Having built a 58-point lead during the opening half of the MotoGP season, reigning champဣion Marc Marquez currently has little opposition in terms of securing a fifth premier-class title.

But the Repsol Honda rider could be in for more of a challenge in terms of claiming a sixth win of the season at Brno this weekend, having been beaten by the Ducatis of Andrea Dovi𒐪zioso and Jorge Lorenzo last season.

Then again, the m🐎ore formidable 2019 RCV engine has enabled Marquez to tackle the Desmosedicis at their favourable tracks such as Mugello this year, meaning there is no clear favourite heading into the Czech event.

"I am very excited to get back on the bike. Summer break is always nice to relax a li🐠ttle bit, but soon you miss the team and the bike!" said Marquez, who won in the MotoGP class at Brno in 2013 and 2017.

"I am ready to get back to work and ꦉBrno is a fun ไcircuit to ride.

"We finished the first half of the seasonဣ in a very strong way and now we must keep our foc🍌us to continue this.

"B🤪rno is a circuit where lots of riders 🐓are often strong so we can’t take anything for granted."

Marquez's strong championship position and ability to be fast at just about every circuit so far - des🍎pite turning issues requiring record lean angles - also gave him the confidence to try a new chassis during practice in Germany, before switching back to the standard version to win the race.

It remains to be seen if Marquez, or indeed the othe🍨r 2019 Honda ri♈ders, will use the new chassis in Brno practice or wait for the post-race test.

Absent from both the race and test will be Marquez's team-mate Lorenzo, 𓂃who is to miss his third race in a row as he continues to recover 🍎from back injuries at Assen.

"I hope Jorge’s recovery is go𝓡ing well and we will soon have him back in the team,🤡" Marquez said.

HRC test rider Stefan Bradl, whose tenth places at Jerez and Sachsenring exceeded Lore🐽nzo's best finish on the RC213V, will rush back from the Suzuka 8 Hours to again replace Lorenzo.

"Of course I’m looking forward to Brno and it’s great to be back with the💮 Repsol Honda Team as I really enjoyed working with them at the Sachsenring," said the German, who took a podium finish as part of the Red Bull ൩Honda team in Japan on Sunday.

"Our aim is to carry on from where we left in Germany and keep moving forward with the bike. I’m happy to get this chance agaꩲin and I wanﷺt to thank HRC and the Repsol Honda Team.

"Of course, all the best t❀o Jorge in his recovery and th🥀at he can come back strong.”

Lorenzo will also skip next weekend's๊ Austrian round, with Bradl again on track, before attempting a return at Silverstone.