German MotoGP, Sachsenring - Free Practice (4) Results
Zarco edges out Quartararo and Oliveira during final practice for the 2021 German MotoGP at Sachsenring.
The Pramac Ducati rider spent much of the session on old tyres before going fastest on a new medium rear in the closing stages. However, title rival Quartararo - currently 14 points ahead - remained on used tyres throughout.
Vinales, who will have to take part in Qualifying 1 after an FP3 fall, pulled straight back into the pits at the start of the session with some kind of problem on his Monster Yamaha, the unhappy Spaniard gesturing at a total lack of rear grip.
Miller then had a technical issue on his Ducati halfway through the session, pulling off track and being towed back to the pits before returning on his spare bike. The Australian completed a top four covered by just 0.161s.
Alex Marquez fell in the final ten minutes, at Turn 1.
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.
The #93 is also finally using the new 2021 Honda fairing upgrade this weekend, a Yamaha style 'loop'.
Rins is returning to action for Suzuki after missing Barcelona due to a fractured wrist in a bicycle accident.
Qualifying 1, for those outside the top ten after third free practice, including both Suzuki riders plus Morbidelli and Vinales, will now get underway.
| German MotoGP, Sachsenring - Free Practice (4) Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | 1'21.397s | 14/17 | 299k |
| 2 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.083s | 4/21 | 292k |
| 3 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.157s | 4/18 | 296k |
| 4 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.161s | 6/15 | 298k |
| 5 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.264s | 11/15 | 295k |
| 6 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.289s | 9/17 | 293k |
| 7 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.370s | 3/15 | 294k |
| 8 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.515s | 10/14 | 296k |
| 9 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.527s | 5/16 | 293k |
| 10 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.650s | 11/15 | 286k |
| 11 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.673s | 12/16 | 298k |
| 12 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.676s | 11/14 | 293k |
| 13 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.788s | 5/18 | 290k |
| 14 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.955s | 14/16 | 291k |
| 15 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +1.004s | 5/14 | 292k |
| 16 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.010s | 4/16 | 293k |
| 17 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +1.039s | 4/11 | 289k |
| 18 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +1.058s | 7/15 | 299k |
| 19 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.109s | 12/16 | 295k |
| 20 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.126s | 3/14 | 292k |
| 21 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +1.220s | 6/17 | 297k |
| 22 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.339s | 12/16 | 293k |
* Rookie
Fastest practice time:
Fabio Quartararo FRA Yamaha 1m 20.348s
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)
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
