself as the third-strongest package among the manufacturers, but KTM has gone four races without a podium. Acosta's runner-up finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix remains their most recent rostrum result.
With Aprilia and Ducati setting the pace at the front, KTM will need every bit of performance from its updated engine if it hopes to close the gap.
Francesco Bagnaia will also arrive at Aragon determined to put his disappointing Silverstone weekend behind him. The Ducati rider scored no points in Britain, marking his first point-less finish of the season.
That result was a major setback for a rider who has generally enjoyed a more consistent campaign this year. Bagnaia has also enjoyed success at Aragon in the past, including a victory and a third-place finish, giving him plenty of reason to believe he can return to the podium.
Toprak Razgatlioglu will similarly be looking for a stronger weekend after struggling at Silverstone. The Yamaha rookie found the circuit's long corners particularly difficult and finished only ahead of Yamaha tester Augusto Fernandez.
Aragon's combination of stop-start sections could suit Razgatlioglu's riding style better, but the Turkish rider will need to continue adapting his approach from World Superbike to MotoGP if he is to achieve his target of a top-10 finish.
With Marquez looking to reassert himself, Aprilia aiming to continue its rise and KTM bringing more performance to its RC16, the Aragon Grand Prix promises to set the tone for a crucial run of races.
The summer break is over, and with the championship entering its most demanding phase, there will be little room for mistakes.
