Treacherous conditions end podium bid by Morbidelli and Márquez
Bleak and treacherous conditions ended the podium charge by Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders Franco Morbidelli and Álex Márquez in today’s rain hit German Grand Prix.
It was cruel blow for both riders who showed superb skill and bravery in very difficult conditions on the rollercoaster Sachsenring layout.
After a spellbinding charge through the traffic in poor visibility Morbidelli was on target for a career first Moto2 victory.
He grabbed the lead with a bumping overtake on Álex Rins on lap 17 and took control of the race fox six laps with a 1.5s gap before crashing at turn 1 on lap 23, just six laps from the finish.
After remounting Morbidelli crashed a second time with three laps remaining.
Márquez also crashed twice after showing that he had the pace to join his teammate in a double challenge for the podium.
After settling in ninth on the opening lap Márquez had impressively pushed to fourth, right behind Morbidelli, on lap 14 before sliding off at turn 10 on lap 15.
Márquez rejoined but made his final exit from 8th place with another crash on lap 25.
Franco Morbidelli: DNF
“I didn’t start so well but I was fast in the first half of the race and quickly caught the lead group. I felt comfortable and went to the front and opened a gap of more than one second to try and control the race and stay calm. But I made a small mistake and crashed and then after rejoining my mind was confused and I made another stupid mistake. This was not good for the championship but this was my first wet Moto2 race so I need to learn from this experience.”
Álex Márquez: DNF
“The race was going so well for the first half but in the end it was not a good result. If I am honest I enjoyed the race, I really enjoyed riding with very good feedback from the bike in the poor conditions. When I crashed the first time I said ‘come on, you can do it again and catch the group in front’ but then I crashed again. It was my mistake both times and it is a pity because today we had the chance to make the podium. But wet conditions are like this, you have either bad or good luck.”
Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“For sure this was a disappointing end to the race especially having Franco leading with six laps to go. And it was also a nice feeling for the team when Franco and Álex were third and fourth together earlier in the race, both with fast lap times. When you push for a good result these things can happen but two crashes from both riders and missing the chance of big points is a pity for the team.”
More, from a press release issued by DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team:
HARD FOUGHT FOURTH FOR KORNFEIL AT SACHSENRING
Sachsenring, Germany
Circuit: Sachsenring Circuit
Circuit Length: 3.7 km
As rain fell hard on the Sachsenring circuit, DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team rider Jakub Kornfeil battled through difficult conditions, to conclude the German Grand Prix with a valiant 4th place finish.
Despite an unfortunate and premature end for teammate Adam Norrodin in today’s twenty seven lap race, the young Malay remains focussed and determined to reach his targets after showing good progress throughout the weekend.
Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager
“I’m very happy with Jakub’s race result today. They were very tricky conditions out there but he kept focussed and did a great job to finish in fourth. Starting from fifteenth on the grid made it very hard for him in the beginning and he had to be very careful with all the standing water. We were not far off the podium today but still Jakub did a great job. Today’s results are all about a rider’s performance; in these difficult conditions it comes down feeling on the bike and what a rider can do on their own. It’s good to finish the first part of the season with a strong result.
Adam today was riding really well. He came through from twenty sixth on the grid to ninth place and this was fantastic to watch. Unfortunately the conditions caught him out and he crashed but this is what can happen in these circumstances. It’s a real shame because it would have been so nice for him and the team to finish in the top ten today. Of course we are disappointed but what’s important now is that Adam shakes this off and continues with the good form he has shown here when we return after the break.”
#84 Jakub Kornfeil – P4
“The race today was very tough. It was so slippery for the first few laps and the conditions were incredibly difficult to race in. The bike was sliding everywhere around the track; especially corners number seven and eight and then in turn twelve because of the angle, the bike was just aquaplaning. I was trying to stay as focused as possible but for twenty seven laps in the wet, it’s not so easy. Starting from fifteenth position it took me some time to catch the leading group. I kept pushing but at the same time you cannot push over the limit in these conditions. In the last ten laps I could see fourth and third place in front of me so I just started to push harder little by little to catch them. Mentally it was really difficult because sometimes I could see the gap close and then it would increase again. I was thinking about the podium but then in just one lap Bastinanini pulled two seconds on me and at this point I knew I couldn’t do anymore. After a tough weekend I wanted to bring back a good result and more points, so I knew it wasn’t worth the risk to crash. I’m happy with fourth today and I want to thank my team for their support and giving me a great bike for the race.”
