Source: Supplied.

The grand prix commission has awarded the Austrian round of the 2016 MotoGP World Championship the best of the year, following the Red Bull Ring’s memorable return to the calendar.

Over 215,000 fans packed into the Red Bull Ring last year, as MotoGP returned to the country for the first time in nearly two decades with incredible racing against the stunning backdrop of the Austrian landscape.

“The organisers of the Austrian Grand Prix should be proud of their efforts,” commented Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports. “The staff at the Red Bull Ring were incredible in making all the teams and fans comfortable. The circuit is well thought out with impressive facilities and great viewing areas around the entire track.

“The working spaces both in the paddock and media centre are also outstanding. The attendance was astonishing, with Sunday being sold out. It’s really no surprise that the Austrian GP was nominated the best of 2016. It should be the benchmark for all future MotoGP events.”

As the build up to the prestigious ski world cup race in Kitzbühel, Austria, gets underway, Ezpeleta and president of IRTA, Hervé Poncharal, traveled to the country to present the award to Mateschitz by the start of the famous Streif ski run on the Hahnenkamm.

Co-founder of Red Bull Dietrich Mateschitz commented: “MotoGP is the most exciting race series in the world at the moment. It offers motorsport in its purest, most fascinating form. It was always a real desire of ours to make Austria the scene of one of its fantastic races again. It made us really proud to do that last year. That we have been chosen as the best GP of the year in the first year is really pleasing and a special honor for us.”

The award was presented just a few days after reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) took his MotoGP bike for a spin on the snow in Kitzbühel – the first rider to attempt such a feat on two wheels.