Repsol Honda Team look forward to season’s halfway mark at Sachsenring
The ninth round of the MotoGP World Championship, scheduled for this weekend at the Sachsenring circuit, marks the midway point in the 2016 season, with Marc Marquez leading the Championship classification and teammate Dani Pedrosa lying in fourth place.
The Sachsenring is one of the slower tracks on the calendar, and also the shortest at just 3.67km (2.28 miles), but it has often played host to hard-fought, close races. The actual circuit, a mix of 10 left turns and just three rights, has hosted the German GP since 1998, and it has proven to be one of the most successful rounds for the Repsol Honda Team and its riders.
Marc has won the last six consecutive years in Germany (2015, 2014 and 2013 in MotoGP, 2012 and 2011 in Moto2, and 2010 in125cc), meaning that every time he has made the podium at the Sachsenring, he finished first. Dani can also claim six victories (four in MotoGP in 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2007, and two in 250cc in 2005 and 2004), among a total of nine podium visits.
Marc Marquez
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDING: 1ST – 145 POINTS
“We’re going to the German GP aiming for a podium position and of course possibly to fight for the win. The Sachsenring is normally a very good track for me that I like very much, maybe because it has so many left-hand corners, a bit like a dirt track! On the other hand, it’s another one on the calendar where the weather has sometimes played a crucial role in the past, so we’ll see how it goes there. We’ve learned from the past and we’re approaching this season race by race, trying to be ready and make the most of what we have and what the situation requires. In any case I’m happy we’ll be back in action shortly and I’ll do my best to get another positive result before the summer break.”
Marc Marquez Statistics
Date of Birth17/02/1993
BirthplaceLleida, (Catalonia) – Spain
Height168 cm
Weight59 kg
HobbiesMountain Biking, Video games
Racing Number93
First Race1998 “Enduro per nens”
Grand Prix Debut2008 125cc Portugal GP (KTM 125 FRR)
GPs raced140
GP pole positions61 (14 in 125cc, 14 in 250cc, 33 in MotoGP)
Total GP podiums85 (14 x 125cc, 25 x Moto2, 46 x MotoGP)
Total GP wins52 (10 x 125cc, 16 x Moto2, 26 x MotoGP)
First GP Win2010 125cc Italian GP (Derbi RSA 125)
World titles4 (1 x 125cc – 2010, 1 x Moto2 – 2012, 2 x MotoGP – 2013, 2014)
Dani Pedrosa
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDING: 4TH – 86 POINTS
“I like the Sachsenring very much; it’s definitely one of my favourite tracks on the calendar. I have very good memories there, and together with my team, we’ll try to make the best use of what we’ve learned from the last races. It was a pity that we didn’t get a better result in Assen, where our strategy was perfect for the first part of the race, but the positive is that we know we’ve worked well in demanding conditions. We’ll try to do the same in Germany.”
Dani Pedrosa Statistics
Date of Birth29/09/1985
BirthplaceSabadell, (Catalonia) – Spain
Height160 cm
Weight51kg
HobbiesCycling, Motocross, Windsurfing, Cinema
Racing number26
First race1997 Pocket bike race
Grand Prix debut2001. 125cc Japanese GP, Suzuka – (Honda RS125R)
GPs raced252
GP pole positions46 (9 in 125cc, 9 in 250cc, 28 in MotoGP)
Total GP podiums143 (17 x 125cc, 24 x 250cc, 102 x MotoGP)
Total GP wins51 (8 x 125cc, 15 x 250cc, 28 x MotoGP)
First GP win2002. 125cc Dutch GP, Assen – (Honda RS125R)
World titles3 (1 x 125cc – 2003, 2 x 250cc – 2004, 2005)