Rennie Scaysbrook | June 20, 2021
2021 German MotoGP News—Sunday
Doohan Conversation keeps Marquez going
Soon after one of his greatest triumphs, Marc Marquez revealed a prior conversation with Mick Doohan helped him to maintain focus through the most difficult moments. The pair spoke at length over the phone after a meeting at the Italian Grand Prix.
And Doohan relayed his experiences of recovering from a botched surgery after breaking his right leg at the 1992 Dutch TT. The Australian heroically returned at the end of that season, and rode through the next season when far from fully fit.
Marquez with Doohan at the Sachsenring in 2019. The Aussie legend is credited with giving the Spaniard some extra motivation to overcome his injuries.
“I had a phone call with Mick Doohan because I met him at Mugello and I know that he had a similar situation in ’92 and ’93,” said Marquez. “I was thirty minutes on a phone call with him. I was listening (and) he was just speaking. He was explaining his situation, but it was like he was explaining my situation. He had exactly the same problems.
“(Like) You don’t understand the bike. You are not riding like you want, stupid mistakes, stupid crash, some races you will be fast, some practices you will be slow and you don’t know why. All the problems I’ve had this year is what he had in the past. So this conversation with Mick helped me a lot to keep pushing.”
Vinales still searching
After an exasperating weekend, in which he qualified 21st, second from last and finished 17th and at the back of the field, Maverick Vinales vented his frustration on Sunday evening, claiming his sole job in the factory Yamaha team “is to collect data.” The Catalan switched crew chiefs ahead of his home Grand Prix in Barcelona, with Estaban Garcia making way for Silvano Galbusera, formerly in Valentino Rossi’s corner in a bid for Vinales to recapture his clinical edge.
Maverick Vinales hit rock bottom at the Sachsenring.
But this was a new low. After, he complained his team have only catered for Fabio Quartararo’s demands, rather than his own. “Each rider has to take his set-up. It can’t be that I’ve been using my rival’s set-up for two years. Each rider has his style, and every day they are teaching me to ride: take the brake, let go of the brake. He turns on the gas, turns off the gas. I have to be patient. I don’t want to use Fabio’s set-up because I don’t ride like him, and that doesn’t work for me. I want them to make a motorcycle for me. I don’t want to be using the set-up of other riders every day.”
Aprilia close—but not close enough
Soon after securing Aprilia’s first front row start in the premier class since 2000, Aleix Espargaro was bullish. “We are showing everybody that Aprilia is getting a serious bike, improving, getting closer to the top guys in every single circuit,” he said. The RS-GP’s braking stability was a facet that helped it stand out. “The stability is the highest, so especially in the second half of the track I feel that I’m competitive.”
Espargaro keeps pushing but there’s still a missing ingredient in the RS-GP package.
A podium seemed a realistic possibility, especially as he held second for the first nine laps. But issues with rear traction led to him falling backwards, eventually finishing seventh. “The thing is not just to have a strong engine but also to put the power on the ground. The other bikes have like a cruise control we don’t have on the electronics mid-corner and just disappear turning and I’m fighting against the high side every single corner.”
Sunday
MotoGP
In what will go down as one of the best days in Marc Marquez’s life, the former eight-time World Champion returned to the winner’s circle during the 2021 German MotoGP. Repsol Honda’s Marquez took the win after sustained pressure from Red Bull KTM’s Miguel Oliveira finally faded in the closing laps, his victory coming 581 days since his last win due to a near career-ending arm injury suffered at the 2020 Spanish MotoGP at Jerez.
Marc Marquez pushed his way to the front by the end of the first lap, and despite losing it again briefly when Aleix Espargaro (41) repassed him on lap two, he would sustain the pressure from Oliveira to take a famous victory.
Marquez’s win was also his eighth-consecutive win at the Sachsenring. He joins all-time championship record holder Giacomo Agostini as the only rider to have achieved eight straight wins at a given circuit.
Third behind Marquez and Oliveira was championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha), the Frenchman getting the better of a late-charging Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) in fourth with Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati) mugging his teammate Jack Miller on the last lap to take fifth after earlier being down as low as 15th.
