Jorge Martin has solidified his presence in the MotoGP championship contention with a win in both the Sprint and the German Grand Prix this weekend. Martin edged out current championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) in a down to the wire finish separating the riders by only 0.064 seconds. As reported by Reuters Martin stated, “After almost two years fighting for it, finally it arrived. It was a tough race, Pecco (Bagnaia) was pushing so hard. This is only a first step hopefully, we are getting there and closer.”
Although Bagnaia finished behind Martin in both the sprint race and Grand Prix. Bagnaia still retains a 16 point lead over Martin in the championship. Martin’s teammate Johan Zarco continues the recent success for the Prima Pramac Ducati side with another double podium for the team. Zarco is now within 17 points of third place sitter in the championship, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing). With plenty of racing to come the championship race is seemingly wide open as we cross the season midpoint.
The woes continued for Marc Marquez after he suffered his 5th crash on the weekend at Sachsenring. the final crash occurred in turn 7 during warmups and Marquez opted to forgo participating in the Grand Prix after the crash. In a brief interview with DAZN Marquez stated, “After four or five crashes, especially the one this morning, well, I don’t feel ready to race, to do the race. And I decided ‘calm down’… and in Netherlands even more. I don’t feel ready. I have many bumps in my body, especially in my ankle, a fracture [to my hand], I don’t feel ready.”
Full race results and championship standings are below.
For more coverages be sure to visit MotoGP.com
In continuation of his recent surge in form. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) secured the win in the German Grand Prix Sprint Race. Behind in second was champion ship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) and Jack Miller (KTM Racing) in third. After an early exchange of leads between Bagnaia and Miller, Martin was able to set an untouchable pace towards the end of the race. Martin clinched the win by a margin of 2.5 seconds ahead of Bagnaia. The win propelled Martin into second place in the championship standings. Despite not winning the race Bagnaia still retains the riders championship lead with 140 points. He sits ahead of, now second place sitting, Jorge Martin by 21 points. Former second place sitter Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing) finished third and is 27 points behind Bagnaia. Bezzecchi finished seventh in a disappointing result for his championship race.
Full race results and championship standing scan be found below.
Be sure to check out MotoGp.com for more exclusive coverage.
The morning support class sessions in Germany were plagued with rain as practice session kickoff of the MotoGP weekend. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing) tops FP2 with a fastest time of 1m20.271 seconds. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) who came off of a great finish at the Italian Grand Prix ran second fastest with Alex Espargaro running 3rd fastest. Espargaro has reported attending this weekends race activities with micro fractures in his foot. An injury he suffered in Mugello at the last round. Despite two red flags Bezzecchi was able to find the pace in the reduced session time to lead to pack into Saturday.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) cant seem to avoid on track incident. In FP2 Marquez and Johan Zarco collided as Zarco was exiting the pitlane. As reported by Motosport.com, Marquez stated, “I mean, this is a question you need to ask to him because you know that if I’m a guy that does a mistake, I say it’s my mistake. But this time I’m angry because if somebody could have avoided that situation, it was Johann.”
“The guy that is coming out of the pitlane is the guy who needs to watch behind. And if somebody is coming, especially in the last minutes you need to stop in the pit exit. There’s no meaning to stay out of the line. As we see in that corner in the past, even this morning with Aleix Espargaro, with [Fabio] Quartararo, it’s so easy to crash, it’s so easy to lock the front and more when you are pushing in the end of the practice.”
Bezzecchi’s Team Manager Offered his Thoughts
As reported by GPOne.com Gino Borsoi, Pramac team manager, commented harshly on the incident: “Fortunately Zarco is OK, apart from some pain in his lower back. Unfortunately he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and these are accidents that can happen. What I didn’t like, and what I would have expected from a champion like Marquez, was to see him running to the pits to get the bike rather than checking on Johann’s condition. I am saddened by that kind of behaviour, even now that we are really close to each other in the pits he didn’t come to apologize, I didn’t expect that.”
Marquez Continued with his Thoughts on the Incident
“We were super lucky that we both escaped from that crash, but I already heard somebody say ‘ah, Marc is dangerous’. If somebody could have avoided that situation, it was Johann. I was pushing for a hot lap, sorry guys, I crashed.”
“We have had a difficult Friday, even if it started in a good way, but we reached our limit quite soon and we need to keep working on the setup and the bike. Unfortunately, I crashed and Zarco was leaving pitlane. It was very lucky that we both escaped, I went to see Johann after to make sure he was okay. I crashed like many riders in Turn 1, I was pushing for a hot lap, and if there was anyone who could avoid the situation it was Zarco. If it’s my mistake, I always accept it. A complicated day here, tomorrow we keep trying to improve the feeling.”
