Next up is Brno – where Folger won last year in Moto2 - and the German’s confidence following his rostrum finish in the premier class shows no sign of going anywhere.

"I am really looking forward to getting back on my Yamaha at Brno. It was nice to have a short summer break and recharge the batteries after Sachsenring," Said Folger "and now I aim to go to the Czech Republic and keep the same positive feeling from the last race."

"I feel confident and I think that the bike can work really well at Brno and together with the improvements that we have made, I’m sure that we can have another great weekend." He added

"We want to show once again that we are very competitive and that we can stay at the front and be strong at this race."

With almost five weeks without racing between the German and Czech GPs, most of the MotoGP paddock might be tempted to make a clean break from the track. To regroup and replenish their energy ahead of the second half of the season.

However, a handful of manufacturers are keen to make the most of this period to chase an elusive few tenths of performance which could end up making a huge difference – even more so for the title candidates.

KTM had a large roster of riders on track last week in MotorLand Aragon, with regulars Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro joined by test rider Mika Kallio and Moto2 rising-star Miguel Oliveira. Meanwhile, Honda and Ducati have picked Brno and Misano respectively to carry out their private testing programmes.

While rivals can keep an eye on each other during official tests – where they share the same track and come under scrutiny from the media – private tests, as the name implies, are more discreet affairs.

Riders can use the time to test new parts that are potentially introduced into their racing package at any point during the season, and all without revealing their true potential, with lap times not usually made available.

Alvaro Bautista has announced that he will continue in the MotoGP World Championship next season as a Pull&Bear Aspar rider – making it six seasons across two spells together with the team.

The first saw him crowned 125cc World Champion in 2006 and 250cc runner-up in 2008. In MotoGP this season he has become a podium challenger, taking fourth place in Argentina and fifth in Italy. Speaking to MotoGP.com, that's what he said

The announcement of your renewal with the Aspar Team has just been released. What made you decide to stay with the team?

I think we have had a strong first half of the season, I feel comfortable with the team and we are working well together. The Aspar Team combine professionalism with a family atmosphere. They are also at a high technical level. I am really enjoying myself on the bike, I feel comfortable and capable of fighting for top results and I think that with this team I have the opportunity to continue competing at a high level.

We are halfway through the 2017 season now. How do you sum up these first nine races together?

I think we could have had some better results during the first half of the season but we have let ourselves down in a few races. Our potential is higher than the current championship standings suggest. Now we need to focus on not making the same mistakes again and improving every time to close the gap on the guys in front. Each of the nine races has had its positives, we have all got to know each other better and we are working with the bike to find a base that I feel comfortable on and that works at every circuit.

What memories would you like to keep from the season so far, and which would you rather forget?

I'd keep them all – the good moments and the bad. From every bad moment you learn something and the good moments are there to enjoy. In order to fully appreciate the good you also have to have the bad. Obviously I'd like to forget the crashes. Luckily, I have not been injured but whenever you crash the risk is there, as well as the impact on the result.

What targets have you set for the second half of the season?

I think our target is the same as before, which is to keep working like we have up to now and give 100 per cent to try and be close to the top five. I have said many times that it is difficult because of the number of factory bikes and the level of this championship, which is incredible, everything is so close, but that is our target and that is what we will be fighting for in each of the remaining nine races.

Now that you know the Ducati better, what would you say are its strengths?

Its main strength is the engine but I also like the chassis. When everything is in place it is a really fun bike to ride: aggressive but smooth, trying not to work the electronics too hard, sliding the bike into the corners... It is the whole package, because when you turn onto the straights and feel that power it's enjoyable. It is quite a complete bike, maybe not as difficult to handle as I expected because of what I'd heard about it from other riders in the past, but if you can find a set-up you can have a lot of fun on it.

Next year you will be riding the GP17. Do you think you will get on just as well?

Well, there is a long way to go before then, a lot of races on my GP16. I need to make the most of them and squeeze everything out of my current bike, and the Ducati GP17 will be next year. Given the results so far this season, with two race wins and the championship leader on a GP17, it is obviously the sister bike to the GP16 but improved in some areas. I don't think my relationship with the GP17 will be too different to the GP16.

There have a few weeks off before Brno. How do you plan to spend them?

It is important to disconnect. June was very intense, with four races very close together. July is time to rest and recharge the batteries. I will try to train hard and make sure I come back at a good physical level because there is not much rest until the end of the season. Also, with me getting married in December, my friends have organised a bachelor party. They haven't told me anything yet but when the day comes we'll enjoy it, although I can't get too carried away because I have to stay in shape!

Reale Avintia Racing Team rider Loris Baz has been successfully operated on Hospital d'Aix en Provence, France, to solve problems with arm pump in his right forearm.

The operation lasted 40 minutes and was carried out by Dr. Olivier Dufour.

Since the first race of the season in Qatar, Baz began to notice discomfort in his right arm and the pain has increased in each Grand Prix since.

Finally, the Frenchman and his team made the decision to undergo surgery. Now he has 29 days to recover before getting back on the bike for the Czech GP at Bro in August.

"I have had compartment syndrome, something very common among MotoGP riders." Said Baz

"I really had never had problems, but this year the bike is very physical, perhaps the most physical I've ever had in my life. The annoyances began in Qatar, which is the first time I noticed it and it prevented me from fighting with Lorenzo until the end of the race due to the pain."

"In Argentina it was a little less, but in Jerez and Le Mans it hurt a little, and in Mugello the pain was very strong. At first we thought it might be tendonitis, but in the end we found it to be compartment syndrome." He added

"After talking to several doctors like Dr. Mir or Dr. Charte, everyone agreed that they had to operate. I looked for a medical specialist and Randy De Puniet recommended Dr. Dufour to me. Now I will spend a quiet week and then start to train with the bike, and in the gym, to get to Brno in top form.