Pole position with track record, and sprint success for the MotoGP leader. Stefan Bradl gains places in the race. Success in Moto3 and MotoE for Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP.
World championship leader Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac Racing) repeated last year’s success in winning the sprint race at the Liqui Moly Motorcycle Grand Prix of Germany. After 15 laps of the iconic 3.7-kilometre track near Hohenstein-Ernstthal, the Spaniard came home 0.676 seconds ahead of runner-up Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) from Portugal. Third place went to Italian world champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). Eight-time world champion Marc Márquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) from Spain battled his way to sixth place in a sprint to the finish, crossing the line just 0.003 seconds ahead of his compatriot Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing).
Martín laid the foundations for his victory in the opening stages of the race: he produced a courageous manoeuvre to pass race leader Bagnaia in turn eight on lap three, after which he controlled the race from the front of the field. “That was an impressive race. It was certainly very difficult for all the riders, because the layout of the track is unusual and we had to take the wind into account. However, I felt very good and had a lot of confidence. It was not easy to win. The others were close to me and I could not pull clear. I would like to thank the German fans, who are always great. Hopefully, we can win again tomorrow,” said a jubilant Martín.
An eventful qualifying session on Saturday morning saw Martín take pole position with a new track record. He took just 1:19.423 minutes (at an average speed of 166.3 km/h) to complete his fastest lap of the Sachsenring. Trackhouse Racing riders Oliveira and Raúl Fernández from Spain had to settle for second and third. Bagnaia qualified fourth, ahead of Spaniard Álex Márquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP). His brother and team-mate Marc Márquez failed to progress to the final qualifying session after finishing third in Q1. He consequently starts both races from 13th on the grid.
Márquez was hindered on his final attempt by local favourite Stefan Bradl. The rider from Zahling, competing here for the HRC Test Team, finished 21st in qualifying, but was relegated to 22nd and last place in both races following a penalty received for his involvement in the incident. Bradl passed three riders in the sprint race to finish 19th.
German team Intact GP shines in Moto3 and MotoE
Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) came out on top in the Moto2 class: the Italian was the fastest of the 18 drivers to progress from Q1 to the final. He then repeated the feat, clocking the fastest time of 1:22.778 minutes in the second and deciding session! That earned Vietti pole position for Sunday, ahead of Britain’s Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Aspar Team) and Spaniard Fermín Aldeguer (SpeedUp Racing). Australian Senna Agius from the German Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP Team impressed in fourth place, while Manuel González (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2) from Spain secured fifth place on the grid. Vietti’s team-mate Marcel Schrötter went out of qualifying in the first session, finishing eighth on his guest appearance in front of his home crowd. As a result, Schrötter will start the Grand Prix from 22nd place.
Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) made history in qualifying for the Moto3 class: the Dutchman became the first rider in the smallest class to break the 1:25-minute barrier at the Sachsenring! Veijer secured pole position with a time of 1:24.885 minutes (an average of 155.7 km/h). Joining him on the front row of the grid will be world championship leader David Alonso (CFMOTO Aspar Team) from Columbia and Italian Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse).
The team from Memmingen was also successful in the electric racing series, under the name Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE: the opening race, which was suspended after a crash at the start, was won by Spain’s world championship leader Hector Garzó. Lukas Tulovic dropped well back down the field at the restart, but was able to fight his way back to seventh place. The afternoon’s second race was delayed by over an hour due to a heavy thunderstorm. Garzó won again on the wet track, while Tulovic crossed the finish line in tenth place.
Remaining tickets for one of the biggest individual sporting events in Germany are available through all the usual channels: in the online ticket shop at adac.de/motogp, by phone on 03723/8099111, or by E-mail to info@sachsenring-event.de.
