MotoGP, Sachsenring Race LIVE: Jorge Martín cracks and falls, Francesco Bagnaia winner and new leader of the championship

We have now arrived at the fateful moment of a German Grand Prix which marks the ninth meeting of the MotoGP season, and at the end of which the summer break will be declared. Before heading out into the sun, here is the starting grid for the Sachsenring.

The championship leader George Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) qualified on pole for the fourth time since the start of the year with Qatar, France and Italy, setting a new lap record at the Sachsenring. He won his fourth victory in Sprint so far this year and this Sunday he will look to take his eighth MotoGP victory and second in a row in Germany to complete his second double at the Sachsenring. This is the fourth consecutive pole position for Ducati on the Sachsenring after Johann zarco (2021) bagnaia (2022 and 2023) and Martin (2024)

Miguel Oliveira (TrackHouse Racing) qualified second for his best qualifying result since being on pole position at the 2020 Portuguese GP (en route to winning the race). It is also his first top-three finish in qualifying since qualifying third in Catalunya last year. He took his first Sprint podium by finishing P2 and will now aim to win for the first time since Thailand in 2022.

Raul fernandez (TrackHouse Racing) qualified third for his second top-three finish in MotoGP qualifying with Catalunya earlier this year. With his teammate in second position, it is the second time that two drivers Aprilia are in the top three in qualifying so far this year, along with Catalunya. He finished 14th in the sprint but will be aiming for his best result in MotoGP if he can beat his 5th place achieved in Valencia last year.

Francis Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) qualified fourth, which is the first time he has failed to qualify first or second since Jerez earlier this year (although he did win the GP race there). He finished P3 in the Sprint for his third consecutive Sprint podium and will aim to take his fourth consecutive Grand Prix victory, something no driver has done since Bagnaia himself in 2022, when he won four in a row from Assen to Misano.

Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) qualified fifth, his second best qualifying result since the start of the year, following Assen last week, where he qualified fourth. He scored a point in the sprint, finishing 9th, and he will now aim to add to his collection of podiums in the premier class: two with Honda and two with Ducati so far.

Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) qualified sixth, equaling his best qualifying result since the start of the year with Italy. He finished P5 in the Sprint, and he will be aiming for his first podium since his third place at Jerez in 2021.

Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing), victim of a big crash in Q2, qualified seventh, and he finished P7 in the Sprint after being passed by Mr. Marquez in the final corner. The two men crossed the finish line in a photo finish. Viñales will now attempt to claim his 11th MotoGP victory.

Fabio DiGiannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) qualified eighth and finished 12th in the sprint. He will be aiming for his second victory in the premier class or his third podium in the premier class.

Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) qualified ninth for its sixth top-nine finish in qualifying so far this season. He finished P4 in the Sprint and will be aiming for his sixth MotoGP victory.

Peter Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) qualified 10th, matching his worst MotoGP qualifying result after Spain and Assen last week. He finished P22 in the Sprint after a race run, but at 20 years and 43 days on Sunday he has his last chance to become the youngest winner of the premier class and take the record from Marc Marquez (20 years and 43 days).

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) qualified 11th for his second-best qualifying result at Sachsenring in the class. He finished P8 in the sprint but will aim to get on the podium for the second time so far this year with Qatar (P2), or win for the first time since Austria in 2021.

Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) qualified 12th for his best qualifying result since qualifying fifth in France earlier this year. He finished P10 in the Sprint but will be aiming for his 10th podium in the premier class, his second so far this season with Spain (P3).

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP), qualified 13th for his worst qualifying result at the Sachsenring in MotoGP. However, he finished P6 in the sprint and will aim to win for the first time since Emilia Romagna 2021 (987 days ago). It would be his first Grand Prix victory with Ducati and Gresini, and his 12th Grand Prix victory at the track.

The presentations made, what will this German Grand Prix have in store for us? Before you know it, here is the table that summarizes the facts known so far.