Full German Grand Prix FP2 Results are Below
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
The MotoGP Italian Grand Prix concluded this morning at Mugello. Francesco Baganaia (Ducati Lenovo) secure yet another win and further extended his championship lead over Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). Bezzecchi was only able to finish P8 which means that with Bagnaia scores max points Bezzecchi is now 21 points behind in the championship compared to the 1 point he was behind at the start of the weekend. It was a great morning for the Prima Pramac Racing team as Jorge Martin and Johan Zarco run P2 and P3 to lock out the podium. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) finished 4th and Brand Binder (KTM Racing) finished 5th. Ducati dominance was prevalent in the race as Ducatis accounted for 4/5 top finishers in Italy.
The Marquez brothers failed to capitalize on their front row starts. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) crashed out of the race on lap 5 after running wide. He was making an attempt to gain position on Luca Marini in the incident. M. Marquez slid out at at the final turn ending his race. Brother Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) carried on for 9 more laps before he too crashed. A. Marquez went down after missing his brake zone. This will be a disappointing result for the pair after starting on the front row. With yet another crash Marc Marquez’s title run appears to be all but over. Additionally, tensions in the Honda camp will raise questions as to whether he will remain with Honda after 2023.
“Today I was riding really well and with some margin, I was feeling comfortable and not stressed. I saw Bagnaia and Martin had escaped so I focused on staying with Marini in that group and trying to achieve my goal of the top six or seven. I had a moment at Turn 10 on the first lap and then again going into the last corner before I fell. Right now we need to keep improving and keep working. Fortunately, I was not injured in the crash today and we have another race next week so it gives us a chance to keep working.”
In his return to MotoGP Enea Bastianini (Ducati lenovo) finished 9th. The finish was a consolation as Bastianini felt he would be far behind in terms of race pace. Pre race he feared his time away would be a major set back. His injury did not appear to be aggravated at all due to his participation in the race.
It was a lackluster day for the Monster Energy Yamaha camp as they continue to have woes with podium competing pace. Franco Morbinelli and Fabio Quartararo and finished P10 and P11.
Full Race Results are Below
For more coverage from the race be sure to visit MotoGP
After an early qualifying Francesco Bagnaia secured pole ahead of Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez in P2 and P3 respectively. The Sprint race occurred later in the afternoon. From the start rain was on the forecast for the Sprint Race. The race was started and the chaos ensued. Into turn 1 Alex Marquez and Brad Binder came together which resulted in Marquez being sent into the gravel. Binder has handed a long lap penalty for his involvement in the incident.
When the rain started the pack began to shuffle as riders were then allowed to swap bikes in the pits for one equipped with rain tires. Despite an early off during a scuffle between Marc Marquez and Jake Miller (KTM Racing) the two riders were able to finish in the top 10 during the Sprint Race. Despite the pressure from behind Bagnaia was able to hold his lead after trading positions with Mrco Bezzecchi for a few laps. Bezzecchi seemingly threw everything he had at Bagnaia given the conditions.
By the end of lap 4 Alex Rins had to retire from the race after crashing. Early reports state that he broke his leg in the incident. Rins underwent surgery shortly after the race. We will report more on the injury in time. Prima Pramac Racing Riders Johan Zarco P4 and Jorge Martin P3 secured two top 5 finished for the team. Bezzecchi’s Mooney VR46 Racing teammate Luca Marini rounded out the top 5.
Top 10 In Sprint Race
1. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team)
2. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) +0.369
3. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) +0.952
4. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) +1.009
5. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) +3.668
6. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) +3.772
7. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) +3.905
8. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) +6.062
9. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) +6.431
10. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) +6.458
Full Sprint Race Results
The MotoGP season is back in action this weekend for the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira are declared fit for the Italian Grand Prix. After being on the injury report after the French Grand Prix all of the riders will be back in action this weekend. Bastianini has not yet raced a full weekend this season due to suffering a back injury in the first Sprint Race of the season in Portimão. As reported by Reuters, Bastianini stated, “After so many weeks off it won’t be easy. In any case, I’m motivated. It’s our home race and I’m aiming to do well.”
Championship leader Bagnaia suffered an ankle injury in the last race. The injury does not appear to be affecting him in terms of on track performance. Bagnaia and Bastinaini have not raced together since the beginning of the Sprint Race in Portimão. Race fitness issues may come into play for Bastianini this weekend. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR25 Racing Team) ran second fastest in FP with Alex Rins (LCR Honda CASTROL) running third. Rins seemed to be in good form in the session.
Woes for Marc Marquez
Fellow Honda Rider and 8 time world Champion Marc Marquez had a lack luster session finishing P8. He stated, “We had a difficult day today, Mugello is always a bit of a tough track for us and I had to use a lot of energy today to get into Q2. This was our target so I am satisfied we were able to achieve it but we need to improve a few points for the next two days. It was a busy day trying things today as well, which should help us to come up with some solutions for tomorrow. The goal for tomorrow is to try and stay inside the top ten, the weather is still looking a bit uncertain so this might offer us some more opportunities.”