Rounding out the top 10 was Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro in seventh, who earlier took the lead off the start into turn one, holding Marquez at bay for the majority of the first lap. Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) was a disappointed eighth from Suzuki’s Joan Mir and the second Repsol Honda of Pol Espargaro.
581 days after his last triumph, Marc Marquez was back in the winner’s circle.
The race was the worst in the career of Maverick Vinales. The Spaniard had always finished inside the points in his MotoGP career (of the races he didn’t crash out in), but the German race saw the one-time winner from 2021 finish in 19th and last, right behind the Petronas Yamaha of Franco Morbidelli.
In the championship, Quartararo extends his lead over Zarco to 22 points, 131-109. Miller sits third on 100. The next round of the championship is at Assen in Holland in seven days’ time.
2021 German MotoGP Results—Race
| 1 |
Marc Marquez |
(Hon) |
41:07.243 |
| 2 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+ 1.610 |
| 3 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 6.772 |
| 4 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 7.922 |
| 5 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 8.591 |
| 6 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 9.086 |
| 7 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 9.371 |
| 8 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 11.439 |
| 9 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 11.625 |
| 10 |
Pol Espargaro |
(Hon) |
+ 14.769 |
Moto2
The Moto2 World Championship encounter at the Sachsenring was another intriguing spectacle as both Red Bull KTM Ajo machines of Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez were once again the pre-race favorites for the 200th Moto2 race since the class was introduced in 2010. With the dominant pairing storming away and instantly dropping the pace into the 1:23s, it would take a mistake from one of them for the others to have a look-in. In the end, it was Raul Fernandez who cracked under pressure at turn three on lap four, leaving Remy Gardner to clear off at the front to take a third consecutive victory – the first Australian to do this in the intermediate class – ahead of Aron Canet (Aspar Team Moto2) and Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46).
Gardner’s win was the most dominant of his career.
American Cameron Beaubier came home an encouraging 10th on the American Racing Kalex while compatriot Joe Roberts (Italtrans Kalex) crashed out on the final lap while lying 11th.
2021 German Moto2 Results—Race
| 1 |
Remy Gardner |
(KTM) |
39:39.191 |
| 2 |
Aron Canet |
(Bos) |
+ 6.158 |
| 3 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Kal) |
+ 7.030 |
| 4 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Kal) |
+ 8.145 |
| 5 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 9.888 |
| 6 |
Marcel Schrotter |
(Kal) |
+ 10.000 |
| 7 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Bos) |
+ 16.039 |
| 8 |
Albert Arenas |
(Bos) |
+ 19.394 |
| 9 |
Marcos Ramirez |
(Kal) |
+ 21.718 |
| 10 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+ 26.393 |
Moto3
The German Moto3 race at the Sachsenring saw the usual chopping and changing taking place throughout the 27-lap duel. After a chaotic race, it was a fourth win of the 2021 season for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who stunned once again by hitting the front in the closing stages, holding off Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) and Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing).
Pedro Acosta won another bruising Moto3 encounter.
2021 German Moto3 Results—Race
| 1 |
Pedro Acosta |
(KTM) |
39:38.791 |
| 2 |
Kaito Toba |
(KTM) |
+ 0.130 |
| 3 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.259 |
| 4 |
Jeremy Alcoba |
(Hon) |
+ 0.206 |
| 5 |
Andrea Migno |
(Hon) |
+ 0.459 |
| 6 |
Niccolo Antonelli |
(KTM) |
+ 0.728 |
| 7 |
Sergio Garcia |
(GasGas) |
+ 0.537 |
| 8 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Hon) |
+ 0.647 |
| 9 |
Xavier Artigas |
(Hon) |
+ 1.017 |
| 10 |
Izan Guevara |
(GasGas) |
+ 6.710 |
2021 German MotoGP News—Saturday
#50 retired from Moto3
On Friday it was confirmed the #50 will be retired from the Moto3 class in memory of Jason Dupasquier, who died from injuries sustained when qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix. The 19-year old from Switzerland ran the #50 during each of the 20 races he competed in grand prix’s junior class.
FIM board member Jan Stovicek (R) and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta (centre) present the trophy to Jason Dupasquier’s team boss, Florian Prüstel.
