Spielberg, Austria | Marc Marquez returned from MotoGP’s mid-season break showing no signs of slowing down, setting the pace in Friday’s practice sessions at the Red Bull Ring.

The six-time MotoGP champion, who has already racked up five straight victories this season, is chasing more than just another win. Marquez has never triumphed in Austria, a rare blank spot in his decorated career.

“I’ve been super close here many years,” Marquez said. “I always lose against the red bikes—but now I’m on the red bike, so let’s see if we can finally do it.”

Now riding for Ducati’s factory team, Marquez has looked nearly untouchable, completing five consecutive weekends with both sprint and race wins. He leads the championship by a commanding 120 points over his younger brother Alex Marquez, who races with Ducati’s Gresini satellite outfit.

Alex sits second in the standings, holding a 48-point cushion over Francesco Bagnaia, last year’s champion and a specialist in Austria with three consecutive wins at Spielberg. But the younger Marquez faces an uphill task this Sunday after being handed a long-lap penalty for his collision with Honda’s Joan Mir in Brno.

“The challenge will be to do a perfect weekend and lose the least time on the long lap,” Alex admitted. “We need to qualify well and try to make up ground before the penalty.”

Friday’s action confirmed Marc’s dominance, topping the morning session by three-tenths of a second over Bagnaia, and edging KTM’s Pedro Acosta by two-tenths in the afternoon. Qualifying takes place Saturday, followed by a 14-lap sprint. The main 28-lap race happens Sunday.

Meanwhile, Honda LCR’s Somkiat Chantra will sit out both Austria and Hungary. The Thai rider underwent surgery for ligament damage in his right knee, an injury sustained during training after the Dutch round. He has already missed races in Germany and Brno.

The Philippine motorcycle market continues to rev up, recording another solid performance in the second quarter of 2025. Sales hit 910,923 units from April to June, up 4.8% from the 876,074 units in the same period last year, according to the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association, Inc. (MDPPA).

Industry insiders point to the same winning formula: motorcycles remain affordable, fuel-efficient, and perfectly suited for weaving through Metro Manila’s notorious traffic.

These factors, paired with expanding delivery services and the need for personal mobility, have kept demand high.

Breaking down the numbers, the Automatic/Scooter segment is still king of the road, leading sales among all categories—moped, street, business, big bikes, and niche models. This dominance isn’t expected to change anytime soon, especially with financing options making ownership more accessible.

MDPPA, which counts Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, and TVS as members, expects the upward trend to hold through the rest of 2025. The group projects a 5% growth rate for the full year, supported by the country’s steady economic recovery.

The association is also pushing for safer roads through programs like Tropang MAALAM—a campaign that promotes rider education and awareness. For MDPPA, growth in sales should go hand-in-hand with responsible riding.

With more Filipinos embracing motorcycles for daily travel—whether for commuting, work, or leisure—the industry’s engine shows no signs of slowing down.

Suzuki Philippines has stepped in to help communities hit hard by recent floods caused by Typhoons Dante and Emong, especially in low-lying areas of Laguna. Many neighborhoods near the company’s head office in Calamba were left underwater and cut off from essential supplies.

Through its Marine Department, Suzuki worked with local governments and rescue teams to deliver help where it was needed most. The company deployed an inflatable boat with a 6HP Suzuki outboard motor to Biñan and a poly boat with a 15HP motor to Sta. Rosa. These boats made it possible to reach areas inaccessible to regular vehicles or manual boats, bringing much-needed relief goods to stranded families, particularly in Sikatville where waters reached chest level.

Local leaders and volunteers praised the effort, saying the equipment helped them cover more ground and reach people faster.

Suzuki also launched a Flood Support Program for owners of non-insured Suzuki vehicles damaged by the floods. The program offers a 30% discount on key parts often affected by floodwater—Engine Control Module (ECM), ABS Control Module, Body Control Module (BCM), and SRS Control Unit—helping customers repair their vehicles safely and affordably.

The company said these efforts reflect its belief that mobility is more than transportation—it’s a way to care, connect, and uplift people, especially during disasters.

For more details, customers can visit authorized Suzuki Auto dealerships or check Suzuki Auto Philippines’ official social media channels.