This weekend, the MotoGP players had a date at Sachsenring (Germany) for the 9ᵉ MotoGP Grand Prix of the season. Expectations, surprises at the finish... and which one!
Sachsenring sprint race : poleman responds, Oliveira surprise of the weekend ?
Jorge Martin, in the role of poleman this weekend, assumed his status for a long time. Even if the sprint race foreshadowed a duel with Pecco Bagnaia. The Italian rider, third at the finish, had started from the 2ᵉ row, then taking advantage of the holeshot device on his GP24 to climb into the lead. This remains a 13ᵉ sprint race victory for Jorge Martin, who at this point in the weekend has a 15-point lead over Bagnaia in the championship.
Among the headliners, Oliveira proves to be a surprising 2ᵉ in the sprint race. Finally, Marc Marquez wins his duel for 6ᵉ place, against Vinales, on the wire.
Sachsenring 2024 MotoGP sprint race results :
Sachsenring Grand Prix: the GP24s take the lead
On the same lap (29ᵉ, out of 30) that Martin committed the irreparable and was no longer championship leader, Marc attacked his brother to pocket second place. By force of circumstance (a 13ᵉ grid position), the seven-time MotoGP world champion had to be aggressive again on Sunday.
His attitude suggests that he will not be satisfied with an outsider's position all year long. What's more, in a season in which every driver seems likely to have his moment of glory. It won't be long now...
Bagnaia puts the pressure on Martin... who cracks !
With the Marquez brothers on the podium, the outcome was such that it would put Pecco Bagnaia's success, his fourth in a row, on the back burner! This Grand Prix at the Sachsenring circuit marked his 200ᵉ participation in a MotoGP race. For the occasion, the two-time title-holder seemed in control of his race: "Sooner or later, one of us was going to make a mistake [...] He crashed, but we had an incredible pace."
Bagnaia takes the lead under the chequered flag waved by American actor Keanu Reeves.
The Marquez siblings, as if in a dream
Nothing foreshadowed such an outcome... Weakened, the eldest Marquez started the GP in P13, with a broken finger and several bruised ribs. This time, it was the most competent of the siblings who was at fault. Despite this, Marc made a fantastic comeback (from P13 to P2) that could have been cut short on the 22ndᵉ lap of the race after contact with Mordbidelli (who even triggered his airbag), during a risky overtake from the inside.
In the end, four laps later, he shared the podium in the premier class with his brother. Rare, but not unheard of: the Marquez brothers repeat the feat of the Aoki brothers - 27 years apart. A GP that gave rise to some fine images and statements:
Marc Marquez, second in the German Grand Prix
This moment on the podium with my brother is worth all the victories in the world !
Alex's response: "I've got the best brother in the world"...
Sachsenring Motorcycle Grand Prix 2024 race results
Bagnaia got off to an excellent start in the Sprint race the day before, but this Sunday saw three GP24s in first place. Miguel Oliveira was bluff this weekend, while Morbidelli paid for his aggressive start. Pedro Acosta is gradually falling into line after a thundering start. Or rather, the prodigy is going through a relative digestion phase. Nevertheless, he remains the leading KTM rider.
Behind, here's what it looks like:
- Raul Fernandez concludes the top 10 after starting from 3ᵉ position.
- The day could have ended much earlier for Vinales after a straightaway in the gravel, before narrowly making up for it.
- Luca Marini, 15ᵉ, scores his first point of the season.
- Johann Zarco, 17ᵉ, is not the first Honda rider.
Quartararo the centenarian
The French prodigy, a title we owe to his 2021 coronation, took his place on the grid for his 100ᵉ career MotoGP race. 11ᵉ to the finish, he finished the same distance as in the sprint race despite twice as many laps. Proof that he expected much worse today, this result remains for him "the best we can achieve".
In Axel Rins' absence, teammate Rémi Gardner finished 20ᵉ.
MotoGP 2024 rider standings after the German GP (07/07/2024)
Was the suit too big for Martin? It's hard to say, especially as he's not the first to make mistakes this season, like his main rival (at Portimao and Barcelona) in particular. Bagnaia was therefore the weekend's big winner.
MotoGP 2024 race calendar
Between now and Silverstone, riders and enthusiasts alike will have to take a step back. Except for Johann Zarco, who will devote his energies to the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race on July 21. Finally, the organization is still looking for an alternative to the Kazakhstan GP in September. The Qatar route is closing...
1 Qatar Grand Prix (Losail circuit), March 10. Winner: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati).
2 Portuguese Grand Prix (Circuit Internacional do Algarve), March 24. Winner: Jorge Martín (Ducati). Argentine Grand Prix (Termas de Río Hondo), April 7.3 Grand Prix of the Americas (Circuit des Amériques), April 14. Winner: Maverick Viñales (Aprilia)
4 Spanish Grand Prix (Circuit de Jerez), April 28. Winner: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati)
5 French Grand Prix (Le Mans Bugatti circuit), May 12. Winner: Jorge Martin (Ducati)
6 Catalan Grand Prix (Barcelona-Catalunya circuit), May 26. Winner: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati)
7 Italian Grand Prix (Mugello circuit), June 2. Winner: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) Kazakhstan Grand Prix (Sokol International Racetrack), June 16. REPORT 8 Dutch Grand Prix (TT circuit Assen), June 30. Winner: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati)
9 German Grand Prix (Sachsenring circuit), July 7. Winner: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati)
10 British Grand Prix (Silverstone circuit), August 4.
11 Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg circuit), August 18.
12 Aragon Grand Prix (Motorland Aragon circuit), September 1.
13 San Marino Grand Prix (Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli), September 8. Indian Grand Prix (Buddh International Circuit), September 22. CANCELLATION14 Kazakhstan Grand Prix (Sokol International Racetrack), September 22 ?
15 Indonesian Grand Prix (Mandalika International Street circuit), September 29.
16 Japanese Grand Prix (Twin Ring Motegi circuit), October 6.
17 Australian Grand Prix (Phillip Island Circuit), October 20.
18 Thai Grand Prix (Chang International circuit), October 27.
19 Malaysian Grand Prix (Sepang International circuit), November 3.
20 Valencia Grand Prix (Ricardo Tormo circuit), November 17.
