Cooler temperatures, cloudy skies and a stiff wind made for tricky conditions at the Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, round nine of the 2024 MotoGP World Championship.
Marc Marquez, undefeated at the circuit in MotoGP Grand Prix competition, struggled as much on the Gresini Ducati as he did last year on the Repsol Honda. Fast from the beginning, Marquez crashed twice, including a nasty highside, and will have to advance through Qualifying One to make it to the front rows of the grid. Marquez suffered a fractured finger on his right hand, but he says the bruising on his rib cage is a bigger concern.
On the other side of the Gresini garage, Alex Marquez, a new two-year contract in his pocket, quietly put in a solid day’s work and finished the day fourth. Inflatable barriers abound at the Sachsenring, where only the relatively low speeds for most of a lap keep the circuit suitable for MotoGP machines.
“It’s hard to use the power here,” said Remy Gardner, the Yamaha Superbike World Championship rider subbing for injured factory Yamaha MotoGP rider Alex Rins.
When Aprilia factory rider Aleix Espargaro withdrew from the event on Friday morning, unable to ride due to injuries suffered at Assen, Aprilia technicians made a beeline to the Trackhouse Racing garage, where Miguel Oliveira rides a factory-spec 2024 RS-GP. With their assistance, Oliveira had his best Friday in a very, very long time, finishing third-quickest. Oliveira says he was fast at the predominantly left-hand Sachsenring because, in part, he doesn’t have to turn right while braking. Oliveira says his machine pushes the front under trail braking when he tries to use his foot to brake while leaned to the right. He says the team has not yet been able to fit a thumb brake similar to the one factory rider Maverick Vinales uses, which he believes will help.
American Joe Roberts returned from a broken collarbone and ended the day 17th but barely a second back from the leaders in Moto2.
MotoGP Championship leader Jorge Martin, who was second on Friday, said a combination of temperature and wind made Turn 11, which caught out Fabio Di Giannantonio as well as Marc Marquez, particularly tricky. It is one of the few right-hand corners on the circuit, it is fast, and it leads onto the steep downhill plunge into Turn 12.
“It is not a nice place to crash,” said Martin, who tried the hard front tire but said it was marginal in the conditions.
Fabio Di Giannontonio walked away from a high-speed off in Turn 11, went to the medical center and was cleared to ride.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Viñales escapes Martin and Oliveira, Marquez faces Q1 after crash
Aprilia top Day 1 as #MM93 suffers a tougher day at the office and Bagnaia secures P5
Friday, 05 July 2024
Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) ripped up the recent form book at the Sachsenring on Friday, putting Aprilia on top and by a sizeable 0.340 as he smashed the lap record. 2023 winner Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) was the first on the chase after showing serious speed all day, but he had another Aprilia for company as Trackhouse Racing’s Miguel Oliveira made it two Noale machines in the top three, just 0.022 off Martin.
For many a favourite on the way in, it was a tougher opening day for Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) as the #93 had two crashes, the second of which was a big highside. After a medical check, he has been declared fit.
It was a dramatic first part to the vital Practice session in the afternoon, with Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) crashing in the opening stages, losing the front at the fast Turn 11, rider ok. Then, Marc Marquez suffered a highside there with 52 minutes left on the clock, with the Gresini rider initially heading back to the truck rather than the medical centre. Later, the #93 did go for a check and was declared fit.
Not long after that, more drama, this time at Turn 1. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) crashed and damaged the air fence – bringing out the red flag – and he headed straight to the medical centre. But once again, rider ok and passed fit, and the #49 even headed back out and managed to improve his lap.
Once the session resumed, Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) also crashed at Turn 1, riders ok, but the pace would heat up with time attacks starting in the last 20 minutes – and the lap record was destroyed. Marquez, who didn’t head back out, found his name pipped further and further down the order before it was outside the top ten, putting him in Q1.
