MotoGP Rider Ratings: We gave three 10/10s, but did Quartararo make the cut?

Fabio Quartararo - 10

(Qualified 2nd, finished 1st) 

After starting the weekend playing catch-up to Ducati and Aprilia, as was the case in Catalunya, Quartararo once again proved why he’s the best rider in the world. After getting the job done on Bagnaia heading into turn one, Quartararo forced the Italian into a mistake by setting a pace no other rider could match. And although there was pressure from Zarco who threatened to close the gap, the 22 year-old responded every time to take a second consecutive win, his third of the season. 

Johann Zarco - 9

(Qualified 3rd, finished 2nd) 

The second best Ducati rider in the championship heading into today’s German MotoGP, Zarco has now taken over as the leading Bologna bullet after another superb ride. Although he failed to match Quartararo, Zarco is continuing to show impressive consistency, the like of which a lot of other Ducati riders after struggling to demonstrate. With no threat from behind, Zarco took a comfortable P2, his joint-best result of the season. 

Jack Miller - 10

(Qualified 6th, finished 3rd)

Despite holding on to sixth place in qualifying, Jack Miller was hit with a long-lap penalty prior to the German MotoGP getting underway due to crashing under yellow flag conditions in FP4. Still, the unrelenting pace shown by Miller was enough to not only haul himself into the podium fight late on, but instead claim a much deserved third place finish. 

Aleix Espargaro - 8

(Qualified 4th, finished 4th) 

Another solid weekend, Espargaro was a model of consistency throughout the race as he proved both quick and almost impossible to overtake. In fact, with Miller failing to get ahead based on his own attempted overtakes, only a mistake looked like costing Espargaro a podium, which is exactly what happened with three laps to go. Espargaro ran wide at turn one which allowed Miller to swoop past the Aprilia. 

Luca Marini - 10

(Qualified 7th, finished 5th) 

Arguably the best performance of his career in MotoGP, Marini showed stunning race pace towards the end that was even faster than Quartararo. After getting through on the likes of Fabio Di Giannantonio, Jorge Martin and Miguel Oliveira, Marini broke clear on his way to rapidly catching Espargaro and Miller, although an attempt at claiming a first premier class podium was a stretch too far. 

Jorge Martin - 8

(Qualified 8th, finished 6th)

After securing a podium in Catalunya, Martin continued his return to form by claiming a solid sixth place finish. The Prima Pramac Ducati rider was unable to match team-mate Zarco when it counted, which is why a lower grade was handed out to the Spaniard. It must be said that Martin was also in his first race back since undergoing right hand surgery.  

Brad Binder - 8

(Qualified 15th, finished 7th)

If only KTM could qualify better - words Binder must be sick of hearing but also saying. After failing to make it into Q2, Binder was again one of the better performers during the race as he climbed up to 7th, 15 seconds off the victory. 

Fabio Di Giannantonio - 8

(Qualified 5th, finished 8th) 

Continuing his stunning run of form, Di Giannantonio’s fifth place in qualifying was the third consecutive race weekend where he was no lower than the front two rows. In the race Di Giannantonio was again rock-solid as tyre preservation took a step forward on his way to finishing as the top rookie.  

Miguel Oliveira - 7

(Qualified 14th, finished 9th)

While it was a racing incident, early contact with Joan Mir led to the Spaniard crashing out of the race which is why Oliveira’s grade is slightly lower than it could have been. Oliveira showed strong pace at times, but after finishing second at Sachsenring last season and being beaten by Binder, it’s a Sunday that the Portuguese rider won’t remember fondly.  

Enea Bastianini - 7

(Qualified 17th, finished 10th)

In desperate need of finishing after back-to-back DNF’s in Mugello and Catalunya, Bastianini made good progress in the race to finish tenth, a result he had to achieve without his crew chief who fell victim to a positive COVID-19 test. 

Marco Bezzecchi - 7

(Qualified 11th, finished 11th)

Not quite able to match the level of performance from Di Giannantonio, Bezzecchi had a relatively quiet Sunday at the German MotoGP. Still, it’s valuable points in the race for rookie of the year honours.

Raul Fernandez - 7

(Qualified 22nd, finished 12th)

Helped by several riders crashing or retiring from the race, we can’t take anything away from Fernandez who managed to show impressive speed on what was his best showing since joining MotoGP. 

Franco Morbidelli - 4

(Qualified 20th, finished 13th)

The story of his season, Morbidelli had very little pace all weekend as he secured a disappointing 13th place finish. Had the Italian not had a contract already in his pocket for 2023, then staying with the team would likely have been very, very difficult.

Andrea Dovizioso - 4

(Qualified 19th, finished 14th)

Like Morbidelli, a lack of pace and continued struggles to ride the M1 in the way Quartararo does are leading Dovizioso to have his worst season in MotoGP. The Italian was lucky to score points given most of the non-finishers were nearly all ahead of him at the time of encountering their issues.

Remy Gardner - 5

(Qualified 21st, finished 15th)

After showing signs of form in Catalunya, Sachsenring was another tough outing for Gardner despite picking up a point. The Australian was over four seconds behind team-mate Fernandez. 

Stefan Bradl - 4

(Qualified 18th, finished 16th)

On a day where three out of four Hondas failed to finish, Stefan Bradl had a bizarre race as he was way off the pace. In fact, the German rider was setting times similar to that of Moto2 machines. 

Maverick Vinales - 7

(Qualified 9th, DNF)

What was turning out to be his best race for Aprilia, Vinales unfortunately suffered a mechanical issue when his ride-height device got stuck, therefore pushing him wide at turn seven before needing to retire. The former Yamaha rider was fourth at the time of his problem.  

Takaaki Nakagami - 3

(Qualified 10th, DNF)

A second crash in as many races for Nakagami as the LCR Honda rider suffered a fast fall at turn eight. 

Joan Mir - 5

(Qualified 12th, DNF) 

With Mir on solo duty for Suzuki as Alex Rins decided to withdraw after FP3 due to pain in his left wrist proving too much to overcome, expectation to bring home a good result would have been high, however, Mir’s effort to do so was cut-short early on as contact with Oliveira heading into turn one pushed the 2020 world champion slightly wide before losing the front. 

Pol Espargaro - 4

(Qualified 13th, DNF) 

Struggling for pace and in pain following his double FP1 crash, Espargaro was seen returning to pit lane around mid-race distance as his fitness issues spelled the end of a disappointing day for Honda.

Alex Marquez - 4

(Qualified 16th, DNF) 

Like Vinales, Marquez suffered a ride-height device shortly after Nakagami crashed, making it a German Grand Prix to forget for LCR. 

Darryn Binder - 3

(Qualified 23rd, DNF) 

A crash on lap four resulted in the South African being unable to continue. His DNF was just the second of his rookie season. 

Francesco Bagnaia - 3

(Qualified 1st, DNF)

The new lap record holder around Sachsenring (FP3), pole sitter at the German circuit for the first time in his career, Bagnaia’s dream weekend soon became a nightmare. The start to the Grand Prix was good although not spectacular, but after losing the lead, Bagnaia was visibly in a rush to get back ahead of Quartararo as fears of the Yamaha rider pulling away were clear to see. But in trying to do so, Bagnaia was forced into a mistake as he fell at turn one, and with it has likely seen any hope of winning the title go up in flames.