Full Recap and Results Below:
The German MotoGP race at the Sachsenring began in farcical fashion after a heavy downpour at the conclusion of the Moto2 race made the start of the main race a complete lottery. Stefan Bradl, Hiroshi Aoyama and Karel Abraham were the only riders to start on slicks, as in unprecedented scenes two thirds of the field had to start the race from pit lane as they scrambled to swap bikes after the warm up lap. From there the race outcome was altogether more predictable as Marc Marquez went on to claim his ninth consecutive victory and his fifth consecutive win at the German track.
After a rowdy, elbow banging start from the pit lane it was Marquez and Pedrosa who scythed their way past the slower riders with greatest efficiency, they eventually hauled in Stefan Bradl who had managed to build a decent lead, but struggled for grip as his bike setup was something of a compromise between wet and dry. Marquez pulled the pin with ten laps remaining and managed to build and control a comfortable gap to Pedrosa over the closing stages and extend his already ominous Championship lead. Jorge Lorenzo took a lonely third place 10 seconds behind Pedrosa and a further 10 seconds ahead of his team mate Valentino Rossi.
Andrea Iannone did a solid job to take an encouraging fifth position while Aleix and Pol Espargaro crossed the line in sixth and seventh places respectively. Andrea Dovizioso held off a hard charging Alvaro Bautista while Cal Crutchlow had to settle for 10th after running ahead of his team mate Dovizioso in the closing stages of the race. The Briton is yet to finish ahead of Dovizioso this season and will be keen to recharge and regroup over the summer break ahead.
To cap off a very challenging weekend Bradley Smith suffered his fifth crash in total on lap three, however he was able to rejoin the race and finish in 19th position.
Results:
Pos. | Points | Num. | Rider | Bike | Time/Gap |
1 | 25 | 93 | Marc MARQUEZ | Honda | 41'47.664 |
2 | 20 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | Honda | 1.466 |
3 | 16 | 99 | Jorge LORENZO | Yamaha | 10.317 |
4 | 13 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Yamaha | 19.194 |
5 | 11 | 29 | Andrea IANNONE | Ducati | 23.509 |
6 | 10 | 41 | Aleix ESPARGARO | Forward Yamaha | 27.809 |
7 | 9 | 44 | Pol ESPARGARO | Yamaha | 33.253 |
8 | 8 | 4 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | Ducati | 33.868 |
9 | 7 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | Honda | 34.231 |
10 | 6 | 35 | Cal CRUTCHLOW | Ducati | 34.676 |
11 | 5 | 45 | Scott REDDING | Honda | 37.744 |
12 | 4 | 7 | Hiroshi AOYAMA | Honda | 45.018 |
13 | 3 | 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | Honda | 45.177 |
14 | 2 | 69 | Nicky HAYDEN | Honda | 46.676 |
15 | 1 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | ART | 52.769 |
16 | 6 | Stefan BRADL | Honda | 53.889 | |
17 | 68 | Yonny HERNANDEZ | Ducati | 54.476 | |
18 | 8 | Hector BARBERA | Avintia | 56.215 | |
19 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | Yamaha | 56.293 | |
20 | 5 | Colin EDWARDS | Forward Yamaha | +1'04.083 | |
21 | 23 | Broc PARKES | PBM | +1'10.928 | |
22 | 63 | Mike DI MEGLIO | Avintia | +1'19.975 | |
Not Classified | |||||
70 | Michael LAVERTY | PBM | 13 Laps |
Comments
Meh
Another race ruined by rain. The start scramble was somewhat entertaining and there were some good overtaking moves, but I really hope we get a proper dry race again next time.
In reply to Meh by Firefly
Perhaps we should adopt the
Perhaps we should adopt the NASCAR model and only race when it is dry? Rain adds more variables - the need to have two bikes, the need to decide when to come in, and the decision on the type of tyres to start on.
Either this year has shown we are watching a god-like performance from MM and his team or his competitors are not consistent enough to worry him. And talking of competitors - at the half way stage - DP26 is doing what he always does - not win championships, VR46 is loving still being in at the top level but will not win another championship and JL99 is a real disappointment.
In reply to Perhaps we should adopt the by Andrewdavidlong
Harsh
I agree that the rain adds another dimension that is sometimes fun to watch (at least I think that's sorta what you're saying) but you sure are harsh on riders not named MM. With Marquez doing so well the other 3 you mention literally could not have done better than the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places they got today.