#7 Adam Norrodin – DNF
“We were in the top ten before I crashed today, so I’m really disappointed for this. I was feeling really confident and was so excited for the race. I made quite a good start and was able to go from twenty sixth place on the grid, to nineteenth by the end of the first lap. I was really determined to make a good start, so I’m happy I could do this. It was still a very hard race because there were many incidents and twice I had to go onto the gravel to avoid crashes, but thankfully I was able to get my rhythm back well. I started to catch the riders in front one by one and fought my way up to ninth position. The feeling on the bike was really good and I was pushing hard but unfortunately I went over the limit. I really wanted to catch the group in front even though I kept nearly crashing every lap, then in turn eight I just touched the brake slightly and lost the front. It’s so disappointing because my lap time was so good and I felt really confident. For sure I have a learned a lot today. We know we can do it; we have the bike, we have the rhythm and I am learning so much all the time. For the next race I will do everything I can to achieve our targets.”
More, from a press release issued by KTM:
ANDREA LOCATELLI SHINES IN RAIN-DRENCHED MOTO3 RACE ON SACHSENRING
9th Rd. Moto3 2016 – Sachsenring (GER)
Leopard Racing’s Andrea Locatelli was the top rider in a rain-drenched Moto3 Grand Prix at Germany’s Sachsenring, powering his KTM RC250 GP machine to an impressive second place behind race winner Khairul Idham Pawi of Malaysia. Italy’s Enea Bastianini was third.
While the young Malaysian’s winning margin was impressive as he continues to make a name for himself as a fearless rider in torrential downpours, it was also an excellent result for Italy’s Andrea Locatelli, who was impressive all weekend at the German circuit. It was a career best finish and a first ever podium for the young Italian rider. His best previous performance was also in the wet when he finished fourth in Argentina earlier this season, the only other race that Pawi has won.
Speaking in the finish area, a slightly overcome Locatelli said: “I’m very happy because this was a very difficult race but for me and my podium, it’s incredible.”
Championship leader Brad Binder of Red Bull KTM Ajo, a rider increasingly known for his races craft, took the wise approach in conditions that were far from ideal and where flying spray made visibility very limited. The South African rode with the championship lead on his mind and finished eighth, one place behind Jorge Navarro of Spain, his nearest contender for the title. In doing so he managed to drop just one point in his impressive championship lead, which is now 47 points.
Binder: “Today has been neither very good nor very bad. I felt great in the warm-up. Everything was working incredibly. In the race itself things were more difficult. I found it hard to get a good feeling with the rear, and I felt as if it would go at any moment. The positive thing is that I never went over the limit and we were able to finish the race. Obviously I’m not entirely happy with eighth place, but I have only lost one point and that is a lesser evil. Aki (Ajo) told me before the start that I should focus on doing what I know, and not to worry about anyone else.”
Locatelli was the second fastest qualifier in much dryer conditions on Saturday to secure a front row start for the first time, and a crash in the morning warm-up did not dent his confidence. He was second behind Bastianini at the start of the 27-lap race, but Binder’s teammate Bo Bendsneyder also got away well from the second row and managed to stick with the front group for the opening laps. He even briefly took the lead on his KTM RC250 GP in the third lap. Binder took the cautious approach and rode out a careful race in places 8-11, and did his best to stay out of any collateral damage.
Pawi had stormed from the second half of the pack into the lead as early as the fifth lap and immediately started to put distance between him and the rest of the pack. Meanwhile Locatelli had settled into fourth place by the fifth lap and four laps later had advanced to second. While he never threatened Pawi’s lead, Locatelli then concentrated in putting distance between him and third placed Bastianini. Bendsneyder went on to finish 12th in a race that saw around a third of the field fail to finish as riders increasingly struggled with the rain, the standing water and the visibility.
Japanese teenager Ayumu Sasaki was in blistering form for the first of a pair of Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup races at the Sachsenring this weekend after riding from pole position to the top step of the podium to further consolidate his lead in the championship.
But it was no pushover for Sasaki. Spanish rival pair Raúl Fernández and Aleix Viu started alongside him on the front row and all three crossed the finish line a whisker apart. Even they were hotly pursued by another five riders, which made a lead group of eight only 0.678 seconds apart, making it one of the most thrilling races so far this season.
