Since the power-hungry Red Bull Ring returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2016, Yamaha riders have accounted for just two ofꦓ the 18 podium positions on offer.

The first was a third-place finish by Jorge Lorenzo in 2016,🔜 eventually followed by another third for current world cha𒀰mpionship leader Fabio Quartararo in 2019.

The best results by an M1 in last year's restarted back-to-back events was fifth and ninth respe💯ctively, by Valentino Rossi.

"We approach these back-to-back race weekends in Spielberg with some mixed feelings," admitted Mons🍌ter Yamaha team director Massi𝐆mo Meregalli.

"On the one hand, the e💮ntire team likes this venue, but on the other hand we know that this can be a difficultꦕ track for us.

"However, this is all the more reason for the team and the riders to get all hands on deck and achieve the best 🤪result possible."

With a 34-point advantage over Pramac Ducati's Johann Zarco, Quartararo has built enough of a buffer to 🔯be able to keep th𒀰e title lead even if he is forced to shed some points over the next two weekends.

However the four-time 202💧1 grand prix winner insists he has a race-by-race mindset, rather than being preoccupied by the world championship standings.

"I am really happy that we are going ba💧ck to racing again. I had a good time during the summer break, and it was good to get a bit of rest, but noꦿw I just want to be back on my bike again," Quartararo said.

"I want to take the season race by race, so I‘m not too focused on the standings. My main gဣoal is just to do a good job in Austria this 🐠weekend as well as the week after.

"We know that Spielberg is not our best track on the calendar, but I did stand on the podium heജre before, so we know it‘s possible to fight for top positions. We will do our ⭕best."

Braking issues blighted many of the Yamaha riders last season, including a spectacular failure for Quartararo's team-mate Maveric🎉k Vinales, who forced a restart in the second weekend after bailing off his machine.

"Last year‘s races in 🌠Austria were eventful to say the least, and the results weren‘t what we had hoped for, but overall the feeling wasn‘t too bad," said Vinales, who will be entering his first grand prix event since formally announcing an early split from Yamaha at the end of this season.

"For sure, we will put in our maximum to start the second half of the 2021 season in the best way poꦫssible. I have been trainin✨g a lot these last few weeks, so I feel great!

"The upcoming two races will probably not be the easiest for us, but in Assen we showed that we have great potential. We did have some good races in Spielber♉g in the past, especially in 2019, so I think we can do a good job again."

Vinales, who returned to the podium for the first time since his Qatar victory in Assen, is currently sixth in the world championship. The Spaniard's 2021 destination remains unknown๊, with Aprilia appearing to be the leading contender for his services.