Obviously it would have been fun to see some more spot swapping near the front, but let's celebrate the positive: Watching MM race a bike like almost no one ever has before him, a return to form of sorts for Rossi this year, Dani making Marquez keep the pace high, and Lorenzo hopefully putting Assen behind him and preparing to do battle at full physical and mental fitness for the 2nd half of the season.
In reply to Harsh by scottwiebe
I may be harsh but by now I
I may be harsh but by now I and I expect many others would have expected the other 3 aliens to have taken a victory off MM by now. If MM takes all victories questions will be asked of Dorna about the new regs and the need to fast track new talent into Motogp.
In reply to Meh by Firefly
Agreed
It was fun to see the gap between gp and open bikes. Those bikes shouldn't be on the same track unless Aleix's on it.
In reply to Agreed by etienne
Well
Despite he may have some in the bag ... I believe that strategy may work against the second-tier riders and Bradl (probably with a wet setup on slicks). If in front there was one of the "aliens" it would haven been another story.
Marc himself stated that before deciding the strategy he checked what Dani & Vale were doing and follow them.
No matter what I am in awe looking at MM93 :)
Pit lane exit
I am surprised Lorenzo didn't get penalised for taking a shortcut on the pit lane exit. If it was F1 then they would have had a drive through or something - however it was a fairly unprecedented situation so there may be no ruling on this?
Liking the BT team, they are starting to relax into the new roles and the humour is very good.
Dan
In reply to Pit lane exit by dan.gerous
Lorenzo corrected his 'mistake'
Immediately following Lorenzo's 'shortcut' from pit lane to the track he raised his hand and allowed the 2 racers he momentary overtook in the manoeuvre to pass him back. He explained after the race that he made the move to avoid rear ending them because his carbon discs where wet and not responding to his pull of the brake lever.
JL99 pitlane exit
Lorenzo immediately raised his hand, and let at least three riders come past him on the run through turn 1.
Something Special
We had a total reshuffle of the fast riders with all except Bradl starting from pitlane. Grid positions became irrelevant yet Marquez was still clearly the leader of this group into the first corner, sweeping around Rossi who initially looked to be better placed. Marquez wasn't forced over the line and having to concede places like Lorenzo but instead managed to organise it so that he had a clear track in front of him until he began rapidly dispatching the bikes that started from the grid.
It is not just his speed that is impressive.
In reply to Something Special by rick650
yup
He might look like a kid, he may joke and carry on like a kid, and look care free like a kid, but make no mistake, there is an extremely calculating and mature race head on those shoulders.
Marquez will win 100 races in a row
At least.
Oh, the excitement, the thrill, the exhilaration, the surprise!
The definition of MotoGP insanity: Lining up on the grid race Sunday after race Sunday and expecting to win against Marquez.
This guy will be more unbeatable than Mick Doohan, Michael Schumacher and Sebastien Loeb combined.
In reply to Marquez will win 100 races in a row by Don Vito Perleone
Early days...
To quote Mark Webber “let’s see if MM has the same fire in his belly in 2026, that Rossi has now” (i.e +12 years at being at the top of his game). What happens when Marc’s brother moves into MotoGP or maybe even somebody like Jack Miller?
In reply to Early days... by ShortShift
i reckon he will
... because like Valentino, you can tell that Marc just loves riding the bike.
He always seems genuinely happy to be racing. And if you look at Spain as an economy during his teen years, he probably knows he has "the best job in the world" (one of - getting paid heaps to do what he loves), and most of the kids back home are going to be doing it tough for some time.
Crashes
I am still shocked that there were no crashes in turn 12 in the first 1/3 of the race! Slicks and how wet that track was and the aggression riders were going down the hill is amazing! and WTF, how many crashes are you allowed to have in a weekend? Pretty sure Smith set some sort of record here, I think it is time for Tech 3 to dump him and find a competitive rider.
In reply to Crashes by binx_19
Swiss Judge?
Swiss Judge?
So... new regs for HRC
8.5 seconds or so back from last HRC bike to first Yamaha. And they all started from pit lane on dry setup so it was a straight fight.
Maybe HRC need another litre less fuel to make it a race?
Turn 12
I could not believe how aggressive the top three were in that corner on slicks !
And despite the different setup, and very difficult conditions all finishers were on the same lap ! I can't recall that ever happening in two stroke days !
MM certainly loves to carve through the field in a few laps, I wonder if he'll deliberately engineer a back row start when he has the championship wrapped up ?