Round 7 of the MotoGP championship has arrived in Germany for the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring. The weekend has started off with multiple whispers from the rumor mill on where riders will end up for the 2024 season. While some riders may be distracted by the frenzy. There is one man who’s goal is clear. That man is Francesco Bagnaia.
Bagnaia currently leads the champion by 21 points. After a couple of mishaps involving crashes from the lead. Bagnaia has bounced back to lead the MotoGP field. Given that Bagnaia is in contract until 2024 with Ducati. We don’t anticipate his mindset being influenced by the off track gossip. One man who we do think will be affected is Marc Marquez.
The 8 time world champion has yet to score a point in a Grand Prix this year. Marquez has missed races due to injury and late crashes. The latest in Italy last round. With contract rumors flying and a lack of performance in championship points Marquez needs the German Grand Prix to be the turning point for his season. He is contracted with Repsol Honda until 2024. Honda appears to be in support of a contract extension but Marquez may have other plans. Marquez has been verbally frustrated at Honda in 2023. There have also been rumors that connect him to a move to KTM. No new contract have been inked to date.
Marquez has unofficially been dubbed the king of Sachsenring having won a most 8 times here and securing 7 poles and the fastest race lap of all time. His past success suggests he will perform well here.
About the Track
Sachsenring is a 2.28 mile circuit with 10 left hand turns and 3 right hand turns. Car and bike races have been held on closed public roads in the area around the town of Chemnitz, Germany since the 1920s. It was decided in 1990, however, that the five mile course through such a densely populated area was no longer suitable. A new circuit was built five miles west of Chemnitz in 1996. Sachsenring first hosted MotoGP in 1998 and many improvements have taken place since then. Numerous tight corners make it one of the slower tracks on the calendar.
Full German Grand Prix FP1 Results are Available Below