#GERMANGP – MOTOGP, SPRINT & RACE
MOTOGP – SPRINT: MARTIN HALTS BAGNAIA’S CHARGE AS OLIVEIRA CLAIMS SPRINT PODIUM FOR TRACKHOUSE
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) converted pole position to a sublime Tissot Sprint win at the Sachsenring – extending his Championship lead to 15 points. After a suboptimal launch off the line, Martin battled back to the front to finish 0.676s ahead of Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing), who put together an impressive ride to follow Martin home in P2 and take Trackhouse Racing’s first rostrum finish in the paddock. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed the Sprint podium to put in some damage limitation, but the last race headlines went to a duel to the flag between Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) as the two crossed the line in a photo finish to decide sixth.
As the lights went out it was Oliveira who was brieflly ahead on the run to Turn 1, before Bagnaia threaded the needle in signature style to launch down the inside of both the Portugese rider and Martin as the polesitter dropped to third. He didn’t wait there long though, launching his attack for P2 on Lap 2. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez cracked on with a tough task ahead after qualifying down in 13th. The #93 made a solid start and latched onto the back of his brother Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) in the battle for P9 early doors.
Martin soon pulled off a carbon copy of his earlier move at Turn 1 on Lap 3, this time on Bagnaia, but this time with the #89 running wide and handing the Italian the lead once again. It instantly turned into a dogfight at the front with Martin making a move stick later in the lap, and Oliveira then passing the reigning World Champion at the final corner.
Further back, Marc Marquez’ charge continued and he was on the back of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in the fight for P8. The #93 found a way through at the end of Lap 4, and then soon began to set his sights on passing Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing), who began to struggle as the Sprint progressed.
At the front, the front three were holding station but Martin was starting to get the hammer down as Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) arrived on the scene, having escaped the clutches of Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Viñales. Martin had extended his gap to over one second on Lap 12.
Further back, there was some drama for the #31 as any point-scoring hopes were quickly taken away from Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) with a trip through the gravel – dropping down to last position, but able to rejoin.
Down to the final lap at the front though, everything was still to play for in the podium fight and the duel behind. Martin was in just enough clear air to hold off Oliveira, who likewise kept himself with just enough in hand to take some historic silverware for Trackhouse.
Ducati Lenovo Team had to hold their breath as Bastianini swarmed behind Bagnaia, but over the line the reigning Champion kept it, ensuring Martin’s win only extends his lead by five points. Bastianini was forced to settle for fourth, with Morbidelli taking fifth and one of his best finishes of the year after accelerating away from Viñales.
Viñales vs Marc Marquez boiled up to prove the final fireworks. The two were locked together on the final lap and the #93 went for it at the final corner, able to just make it cleanly past. But the #12 adjusted his line to gas it towards the flag in tandem, and the two were separated by just 0.003 in a classic photo finish – just in favour of Marquez.
Binder and Alex Marquez also battled to the line to decide the final spots inside of the Sprint points at the Sachsenring.
MOTOGP – RACE: BAGNAIA BACK ON TOP, MARC MARQUEZ BATTLES TO P2 AS MARTIN CRASHES FROM LEAD
After putting together the perfect race on Sunday, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) has taken victory at the Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland and is now in control of the Championship. The #1 completed his 200th GP in style after a surprise P1 finish at the Sachsenring. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) has completed a phenomenal comeback, storming to second after qualifying down in P13. The #93 had a Grand Prix full of drama but would cross the line to take a historic podium.
The final spot on the podium went the way of Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), which cemented the Marquez brother’s names into the history books as the first brothers to share a premier class podium since 1997. However, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) was missing at the chequered flag after the #89 crashed out of the lead with just 2 laps to go.
The lights went out and Martin claimed the holeshot after a perfect launch off the line. Meanwhile, Bagnaia was unable to match his start from Saturday, starting from fourth and charging to P3 on the opening lap before overtaking Martin to take the lead one lap later.
It was a fantastic start from Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), making moves to enter the podium places after starting from P6 on the grid. The Italian was aggressive at the start and was under pressure from Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing), who was hot on his tail.
Martin responded on Lap 7, charging to the lead and extending a gap over the reigning World Champion. Bagnaia soon lost a further position to Morbidelli and was under pressure from Alex Marquez.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez joined the battle, carving his way to P6 after starting from 13th on the grid. The #93 put together a strong start and a brave performance on Sunday – aiming to better his sixth-place finish in the Tissot Sprint. The #93 would soon enter the top five after a move on Oliveira.
Meanwhile, Alex Marquez made his move for the podium places, leaving his brother Marc Marquez to fight against Morbidelli for P4. Drama then unfolded on Lap 22 as the #93 and Morbidelli made contact at Turn 1, dropping Marc Marquez to sixth briefly after losing part of his front screen.
It was then redemption time for the eight-time World Champion, passing Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) for fifth before making the move stick on Morbidelli at the final corner – setting his sights on his brother in P3.
The Grand Prix and the Championship soon got turned on its head at Turn 1 with just two laps remaining as Martin lost the front – crashing out of the lead. This handed Bagnaia victory in Germany to become the rider to win the most races with Ducati. Taking second at the line was Marc Marquez, securing the podium position on the entry to Turn 12 – rounding off a magical comeback. Joining them on the podium was Alex Marquez to the delight of Gresini Racing.
Fourth place went the way of the late-charging Bastianini, who was ahead of Morbidelli after the duo had an incredible battle on track. Morbidelli was a mere 0.240s behind the Beast but would cross the line ahead of Oliveira in sixth. The #88 was the top Aprilia on Sunday and was ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), who finished the weekend with some solid points in the bag in seventh and finished ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team).
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had an action-packed Grand Prix, narrowly missing out on P8 – crossing the line to finish ninth. The final spot inside the top 10 went the way of Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez, who dropped back after starting from third.
I DID A GOOD START BUT THEN I INADVERTENTLY TOUCHED THE DEVICE AND THEREFORE LOWERED THE BIKE; I THEN RODE THE FIRST CORNERS WITH THE LOCKED REAR, WHICH COST ME SOME TIME. I TRIED TO MAKE MY WAY BACK TOWARDS THE FRONT AND MANAGED TO DO SO; THEN WHEN I GOT CLOSE TO MARC (MÁRQUEZ) A GOOD BATTLE BEGAN. TODAY HE HAD THE BETTER OF ME AS HE PULLED AWAY AND QUICKLY OVERTOOK FRANCO (MORBIDELLI). I, ON THE OTHER HAND, TOOK A BIT LONGER IN DOING THE SAME AND THAT’S WHERE I LOST THE OPPORTUNITY TO BATTLE FOR THE PODIUM. STILL, IT WAS ANOTHER GREAT RACE.
ENEA BASTIANINI – P4
A HARD RACE AND A LONG ONE BECAUSE I STRUGGLED A LOT WITH REAR GRIP BUT, ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, WE ARE BACK TO A BETTER FEELING AND BETTER LEVEL. WE WERE CLOSE ON LAP-TIMES TO THE OTHER GASGAS AND KTMS AND IT’S A SHAME ABOUT THE PENALTY BECAUSE THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN US A FEW POINTS. LET’S SEE AT SILVERSTONE IF WE CAN CONTINUE IN THE WAY WE’VE BEEN WORKING AND BE MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR.
AUGUSTO FERNÁNDEZ – P16
Click the button below to find out all the images of the #KytCrew during the weekend in Germany.