The Italian Grand Prix will take place at Mugello. Mugello is a 3.26 mile long course that features 15 turns and a 3744 ft long straight. A fan favorite for top speed. The riders will head in to FP3 and Qualifying tomorrow morning.
Full Italian Grand Prix FP2 Results
Mooney VR46 Racing Team has announced that Luca Marini suffered a right wrist injury during his scuffle with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing) at the French GP. Marquez was uninjured in the incident. It does not appear that the injury will keep Marini out of the Italian Grand Prix in 3 weeks time. The Mooney VR46 team released the following tweet describing the issue.
Luca Marini currently sits 6th in the championship. We speculate that he will not want to let an injury he prevent him from scoring points in Italy. Northern Italy has seen mass flooding recently due to record seasonal rains. We’ve already seen a cancellation of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix for Formula 1. That circuit resides 1 hour north of Mugello. Mugello did not experience the major flooding that is plaguing Emilia Romagna, Bologna. We anticipate that as we move into the summer months the rain will be a non factor in June.
The team reports that Marini injured the trapezius bone in his right wrist. The Italian team stated that Marini will be monitored in an ongoing fashion. They will determine if there are any set backs as we approach the upcoming Italian Grand Prix. The race weekend will take place June 9-11th at Mugello.
Injuries Ahead of Mugello
Marini as well as championship leader Francesco Bagnaia suffered injuries in France. Bagnaia (Ducati) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) were involved in an incident that resulted in Bagnaia breaking his ankle. The team posted an update on his condition stating, “[Bagnaia] was still feeling some pain in his right ankle, after last Sunday’s crash in France, he underwent further checks in Misano, which found a small partial talus bone fracture. This minor injury will not prevent his participation in the next Italian GP,” in a recent tweet update. All in all, we hope to see both riders back on the grid in Italy.
For more information be sure to check out MotoGP.com for video coverage of the events leading up to the Italian Grand Prix.
Controversy was sparked in this week by 2022 MotoGP world champion and current champion leader Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia. Bagnaia stated in an interview that there needs to be a bigger gap between the factory racing tames and independents in the MotoGP championship. He expressed safety concerns as well as concerns with pace when compared to the factory production bikes. His comments were puzzling to the President of the Teams’ Association (IRTA) President Herve Poncharal has responded to the comments from Bagnaia in a French publication Paddock GP:
“What I think about it is that, often on Sunday evening when I go home before going to bed, I have not lived enough MotoGP, so I read everything that is written on all the national and international websites, and I came across an Italian website where there was an interview with Pecco Bagnaia who was talking a little bit about his problem with Maverick Viñales.”
“And then I was reading like that and I was very surprised from the reigning World Champion, from someone who is respectable, I have a lot of respect and admiration for him, and he is always quite calm in his comments, to read an enormous thing, I could even say huge bullshit, because Pecco Bagnaia, like any rider, comes from Moto3, he went through Moto2, he arrived in MotoGP in an Independent Team that you can call private or satellite.”
“You can call it whatever you want, and he was happy to have a high performance bike that allowed him to be noticed. And then, as he progressed in the MotoGP class, he was offered a factory ride, which is kind of the dream ride that every talented rider wants to have.”
Poncharal Continued his Thoughts
“As you have noticed, the first four positions at the French Grand Prix were four Independent teams, and it is fabulous to see that the race for the title is wide open, that there is a point between Bezzecchi who is a young rider, who wins on a private team Ducati bike and who is one point behind Bagnaia on the official bike from the same factory. It’s great for everyone, it’s great for the sport, it’s a great emulation and it allows us, the Independent teams, to convince our partners, that we can call sponsors too, to join us because we tell them that we’re not just here to fill the grid but that we’re also here to perform! We can win races and eventually go for the title.”
Ex-MotoGP and current WSBK rider Danilo Petrucci was called up to MotoGP to replace the injured Enea Bastianini (Ducati). The French Grand Prix this past weekend was the 1000th Grand Prix in MotoGP history.
Petrucci previously described the weekend as “a mission impossible.” However his experience came through for him at the French GP. While he didn’t secure a podium Petrucci showed that he still has what it takes to race at the top level of motorcycle racing. Petrucci finished 11th on grid. Petrucci said, “The race turned out to be very complicated, but I was faster than on Saturday. I was trying to stay with the group in front where Franco Morbidelli was. The track was very difficult; I chose the medium front tire and I think I was the only Ducati with that. Maybe the hard one would have been better, but I’ve never used the tire before so I was a little bit afraid.”
He continued, “It was good, it was good. It was unbelievable, because to come back to MotoGP with this bike – the best bike I’ve ever ridden in my life – on this track where I’ve done some podiums and a win, it was really a gift and I’m very proud. I can only thank Ducati for this great opportunity.”
We don’t know how long Petrucci will fill in for the injured Enea Bastianini. We will report back when there is a more clear return date for Bastianini on record.
For more information on developing stories on the MotoGP grid check out MotoGP.com