The Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland is coming up at the Sachsenring, and the sounds of Francesco Bagnaia’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) masterclass at Assen are still resonating as we approach the next Grand Prix. With just 10 points between him and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) leading the championship, this is the tightest point differential between the top two since Saturday night in Portugal. However, Bagnaia hasn’t always been the one leading the chase; on the occasions when he has needed it, he has managed to find that additional piece of magic to pull himself back into the race.
Regaining the lead after two straight doubles is the new objective for this weekend, which also marks his 200th start overall in all divisions.
Time to head out again! In 2024, who will win the title of SachsenKing?
Take a deep breath and let’s prepare to do it all over again. The German Grand Prix starts on July 5th!
But Martin accomplished his first career double at this track last year, and he was able to finish it because of their outstanding battle on Sunday, where they finished separated by less than a tenth of a second. With the exception of the notable error on Sunday involving Jerez, he has been quite steady since Day 1 of 2024 and hasn’t needed to fight his way back into contention. However, everyone will have at least one of those during a season; Martin is minimizing them while still moving quickly. He’ll probably believe that this is the place where he can reverse Bagnaia’s momentum.
Nevertheless, one rider on the grid has unquestionably never lost a MotoGPTM race at the Sachsenring. The German Grand Prix was won by Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGPTM) three times: in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He took home the trophy in 2016. He triumphed in 2017 as a result. 2018 was successful. Could you surmise what transpired in 2019? He prevailed. He prevailed even though we left the area in 2021 before he underwent a second, significant arm operation. Eight in MotoGPTM, that is. Await the news of his victories in the 125cc class in 2010 and the Moto2TM class in 2011 and 2012!
He missed racing in 2022 while he healed from the second surgery, and he withdrew on Sunday morning following a difficult weekend of collisions in 2023. That choice, which may also mark a turning point in other respects, guarantees that #MM93’s start-to-win ratio in Germany will always be incredibly high. The fact that he has never been defeated implies two things. One, he needs to enter as the overwhelming favorite because he is now riding what is likely the best bike at the venue. Two, it’s the kind of scalp you take once or twice in a career if Bagnaia or Martin can defeat him. They’ll also be inspired.
Sporting Preview: Pedro Acosta, Marc Marquez, and Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland
German Grand Prix: All the information you require before Round 9!
Get caught up on the weekend’s top stories, including the title fight, unbeaten records, MotoGPTM milestones, and the return of a well-known figure!
In the final five or six laps of a Grand Prix, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) consistently holds the record for quickest rider in the world. As such, this time around, the “Beast” will want to qualify further forward and lessen the difficulty of potentially reaching the podium. After a strong showing at Assen, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) has shown some nice form at the Sachsenring and may be a dark horse to challenge Ducati. Meanwhile, teammate Aleix Espargaro needs to be cleared to play after suffering a finger fracture. He arrives from a challenging Assen. On Sunday, however, he has the opportunity to make his 329th Grand Prix start across all classes and tie Valentino Rossi (432) and Andrea Dovizioso (345) for the third-most starts among riders.
It would be intriguing to monitor Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who made an impression in Assen and is currently the main subject of the silly season rumors for 2025. As 2024 progresses, teammate Marco Bezzecchi is looking forward to a more promising weekend, while Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGPTM) is feeling the same way after it was confirmed that the #73 will remain at Gresini for two more seasons. Although he had a strong Assen, Franco Morbidelli of Prima Pramac Racing will be searching for more dazzling adjectives from the upcoming races.
The out-of-character mistakes that had marred a couple rounds at KTM have subsided for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder, but the South African is still racing for the win and will be setting his sights higher than in Assen, when the podium battle was still a ways down the line. Pedro Acosta, the Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 rookie star, had a more subdued Dutch Grand Prix despite being in the running for the podium on Sunday until retiring from the race on the final lap. He’ll desire more as well. Acosta and Binder found that margin, while Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) similarly focused on points, or a lot more of them.
Raul Fernandez, who has consistently placed in the top ten, is currently leading the team rivalry at Trackhouse Racing, with Miguel Oliveira attempting to get revenge. Since neither seat for 2025 has been confirmed yet, the American squad is also under intense scrutiny for that year.
The announcement that Yamaha would field two more “factory” spec bikes starting in 2025 as part of a new, long-term agreement with Prima Pramac Racing was ultimately made during the Dutch Grand Prix. They do appear to be making genuine development, which is another encouraging indicator. This weekend, at a track where he has won, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGPTM) will make his 100th start in the series. However, WorldSBK rider Remy Gardner will be joining the garage for the weekend as Alex Rins recovers from surgery following his wrist injury and collision in Assen, meaning he will have a “new” colleague in the box.
Additionally, Aleix Espargaro will be joining Honda’s test team upon his retirement from full-time racing at the end of 2024, according to current news. He has already committed to work alongside Luca Marini of the Repsol Honda Team and Johann Zarco of CASTROL Honda LCR. There are also strong rumors regarding Joan Mir’s future at Repsol Honda. Additionally, Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) is yet unconfirmed. But for the time being at least, the goal of signing Espargaro and continuing the private testing is to produce more results as 2024 approaches. In 2022, Stefan Bradl, who had previously participated in a home race as a wildcard in 2022, will make his debut in the field as a home hero for the marque.
There are numerous plotlines, both on and off course, and this weekend Marquez is attempting to increase his Sachsenring stats and secure an emotional victory 987 days later. There is even a fairytale on the line. Is he capable of it? Or will Martin and Bagnaia be able to transform the Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland from a story into fable? Listen in to learn more!