Marquez: Some bad luck in the past...

Silverstone, venue for this weekend's British MotoGP, has not been a successful hunting ground for reigning champion Marc Marquez.

The Repsol Honda rider has only claimed one premier-class victory at the British venue, in 2014, which was also the last time he stood on the Silverstone podium.

The Spaniard narrowly lost out to Jorge Lorenzo in a thrilling 2013 race, just hours after dislocating his shoulder, fell in the wet in 2015 race and suffered a rare engine failure (after several practice falls) in 2017.

Marquez fell again during practice for last year's race, which would be cancelled due to drainage problems. A brand-new surface awaits the riders this weekend.

“Hopefully we can enjoy a great race in Silverstone," said Marquez, who lost out to Andrea Dovizioso in a final turn showdown in Austria, but is still a distant 58-points clear of the Ducati rider.

"We have certainly had some bad luck [at Silverstone] in the past, but this year we are showing that we are much stronger at circuits where in the past we haven’t been, so I am feeling good for the weekend.

"We will see what the new surface is like because in the past Silverstone has been quite bumpy and of course we’ll see what the weather does.”

Since Austria last year, Marquez has been first or second in all of the races he has finished (DNFs at Phillip Island, Valencia and Austin).

Another top three this weekend would see him equal Giacomo Agostini’s 88 podiums in the premier-class.