Behind Viñales’ stunning 1:19.622 as he unleashed a full Batmav Friday, Martin had an impressive day at the office to stake his claim as favourite of the top three in the title fight. Oliveira impressed after a very tough Assen to come out swinging, taking third and at a track he’s taken a premier class podium at previously.
Fourth place was taken by Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who showed strong pace throughout with over 30 laps set in the hour-long Practice to back up a top three position on Friday in Assen, and on the heels of his new two-year contract.
Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), meanwhile, completed a quiet day at the office but a good one, taking P5 just ahead of teammate Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). The ‘Beast’ had a late crash at Turn 11, but rider ok if a little bruised.
Prima Pramac Racing’s Franco Morbidelli found time in the afternoon to finish P7, ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) who had a fast but at times adventurous Friday. The rookie sensation crashed in FP1 and then again in Practice but moves through to Q2 in eighth. Sunday is the last chance he has to beat Marquez’ record of youngest premier class winner.
Diggia takes P9 despite his tumble too, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder completing the top ten as the final rider moving straight through to Q2. The South African was an infinitesimal 0.001 ahead of teammate Jack Miller. Miller heads Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing), behind whom sits Marc Marquez on the timesheets. They head for Q1 alongside the likes of Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™). Check out the full results from the day below.
Saturday will certainly be an intriguing one, with Aprilia taking top Friday honours at a track Ducati have come to dominate, standout performances making waves, a new lap record set. The last time Viñales pulled out that kind of gap on the field, it turned into an ominous Saturday AND Sunday for the rest – at the equally anti-clockwise Circuit of the Americas.
Tune in for more as Batmav vs Supermen returns on Saturday..
FP2: 10:10 (UTC +2)
Q1: 10:50
Q2: 11.15
Tissot Sprint: 15:00
More from Friday at the Sachsenring
Two notable moments later in the day were sizeable crashes, one for Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and one for the as-yet undefeated King of the Ring, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), in his second off of the day. Both riders had medical check ups and both were declared fit, but only one heads straight for Q2 and it’s the #49 of Diggia.
Aleix Espargaro withdraws from the German GP
The day began with confirmation from Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) that he would not compete in the German GP, with the #41 withdrawing to continue his recovery from his crash in the Tissot Sprint at Assen: READ MORE.
Chantra claims dominant Friday P1 in Germany
Friday’s Moto2™ pacesetter was Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) as the Thai rider heads into Saturday over three tenths clear of the chasing pack. Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Polarcube Aspar Team) ended Day 1 0.351s adrift of Chantra’s 1:22.698, with Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors SpeedUp) fronting the Boscoscoro charge in P3.
– MT Helmets – MSI teammates Sergio Garcia and Ai Ogura are P7 and P8 respectively at the end of play on Friday, with the top two in the title race both setting a 1:23.267.
– After fracturing his right collarbone seven days ago in Assen, Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) returned to action and ended Friday in P17, just over a second from Chantra’s time. The American will be hunting for a top 14 spot on Saturday morning.
Enjoy Moto2™ Practice at 09:25, with qualifying going green at 13:45.
Nepa fastest as Alonso leaves it late after a Turn 11 crash
Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) topped the Moto3™ times on Friday at the Sachsenring as the Italian put together a 1:25.283 to finish 0.031s ahead of Dutch TT winner Ivan Ortola (MT Helmet – MSI). David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) bagged P3 on Day 1 but the Colombian had to leave it late to land a competitive time following a fast crash at Turn 11. The World Championship leader will be aiming to have a less dramatic session on Saturday morning.
-Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) pocketed a P4 to signal a solid day at the office for Alonso’s chief Championship chaser.
-Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) sits P11 heading into Saturday morning’s final Practice session, but the Spaniard is less than half a second away from Nepa’s pace.
Tune into Moto3™ Practice 2 at 08:40 local time (UTC +2) before the lightweight class go qualifying at 12:50.