MotoGP™ Germany, Sachsenring	2023	2024
FP1	1'20.702 Johann Zarco (See here)	1'20.584 Jorge Martin (See here)
Practice	1'20.271 Marco Bezzecchi (See here)	1'19.622 Maverick Vinales (See here)
FP2	1'29.269 Marc Marquez (See here)	1'20.353 Miguel Oliveira (See here)
Q1	1'24.655 Brad Binder (See here)	1'19.678 Raul Fernandez (See here)
Q2	1'21.409 Francesco Bagnaia (See here)	1'19.423 Jorge Martin (See here)
Sprint	Martin, Bagnaia, Miller (See here)	Martin, Oliveira, Bagnaia (See here)
Warm Up	1'20.999 Marco Bezzecchi (See here)	1'20.638 Francesco Bagnaia (See here)
Course	Martin, Bagnaia, Zarco (See here)	Bagnaia, MMarquez, AMarquez
All time lap record	1'19.765 Francesco Bagnaia 2022 (See here)	1'19.423 Jorge Martin (See here)

It's race day!!

Here we are all together to experience intense emotions like every race weekend: all the protagonists are united to make our hearts vibrate!!

30 laps will be completed on this route immersed in the clouds...

Here are the forces present...it's up to you to make your predictions on who will win today...!!!

The double for Martin?

1st victory for RFernandez??

And why Raul's teammate Oliveira??

Or maybe Acosta who is in question today, the last possibility of being the youngest winner in a GP…?

Courtesy visit from Keanu Reeves…

It's 20° in the air and 33° on the track: 10° less than yesterday which could influence the race... and the tires.

And when we talk about tires...here is the drivers' choice!

Warming round…

It's off and it's Martin who comes out in front ahead of Oliveira and Bagnaia. AMarquez, Morbidelli complete this top 5. MMarquez is 9th

It gets heated between Morbidelli and AMarquez.

Bagnaia gets the better of Oliveira, thus recovering 2nd position. He pursues and passes Martin in the process...the latter tries to respond but in vain..

After 2 rounds, the top10 is made up of: Bagnaia, Martin, Morbidelli, Oliveira, AMarquez, Vinales, RFernandez, MMarquez, Bastianini and Binder

In front Bagnaia tries to escape but Martin does not relax. The Ducati rider has a lead of 0.215s over the Pramac rider

MMarquez is making his comeback, he is now 7th after overtaking RFernandez. He returns to Vinales...there are 7 of them in a pocket handkerchief...

Martin passes!! hellish braking!!!

Straight from Vinales… who escapes the fall…RESPECT!

Morbidelli presses on Bagnaia who seems to be struggling..Morbidelli is unleashed..he passes his friend from the VR46 and thus recovers the 2nd step of the podium..

There are 21 laps left: Martin holds the line and gradually digs in, he has a 1s lead over Morbidelli. Bagnaia is 3rd but he is under threat from Marquez. Oliveira closes this provisional top5

Retirement for Di Giannantonio…technical problem.

Bagnaia seems to have pulled himself together...in front Morbidelli has returned to Martin, he is only 0.380s behind...Morbidelli's last victory dates back to 2020

There are 16 laps left, the top 10 is as follows: Martin, Morbidelli, Bagnaia, AMarquez, Oliveira, MMarquez, Bastianini, RFernandez, Acosta and Binder

Bagnaia comes back strongly, he passes Morbidelli...the driver works hard to get back on Martin who has a lead of 0.885s.

AMarquez imitates him and thus takes 3rd position with 12 laps to go. His eldest, Marc, makes the effort and in turn passes Oliveira, he is 5th. Objective displayed..Morbidelli..who is 4th.

Touch touch with Binder…and MMarquez!

Contact between MMarquez and Morbidelli…hot burning the 2 drivers…MMarquez broke his bubble..

Battle at all levels between AMarquez and Bastianini…

There are 5 laps left to be completed by the unleashed beasts...

MMarquez rushes over Morbidelli... he takes 4th position...HUGE!!

Martin is 0.718s ahead of Bagnaia. AMarquez, MMarquez, Morbidelli, Bastianini, Oliveira, Binder, Acosta and Bezzecchi complete this top10

Martin misses, he falls!!! … Bagnaia takes the lead!! AMarquez and MMarquez on the podium… 2 laps left!

The Marquez brothers in battle!! Marc passes Alex and takes the 2nd step of the podium…

Victory for Bagnaia ahead of Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez

 

MotoGP, Sachsenring Course: classification

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit classification motogp.com