Record-breaking weekend to mark Sachsenring milestone. Plenty of big names visit the circuit. Advance ticket sales for 2024 start on Sunday.
Eminent visitors
Some of Saxony’s top politicians met to mark the 25th anniversary of the LIQUI MOLY Motorcycle Grand Prix of Germany at the new Sachsenring. Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) took part in the presentation ceremony for the Moto3 class, while Interior Minister Armin Schuster congratulated the riders in the top class, MotoGP. Thomas Schmidt, Minister for Regional Development in the Free State of Saxony, also visited the iconic racetrack.
DTM meets MotoGP
There were also plenty of big names from the world of four-wheel racing at the Sachsenring. Among those checking out the LIQUI MOLY Motorcycle Grand Prix of Germany were DTM champion Sheldon van der Linde and his brother Kelvin, who were given a guided tour of the paddock by ProSieben’s cult commentator Eddie Mielke. The two South Africans grew up with KTM factory rider Brad Binder and dropped in to see their compatriot in the garage. Jordan Pepper was the third South African racing driver to visit the MotoGP event.
Records continue to tumble
MotoGP is faster than ever – and once again broke a host of records at the Sachsenring this year. 233,196 spectators over the course of the three days was a new record for the German Grand Prix. In the MotoGP class, Ducati rider Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) set a new top speed. The Italian was clocked at 305.0 km/h in the approach to turn 12 in the sprint race, bettering the previous record, which was set last year by fellow Ducati rider Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac Racing) from Spain. A new lap record in Moto3 came courtesy of Ayumu Sasaki (LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP). The Japanese rider took 1:25.130 minutes to complete his flying lap of the Sachsenring in qualifying – that is an average speed of 155.2 km/h. The previous race lap records also fell in all three classes.
Big rush
The entertaining off-track programme at the LIQUI MOLY Motorcycle Grand Prix of Germany was once again very well received by the many fans at the Sachsenring and on Ankerberg. The traditional highlight was the rider presentation in the Kart Hall on Saturday evening. Local favourite Lukas Tulovic (LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP) and the two KTM factory riders Brad Binder and Jack Miller enjoyed the meeting the crowds, among other things.
An all-round success
The new Dekra Big Wheel next to the Kart Hall also proved to be very popular. And MotoGP promoter Dorna had come up with some new features for 2023, in order to make the experience at the racetrack even more exciting for fans. The brand-new Hero Walk and the rider parade on Sunday morning were very well received by spectators at the Sachsenring. Both brought the fans even closer to their heroes.
German victory on the final day of the LIQUI MOLY Motorcycle Grand Prix of Germany
Motorcycle fans celebrated a German victory in the Northern Talent Cup, the school for young racers run by the ADAC, MotoGP promoter Dorna, and KTM. 14-year-old Rocco Sessler won race two on Sunday morning, finishing just ahead of Kyano School from the Netherlands and Denmark’s Julius Frellsen. Sessler had previously crashed out of the opening race on Saturday afternoon, which was won by Hungarian Martin Vincze. After eight of this season’s 14 races, the youngster from Franconia leads the championship with 145 points.
Local trophies
The ADAC has set itself the goal of cooperating more closely with companies and institutions from the area around the Sachsenring. As part of these efforts, the winners’ trophies were made by the company Metallbau Maltitz in nearby Gersdorf. The trophies are made completely of stainless steel and have a black powder-coated base. Metallbau Maltitz has been producing the winners’ trophies for the MotoGP event at the Sachsenring since 2018 and is also involved in the Motorcycle World Championship as a sponsor of the Aspar team.
A hint of Formula 1
The arrival of Audi in Formula 1 in 2026 may seem a long way off, but group subsidiary Ducati is already enjoying great success in the Motorcycle World Championship. Audi CEO Markus Duesmann was at the Sachsenring to find out in person about the progress made by the motorcycle manufacturer. Four Ducati Desmosedici bikes finished in the top five in qualifying and the print race on Saturday. Sunday’s Grand Prix race actually yielded a top-five shut-out for the manufacturer from Borgo Panigale. The luxury Italian brand has been exclusively supplying the MotoE World Championship with electric bikes since this year.
Tickets available for 2024
Advance ticket sales for the 2024 Motorcycle Grand Prix of Germany began at 16:00 on Sunday. Tickets for one of the biggest individual sporting events in Germany are available through all the usual channels: from the online ticket shop at adac.de/motogp, by phone on 03723/8099111, or by E-mail to info@sachsenring-event.de. The exact date of the event will be announced later.
