Fabio Quartararo: I'm not too focused on the standings
Since the power-hungry Red Bull Ring returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2016, Yamaha riders have accounted for just two of 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 championship leader Fabio Quartararo in 2019.
The best results by an M1 in last year's restarted back-to-back events was fifth and ninth respectively, by Valentino Rossi.
"We approach these back-to-back race weekends in Spielberg with some mixed feelings," admitted Monster Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli.
"On the one hand, the entire team likes this venue, but on the other hand we know that this can be a difficult 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 the title lead even if he is forced to shed some points over the next two weekends.
However the four-time 2021 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 back to racing again. I had a good time during the summer break, and it was good to get a bit of rest, but now 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 goal 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 here 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 Maverick 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 possible. I have been training 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 Spielberg 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 unknown, with Aprilia appearing to be the leading contender for his services.