Sasaki deployed some clever race craft to come off best at the checkered flag: “I was thinking of the championship. If I could win I would, if I could finish on the podium I would, I was going to be calm, I wanted points. It was all very close but I could win without a big risk, I am very happy.”
Next Race: August 14, 2016 – Red Bull Ring Spielberg (AUT)
Results Moto3 Sachsenring 2016
1. Khairul Idham Pawi (MAL), Honda, 47:07.763 min (27 laps)
2. Andrea Locatelli (ITA), KTM, +11.131 sec
3. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Honda, +13.359
4. Jakub Kornfeil (CZE), Honda, +18.541
5. Fabio di Giannantonio (ITA), Honda, +20.620
Other KTM
8. Brad Binder (RSA), KTM, +23.333
12. Bo Bendsneyder (NED), KTM, +45.005
13. Gabriel Rodrigo (ARG), KTM, +47.793
17. Philipp Oettl, (GER), KTM, +1:13.873 min
18. Romano Fenati (ITA), KTM, +1:14.813
19. Maximillian Kappler (GER), KTM, +1:15.203
21. Tim Georgi (GER), KTM, +1:23.906
23. Fabio Quartararo (FRA), KTM, +1 lap
DNF Nicolo Bulega (ITA), KTM, +13 laps
DNF Andrea Migno (ITA), KTM, +17 laps
DNF Juanfran Guevara (ESP), KTM, +19 laps
DNF Joan Mir (ESP), KTM, 0 lap
DNS Maria Herrera (ESP), KTM
Standings Moto3 2016 after 9 of 18 rounds
1. Binder, 159 points
2. Jorge Navarro (ESP), Honda, 112
3. Fenati, 93
4. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA), Mahindra, 85
5. Bulega, 75
Other KTM
11. Locatelli, 50
12. Mir, 50
14. Quartararo, 39
15. Migno, 37
17. Oettl, 32
18. Guevara, 25
22. Bendsneyder, 18
25. Rodrigo, 9
29. Herrera, 4
Results Race 1 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Sachsenring 2016
All riders on KTM RC250 RB
1. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN), 28:48.739 min (19 laps)
2. Raul Fernandez (ESP), +0.233 sec
3. Aleix Viu, (ESP), +0.244
4. Kaito Toba, (JPN), +0.451
5. Makar Yurchenko (RUS), +0.456
Standings Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2016 after 5 of 13 rounds
1. Sasaki, 103 points
2. Fernandez (ESP), 89
3. Viu, 67
4. Marc Garcia (ESP), 48
5. Rufino Florida (ESP), 37
More, from a press release issued by Tech 3:
Vinales powers through the rain to clinch 9th
Tech3 Racing Team rider Isaac Viñales produced a brave and notable display to complete the GoPro Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland in 9th as he battled against the torrid weather conditions. The rain fell throughout the day in Saxony to make the event even more challenging at the undulating German circuit. The Spaniard began his campaign from the rear of the eighth row of the grid and after a cautious start, he stuck into his race pace and jumped up four places to 20th by the fourth lap. He continued his ascent and at the mid-point he was running in 13th. The intermediate class rookie carried on his consistent pace as he kept the pursuing riders at bay and he remained fully focused as the lap numbers counted down. Eventually, he met the chequered flag in 9th, which marks his best finish in the Moto2 class and brings the first part of the season to a positive close.
Meanwhile, Xavi Vierge suffered bad luck in his debut race in Germany after falling at turn nine on the fifth lap. The Spaniard kicked off the Grand Prix from the 8th row of the grid and moved up three places by the close of the first lap. He then confidently set into a formidable rhythm and pushed onwards as he targeted the positions in front. However, Vierge unfortunately, crashed whilst running in 18th. Nevertheless, he will seek to bounce back with a strong result in Austria after the three-week summer break.
Isaac Viñales
Position: 9th – Championship: 24th – Points: 10
“I am happy because I feel that we deserved this finish and especially after the tricky weather conditions that we had today, which certainly didn’t make things easier. This was the first fully wet Moto2 GP that I have experienced, but despite feeling a bit cautious at the beginning, I started to push and felt comfortable, but I made sure that I didn’t make any mistakes. It was a relief to finally see the chequered flag and I am pleased to have sealed my first top ten aboard the Mistral 610. This result is a positive end to the first half of the season and after the summer break, we will be back and ready to try again in Austria.”