The Sachsenring is the home grand prix for Dupasquier’s CarXpert PruestelGP team, with its headquarters situated next to the track. At an emotional ceremony, where the team was present alongside MotoGP riders Marc Marquez, Fabio Quartararo and Jack Miller, team boss Florian Pruestel said, “Jason will not leave us. He is only ahead of us.”
Qualifying mayhem
For the second time in three race weekends, there were calls for MotoGP riders to be sanctioned for brainless riding during qualifying. On this occasion Miguel Oliveira was among the riders touring in dangerous parts of the track in a chaotic session that saw crashes for pole sitter Johann Zarco and Takaaki Nakagami.
“Q2 was a disaster,” said Alex Rins, who was hindered by the touring pack. “I’m so angry because we can’t continue like this in terms of the (FIM) Stewards. We are MotoGP riders and try to show to Moto3 we can’t stop, we can’t follow and all these things. Then I find a big, big group on the last corner nearly stopped. This makes no sense. It’s frustrating.”
Pol Espargaro Enea Bastianini in qualifying. Only Bastianini would receive a penalty.
Oliveira defended his actions, saying, “On the second run I was in front of many guys and when I looked behind they were all behind me and I was not going to push. I know from experience that no matter the track you will always get a disadvantage if you are always in the front.”
In the end, only Enea Bastianini was penalized of the MotoGP contingent for riding slowly on the racing line in Q1.
Marquez long-term recovery
On Thursday Marc Marquez, the winner of every MotoGP race in Germany since 2013 was bullish on his chances this weekend. “I expect to have no physical limitation,” he said in relation to the upper right arm injury from which he continues to recover.
But on Friday he was still perturbed by the arm, despite the Sachsenring featuring just three right-hand corners in its short layout. “I am not riding very well. My right elbow is very high all the time. Can’t ride like I want,” he said.
It’s getting better but there’s still work to be done for Marc Marquez and his injured arm and shoulder.
Asked when this will no longer be an issue, Marquez was frank. “The doctors say after three surgeries in the humerus, it’s possible you have a small rotation because it’s so difficult to be precise. So the body needs time. They say one year. The muscles will compensate. Maybe some muscles that before worked less will now work more. But the muscles should compensate this lack of mobility or this different position of the arm. At the moment this is where I’m struggling. I have the mobility. I can go on the correct way but I don’t feel safe, I don’t have power.”
Saturday
MotoGP
Johann Zarco denied compatriot Fabio Quartararo a record sixth consecutive pole position on Saturday for the 2021 German MotoGP at the Sachsenring.
Quartararo crossed the line with two minutes remaining in Q2 to set the time of 1:20.247, but his glory was short-lived as Zarco almost immediately went 0.011 seconds faster with a 1:20.236 to take his first pole position since the Czech Republic round last year on the Esponsarama Racing Ducati. He then promptly crashed out at turn five, but his time would stand.
There was more history in Germany as Aleix Espargaro put his factory Aprilia RS-GP in third, marking the first time since 2000 an Aprilia will start a MotoGP from the front row.
Zarco suffered a nasty crash at the end of the session but still managed to take pole position.
Espargaro headed factory Ducati rider Jack Miller in fourth. The Australian was challenging for pole on his final lap of the Q2 session but suffered a big front-end slide in the last corner, he stayed on board but his lap was gone.
Alongside Miller on row two will be current Sachsenring king Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) and Catalan MotoGP winner, Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM).
Rounding out the top 10 will be Zarco’s teammate Jorge Martin, Repsol Honda’s Pol Espargaro who had to come through the Q1 session, Idemitsu LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami and Miller’s teammate Francesco Bagnaia.
The day was a shocker for Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha). While his teammate Fabio Quartararo will start from second on the grid, Vinales will start from second-last after a disastrous Q1 session that saw his fast lap scratched off after Franco Morbidelli crashed on the final corner.
