Andrea Iannone has had a tough season so far, but the Italian has found some positive steps forward since the summer break and the first real display of that in Austria came in FP3 – with Iannone blasting straight into the top ten from outside the top twenty and easily moving straight into Q2.

On race day it was slightly tougher going as the Italian suffered more with tyre performance, but he says the solution is ‘achievable’ – and took home a solid points finish in P11. Crucially, braking is one step forward – something the ‘Maniac’’s style relies on.

"To me this weekend has been positive, despite the final position not being satisfactory." Said Iannone "We made some improvements and we lowered the gap."

"At many moments of the weekend we were close to the competitiveness that we would like to have. We know we struggle more in the race. We suffer with the drop in tyre performance, but we are working on that and I see positive feedback from Suzuki. "

"The solution is achievable but not as immediate as we’d like, so we have to put up with it and keep on. I can see that I am not the only one in this and they all are making an effort to try to improve." He added

"This is something I really appreciate and I will do my best to give them what they deserve. We need to be patient, but in these last two races we learned so much; this will be useful"

"Here in Austria we suffered a lot with the tyre drop, maybe with the electronics we can solve the problem, and also with some improvements in the chassis or setup. At the same time we improved the braking considerably, which was a crucial point for me. This means that little by little we are getting there." Surmised Iannone

Mika Kallio gave home manufacturer KTM something big to cheer at the Austrian GP, coming home in P10 for another top result to back up Pol Espargaro's ninth last time out at Brno.

Kallio, test rider for the marque and longterm member of the project, was also only a tenth off Loris Baz over the line - and, crucially, within 20 seconds of winner Andrea Dovizioso.

With early disappointment for Espargaro after retiring with a mechanical following a touch off the start, Kallio kept the flag flying high as he went on the charge, showing both his speed and yet more incredible progress from KTM - who fielded another huge range of new parts at their home GP.

"I think it was almost like a victory for us, to be Top 10 for KTM at our home race with lots of spectators and guests. "Also for me this was something where I can demonstrate my speed is still there even if I’ve been the test rider for a while and not done too many races in the last two years."

"I really enjoyed fighting with the other guys during the race; for sure there were a lot of moments, losing the front and losing the rear. To stay on the bike and pushing the limits all the time, to finally be in the Top 10 we can be really satisfied with that."

"We used almost a new bike for this weekend, there was a lot of new parts on the bike: frame, suspension and many other things, and we made a step for sure. We already saw Espargaro in Brno finishing 9th, inside the Top 10 and not too far from the front, so let’s see what the next steps are."

"I believe in the bike we are using now, we didn’t find the perfect setup, so we need to work more on those parts and then for next year I believe we can make some bigger modifications on the bike."

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team’s Valentino Rossi had a more difficult weekend at the Austrian GP, but the Italian home a solid haul of points and retains his fourth position in the Championship standings – only nine points off teammate Maverick Vinales.

With seven riders in the initial podium fight at the Red Bull Ring, Rossi was battling at the front in the first part of the race, before running into rear grip issues and then making a mistake on the brakes - costing him time as he headed into the run off at Turn 1. Back on track, he eventually crossed the line at the chequered flag in seventh.

"Today the problems started after ten or twelve laps. Unfortunately, we stressed the rear tyre too much, so the rear tyre dropped a lot and we lost a lot of performance and speed. From that moment on it was very difficult to control the bike and I also made a mistake on the brakes."

"I didn’t have the pace in the second half of the race, I suffered too much from a lack of grip. It’s a shame because we worked a lot, but it looks like it's the same problem as we had in Jerez and Barcelona."

"When we use the rear tyre too much, the bike becomes slower and more difficult to ride in the second half of the race. For sure we have to work a lot mechanically and also on the electronics to improve this problem." He added

LCR Honda Cal Crutchlow had a tough day out at the Red Bull Ring on race day, beginning with a difficult start to the race after problems for Danilo Petrucci getting away off the line.

Then  initially dropping outside the points, the Brit fought back as the laps ticked down, eventually crossing the line in P15 to score.

Next up is Crutchlow's home race at Silverstone - sure to bring a turnaround in fortunes after his stunning pole position last year, and the support of the home crowd.

"I think it (the hard front tyre) was the right choice for me, even though we had some problems throughout the race, but 15th was a disappointing result." Said the Briton

"I rode through the pit lane last year, for a jump start, and still finished with more points. We didn’t find a great setting all weekend and the problem was I lost 12 seconds in six laps and that was it really."

"I got run off the track three times and got hindered at the start. Once I was riding alone at the end of the race I felt really good, I had good pace, but we had a problem up until lap 18 as well which didn’t help." He surmised

"But no excuses, I didn’t ride great all weekend either, but I could have finished in the top eight today I felt. My aim was to finish in the top six, but I was nine places off that so we’ll just have to look forward to the next one and try our best again."

"I look forward to Silverstone now, it’s always great to go home and especially after two frustrating races" Concluded Crutchlow