Xavi Vierge
Position: DNF – Championship: 28th – Points: 3
“It goes without saying that today was very disappointing. In the warm up, I didn’t feel too comfortable with the bike, but when the GP started, the added rain made the Mistral suddenly handle differently and I felt so confident. Therefore, I realised that it would be possible to have a great race in Germany. I improved my time with every lap and just before I crashed, my pace was equal to 5th or 6th position. This is a positive that we can take home, but anyway, I am sorry to the Tech3 Racing Team for what happened. I have to say, I’d always rather fight than just sit back and collect a result. Now we will have a bit of a break before we head to Austria, but I am certain that we can have a much better time there.
Hervé Poncharal – Team Manager:
“It was a very good Moto2 race, I am pleased for Isaac who pushed really hard. A few riders were lucky to get points because of other people crashing, but Isaac was fast throughout the sprint and he gained positions by attacking on the track, yet having a safe ride. I am happy because 9th is not easy but there was a good opportunity today and he took it. On the other hand, it was a shame for Xavi because, like normal, he had a great start but then I think he became locked in a fight that was a bit too intense. He fell and of course he didn’t score any points, but the positive thing is that he knows the track now. From here onwards he will have a fairer chance, as the next round is at Austria, which no one has raced at before. Yet, after that, we will compete at tracks that he has ridden at before. I also want to say that Johann Zarco and Jonas Folger did an incredible job and had a great fight. We can’t forget that both guys will be with the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team next year so I must congratulate them. I wish everyone in the Tech3 Moto2 Racing Team a good summer break, we will be back and ready to go again in Austria.”
More, from a press release issued by Forward Racing:
Heroic fifth and sixth place for Baldassarri and Marini at Sachsenring
Under a grey sky the riders of the Forward Racing Team completed a tremendous race on the wet Sachsenring circuit where the German Grand Prix has just ended.
Lorenzo Baldassarri and Luca Marini managed to interpret at the best a very difficult race, which started with pouring rain and ended with a nasty slippery asphalt, which saw them gain position after position until they came close to the first places.
Baldassarri, seventh in qualifying yesterday, fell this morning dislocating his right shoulder; the Italian, despite the pain, was still able to join the start of the Grand Prix thanks to the efforts of the Clinica Mobile experts. After a cautious start, “Balda” began his comeback to the Top5 managing to stoically endure the pain and fatigue finishing in fifth position.
After the good qualifying of yesterday, on a track on which he had never competed before, Marini started from the fifth row instead. The rain put wings to “Maro” who began to gain ground on the group ahead of him lap after lap. When the track began to be slippery, the standard-bearer of the VR46 Riders Academy used his head and “settled” to finish in sixth place, his best performance in the World Championship so far.
Lorenzo Baldassarri
“I am very happy with this result; it has been an elimination race really. The first laps I did not push even if I had the pace, I preferred not to overdo it because controlling the rear of the bike was really complicated. It was mentally exhausting, much more than just a normal race, my shoulder was aching but I gritted my teeth to the end. I have to say thank you to the team and the guys from the Clinica Mobile who managed to get me back in the saddle in time to compete. Now I’ll take advantage of the summer break to recover from the injury and get ready for Austria. “
Luca Marini
“What a race! We achieved the goal we set before it, although it was ambitious, I’m really pleased. I felt at ease at the beginning with the bike with a lot of water on the track, I struggled a bit more at the end when it was drying up, I did not give up and I rode with my head to finish the race and take home this result which for us is very important. I wanted to push a little bit more but it was too risky, I would like to thank Giovanni and the guys of the team who have allowed me to get this far. “
Giovanni Cuzari
“A grey weekend has turned into a sunny day thanks to our boys. I would like to congratulate them and the team how brought us a fantastic result, especially given the Lorenzo’s injury this morning. “Balda” did very well to resist bravely the pain and Luca got a great achievement on a track on which he has never raced before and on which he did not practiced a lot due to the weather conditions of the previous days. A big thank you also to the Clinica Mobile, the VR46 Riders Academy and our sponsors that are always with us and support us. See you in Austria. “
More, from a press release issued by QMMF Racing Team:
Julian Simon and QMMF Racing celebrate fantastic podium finish
Julian Simon and his entire QMMF Racing Team ended a rainy day at the German Grand Prix celebrating a fantastic podium finish of the Spanish hero. In treacherous conditions on the Sachsenring, Simon started cautiously and held 16th place on the opening four laps, but then moved up through the field, reaching twelfth place on lap six, sixth on lap twelve and fifth on lap 15. When Italian Franco Morbidelli and Spaniard Alex Rins crashed in the dramatic final part of the race, Simon was awarded with third place, his first podium finish in more than three years.