2021 German MotoGP Results—Qualifying
| 1 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
1:20.236 |
| 2 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.011 |
| 3 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 0.211 |
| 4 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.272 |
| 5 |
Marc Marquez |
(Hon) |
+0.331 |
| 6 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+ 0.353 |
| 7 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
+ 0.381 |
| 8 |
Pol Espargaro |
(Hon) |
+ 0.423 |
| 9 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
(Hon) |
+ 0.574 |
| 10 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.575 |
Moto2
Pole position in Moto2 went to Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who put in a stunning lap in the closing stages of the session to give him an all-new lap record at the Sachsenring in Moto2. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) will be on the front row in second place whilst Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) secured the final front row slot, which is covered by 0.372s.
Fernandez was on fire in Moto2 and will start from the pole.
Joe Roberts and Cameron Beaubier will start from 12th and 25th, respectively.
2021 German Moto2 Results—Qualifying
| 1 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Kal) |
1:23.397 |
| 2 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Kal) |
+ 0.347 |
| 3 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+ 0.372 |
| 4 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.787 |
| 5 |
Xavi Vierge |
(Kal) |
+ 0.899 |
| 6 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Bos) |
+ 0.904 |
| 7 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 1.019 |
| 8 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kal) |
+ 1.042 |
| 9 |
Bo Bendsneyder |
(Kal) |
+ 1.077 |
| 10 |
Aron Canet |
(Bos) |
+ 1.103 |
Moto3
Filip Salac (Rivacold Snipers Team) snatched the first pole position of his Moto3 career with a time of 1:26.913, fending off Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse).
Czech Republic rider Filip Salac took a career-first pole in Moto3.
2021 German Moto3 Results—Qualifying
| 1 |
Filip Salac |
(Hon) |
1:26.913 |
| 2 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.183 |
| 3 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Hon) |
+ 0.214 |
| 4 |
John McPhee |
(Hon) |
+ 0.315 |
| 5 |
Kaito Toba |
(KTM) |
+ 0.437 |
| 6 |
Lorenzo Fellon |
(Hon) |
+ 0.479 |
| 7 |
Niccolo Antonelli |
(KTM) |
+ 0.485 |
| 8 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 0.562 |
| 9 |
Stefano Nepa |
(KTM) |
+ 0.609 |
| 10 |
Andrea Migno |
(Hon) |
+ 0.716 |
2021 German MotoGP News—Friday
Moto3 rethink needed?
It was hard to know what to make of the Moto3 offering at the Catalan GP. On the one hand, there was drama and excitement from start to end, a contest across 41 minutes that had you on the very edge of your seat the entire time. But on the other, this strayed too far toward downright dangerous with so many near misses it was almost impossible to count.
The Catalan Moto3 race was wild, and the race organizers didn’t like it.
Riders were called for a meeting immediately after the race to discuss certain behavior – notably weaving on the front straight, then refusing to lead and waving riders by – and were told how it will no longer be accepted from here.
“Catalunya was a crazy race, what we saw was not what we like and could lead to some safety problems,” said IRTA President Hervé Poncharal. “On the last lap everybody was slowing down, some laps were four seconds slower than the original lap time.”
In the meeting, Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna CEO) gave the point of view of the championship, without giving any specific rule to observe, but: don’t slow down. “A race is push from start to the end. Don’t zig zag too much down the straight where it’s dangerous and try to behave like as sportsman who is hungry for success, don’t behave like a dirty rider. So it will be up to the team mangers to teach and explain to our riders how they should race, and Race Direction will impose harsh penalties in case of bad behavior.”
Gresini switches to Ducati, Di Giannantonio to step up
It appears there will be eight Ducatis on the 2022 MotoGP grid after Gresini confirmed it would run Desmosedici machinery in its satellite team, with Enea Bastianini and Moto2 runner Fabio Di Giannantonio as its riders.
The Gresini team has partnered with Aprilia since the Noale factory returned to the premier class in an official capacity in 2015. But with Aprilia being handed its own grid slots from 2022, the Gresini outfit has opted to move away. The switch means it will run 2021 spec machinery next year.
Fabio Di Giannantonio will step up to MotoGP next year with Gresini.
“Next year will be something amazing for me because I will ride in MotoGP with the best riders in the world and also with the bike of my dreams, you know, the Ducati is for an Italian guy is something amazing, so yeah really excited honestly,” said Di Giannantonio.”
