German MotoGP, Sachsenring - Free Practice (2) Results

Free Practice (2) results from the German MotoGP at Sachsenring, round 8 of the 2021 world championship.
Miguel Oliveira, German MotoGP, 18 June 2021
Miguel Oliveira, German MotoGP, 18 June 2021
© Gold and Goose

Barcelona winner Oliveira continues the momentum by leading Friday practice for the German MotoGP at Sachsenring.

Oliveira soon beat Marc Marquez's FP1 time, then kept his KTM fastest until Marquez responded at the midway stage of the 45-minutes.

New-tyre time attacks in the closing minutes saw the timesheet shuffled, Oliveira ultimately rising back to the top from title leader Quartararo, while Marquez bucked the trend by electing to remain on used tyres and dropped outside the top ten (+0.6s).

Sachsenring, the shortest and slowest circuit for top speed in the world championship, was not part of last year's Covid calendar, which also meant Marc Marquez's record of winning every race at the circuit since he joined the MotoGP class in 2013 remained intact. Add in three victories in the 125cc/Moto2 classes and the Spaniard is unbeaten at the track since 2009!

Marquez faces a challenge to continue that run this weekend given his best of seventh place since his return from injury and Honda being without a podium this season - but while still struggling for strength in his right arm and corresponding shoulder area, Marquez has far less trouble with left-hand corners, which dominate the anti-clockwise German track and says he will not have physical limitations this weekend.

The #93 is also finally using his 2021 Honda fairing upgrade this weekend, a Yamaha style 'loop'. Team-mate Pol Espargaro fell for the second time today, while trying the new aero package in FP2, but recovered for fifth and top Honda.

Rossi and younger brother Marini also fell during the afternoon.

Rins is returning to action for Suzuki after missing Barcelona due to a fractured wrist in a bicycle accident, while texting. The Suzuki rider made a strong return in fourth.

German MotoGP, Sachsenring - Free Practice (2) Results
Pos RiderNatTeamTime/DiffLapMax
1^11Miguel OliveiraPORRed Bull KTM (RC16)1'20.690s21/23298k
2=Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.220s21/22293k
3^7Maverick ViñalesSPAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.333s21/22293k
4^3Alex RinsSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.387s22/23294k
5˅1Pol EspargaroSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.418s19/20297k
6˅3Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)+0.441s21/24292k
7˅2Aleix EspargaroSPAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)+0.453s19/20296k
8=Johann ZarcoFRAPramac Ducati (GP21)+0.491s20/20298k
9˅3Jack MillerAUSDucati Team (GP21)+0.502s19/22298k
10^4Franco MorbidelliITAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.538s18/18290k
11^7Danilo PetrucciITAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+0.592s21/22293k
12˅11Marc MarquezSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.601s16/26297k
13^3Alex MarquezSPALCR Honda (RC213V)+0.603s24/25297k
14^5Jorge MartinSPAPramac Ducati (GP21)*+0.708s22/22298k
15^7Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)+0.736s21/23299k
16˅7Joan MirSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.763s22/23296k
17^4Iker LecuonaSPAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+0.878s16/19295k
18˅5Luca MariniITASky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)*+0.905s15/18293k
19˅4Enea BastianiniITAAvintia Ducati (GP19)*+1.012s18/20295k
20˅3Lorenzo SavadoriITAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)*+1.188s22/22290k
21˅1Valentino RossiITAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.278s21/24291k
22˅11Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Team (GP21)+1.521s8/24299k

Key:
^X Rider is X positions higher than FP1.
= Rider is same position as FP1.
˅X Rider is X positions lower than FP1.

* Rookie
Official Sachsenring MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda 1m 20.115s (2019)
Fastest race lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda 1m 21.228s (2019)

 
By Peter McLaren
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