Team-mate Xavier Simeon was in similar good shape and held places in front of Simon at the beginning of the race, but suffered a crash on lap 12, right after conquering sixth place. Determined to finish the race, he continued to chase the field with a broken seat, but another crash put an early end to his efforts.
Julian Simon – 3rd place
“In the beginning, it was difficult because I was surrounded by many riders and visibility was very poor due to the water spray. But as the race went on, I started to find a better rhythm and to recover positions. Of course it helped in the end that many riders crashed, like Morbidelli, Rins and my own team-mate Xavier Simeon. The conditions were very tricky and it was easy to make a mistake. When I finally crossed the line, it was a very sweet moment and a great feeling for me. I wouldn’t compare it to the day I won the 125 title in 2009, but it was still very special to be rewarded for all the work we put in. In the moment of glory, I also thought of my friends Luis Salom, Marco Simoncelli and Shoya Tomizawa that are not with us any more. As you get older, you think a lot about such things and I want to dedicate my success to them. I am very happy with what we achieved today, for QMMF, for my crew and for myself. With this podium finish, I want to thank QMMF for giving me the opportunity to race on this level and I also want to thank my technicians for their fantastic work this weekend!”
Xavier Simeon – did not finish
“I am very disappointed. We did a very good warm-up this morning with third position and my feeling with the bike was incredible. I knew it would be very difficult to get a really good result from 18th position on the starting grid, but I was full of confidence, kept it calm in the beginning and really tried to avoid crazy situations. After a few laps, I started to overtake and recovering positions, and I was already in sixth place on lap 12 when I crashed in turn five without knowing why, because I was riding one and a half seconds slower per lap than this morning. After checking the data, it turned out that I was too cautious, entered the corner too slow and opened the throttle a little too early, so the front closed. After that I set my fastest lap with a broken seat, but then I crashed again!”
More, from a press release issued by Remy Gardner’s publicist:
Remy Sails To Sachsenring Points
Remy Gardner scored his second career Moto2 world championship points earlier after a controlled and sensible ride in today’s sodden German GP at the Sachsenring.
Starting 21st, his best ever grid position in the class he made a steady start, gaining a few positions before running comfortably in the points for the majority of the race as those around him fell.
Dropping to 16th with six Laps to go Gardner kept his rhythm to eventually finish a superb 12th at the flag, claiming a career best and 4 valuable points in his first wet Moto2 race, much to the delight of the Tasca Scuderia Racing team.
The result was Remy’s second point scoring ride in three races, justifying the faith shown in him by those who made his return to the GP paddock happen!
Talking after the race Remy stated that the points were a bonus, the plan was to finish and gain valuable wet experience. He went on to cheekily state that if it rains in the future he would be even faster.
The Moto2 series along with MotoGP and Moto3 now head into their summer break giving Remy chance to do a bit of spear fishing as well as returning to IDM Superstock 1000cc duty with MGM Yamaha.
Remy Gardner – 12th: “Qualifying didn’t go as planned, it would have been nicer to have a bit better result but it wasn’t bad in the end. We tried to improve the rear but we couldn’t really make any headway. In the few minutes of the session I got held up a bit by riders that were playing games so we had to be happy with where we ended up. The race was tough today, it was my first time on a Moto2 bike in the wet and whilst I wasn’t super fast our mission was to finish the race and we did that and the points were the cream on top of the cake. Today was more aout getting experience and understanding the bike in the wet and I needed a full race to do that. I wasn’t crazy fast but I was consistent and finishing races in these conditions pays off as we showed today. The whole weekend was good, we gained more confidence but the team is working really well, it’s more experience for us all and I’m sure that the next time it rains for a Moto2 race I will be much quicker. It’s been two months since I had a weekend off so I’m looking forward to going spear fishing. Big thanks once again to the Tasca Scuderia team, see you all after the holidays.”