Along with the official team and Pramac, it is believed the VR46 team will also run two Ducatis next year, with an announcement expected before Assen. Gresini and Aprilia’s separation means next year’s grid will expand from 22 to 24 bikes.
Marquez ‘can’t imagine’ Rossi situation
Marc Marquez took a casual swipe in the direction of nemesis Valentino Rossi by claiming he could never imagine being in the Italian’s current situation. Rossi, 42 years old, is still considering whether he wishes to continue racing into 2022.
Rossi is enduring by far his worst MotoGP season and Marquez is wondering how much longer he’ll hang on.
But for Marquez, the thought of continuing to compete even when the possibilities of scoring podiums is beyond comprehension. “I always say one of the motivations to be here is because I like the taste of the podiums and winning races and being competitive. As soon as I feel I can’t be competitive fighting for top positions its’ time to consider many things,” he said.
“If you win many races and many championships in the past, the way to win, you need extra fuel, you need those motivations give you extra energy, extra fuel, extra motivation. A winner needs this. I am surprised by the way Valentino accepts this. Right now Valentino is riding, he don’t have options. I cannot imagine staying in this championship and not have the chance to even stay on the podium.”
Friday
MotoGP
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM) picked up where he left off in Germany, topping the Friday timesheets for the 2021 German MotoGP ahead of championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha).
Oliveira’s a man brimming with confidence right now and went fastest in Germany on Friday.
Oliveira put in a best of 1:20.690 to end the session a little over two tenths of a second clear with Quartararo’s teammate Maverick Vinales taking third from Suzuki’s Alex Rins, who returns to action two weeks after breaking his arm in a cycling accident at the Barcelona round. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) rounds out the top five.
Incredibly, there was just one second covering first placed Oliveira to Enea Bastianini in 19th in Germany.
2021 German MotoGP Results—Friday
| 1 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
1:20.690 |
| 2 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.220 |
| 3 |
Maverick Vinales |
(Yam) |
+ 0.333 |
| 4 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 0.387 |
| 5 |
Pol Espargaro |
(Hon) |
+ 0.418 |
| 6 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
(Hon) |
+ 0.441 |
| 7 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 0.453 |
| 8 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 0.491 |
| 9 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.502 |
| 10 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Yam) |
+ 0.538 |
Moto2
Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was in fine form as he leads the way into Saturday ahead of teammate and title rival Raul Fernandez, whilst Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) was third with plenty of changes throughout the order in the closing stages.
Gardner topped Moto2 on Friday in Germany.
Americans Joe Roberts (Italtrans Kalex) and Cameron Beaubier (American Racing Team Kalex) were placed 15th and 20th, respectively.
2021 German Moto2 Results—Friday
| 1 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
1:24.197 |
| 2 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.339s |
| 3 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Kal) |
+ 0.442 |
| 4 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 0.443 |
| 5 |
Xavi Vierge |
(Kal) |
+ 0.610 |
| 6 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.643 |
| 7 |
Simone Corsi |
(MVA) |
+ 0.735 |
| 8 |
Marcel Schrotter |
(Kal) |
+ 0.848 |
| 9 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Kal) |
+ 0.988 |
| 10 |
Tom Luthi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.996 |
Moto3
With the higher afternoon temperatures, the Moto3 times weren’t improving and thus the times from the morning session remained indicative of the order ahead of Saturday. Leading the way in the afternoon was Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) but it was John McPhee’s morning time that placed him on top on the combined times, ahead of Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Acosta.
McPhee’s time from FP1 was enough to top the Moto3 running on Friday in Germany.
2021 German Moto3 Results—Friday
| 1 |
John McPhee |
(Hon) |
1:26.739 |
| 2 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Hon) |
+ 0.113 |
| 3 |
Pedro Acosta |
(KTM) |
+ 0.351 |
| 4 |
Gabriel Rodrigo |
(Hon) |
+ 0.370 |
| 5 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
+ 0.530 |
| 6 |
Stefano Nepa |
(KTM) |
+ 0.550 |
| 7 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 0.758 |
| 8 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.762 |
| 9 |
Filip Salac |
(Hon) |
+ 0.762 |
| 10 |
Darryn Binder |
(Hon) |
+ 0.771 |
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