MotoGP German Grand Prix results: Marc Marquez seals ninth consecutive win at Sachsenring to strengthen title charge

Marquez takes a 46-point championship lead over Valentino Rossi into the summer break after dominating what is set to be the final MotoGP race at the Sachsenring

Jack de Menezes
Sunday 15 July 2018 09:06 EDT
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Marc Marquez celebrates winning the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring
Marc Marquez celebrates winning the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring (Reuters)

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Marc Marquez clinched an incredible ninth German Grand Prix victory across all classes to strengthen his claim as the ‘Sachsen-King’ with a dominant display at what is likely to be the final MotoGP race at the Sachsenring, taking a major step towards a fourth consecutive world championship in the process with his fifth win of the season.

The season heads into the summer break with Marquez leading by 46 points in the riders’ standings, with the 25-year-old leading Valentino Rossi by nearly a two-race advantage.

After taking back-to-back victories following his win last time out at Assen, Marquez is now heavy favourite to win an eighth career world championship and a sixth in the premier class, while his domination of the Sachsenring has now seen him win the last six MotoGP races there as well as the two Moto2 races and one 125cc grand prix before that.

Yet just like in Assen it was the Ducati of Jorge Lorenzo who shot out into the lead, with Marquez slotting his Honda into third behind Danilo Petrucci. The question was how long Lorenzo could make his tyres – and his questionable fitness – last on the heavy Desmosedici, but it soon transpired that Marquez was simply biding his time.

When Lorenzo ran out wide at turn one on lap 12, Marquez elected against rushing through and waited until the end of the lap to line up his fellow Spaniard and slide past at the final corner, much to the surprise of the man who will partner Marquez next season when he moves to Honda to replace the retiring Dani Pedrosa.

Marc Marquez took victory ahead of Valentino Rossi
Marc Marquez took victory ahead of Valentino Rossi (Reuters)

From there Marquez immediately gapped the rest of the field, and despite a brief fightback from Rossi, he was able to cruise home to take the chequered flag in what is set to be the final race at the Sachsenring before Nurburgring takes over next season, as is widely expected.

“It was tough, especially at the beginning because the start wasn’t perfect,” Marquez said afterwards. “I lost two positions and to overtake two Ducatis is hard. But I saw Valentino coming and I wanted to look after the tyre, but I decided it’s time to push and overtook Lorenzo and tried to go.”

“Nine victories here in a row is incredible, and I just want to say viva la Sachsenring!”

Valentino Rossi passed Jorge Lorenzo to take second
Valentino Rossi passed Jorge Lorenzo to take second (EPA)

Rossi limited the damage in the championship standings by coming home second, passing Petrucci on the eighth lap at turn one and getting by Lorenzo seven laps later when the Ducati’s grip fell away and he lost the front going into the left-handed Turn 10.

By that point Lorenzo was only heading in one direction, and Petrucci soon slipped past five laps from home to take third, with Maverick Vinales also getting by on the same lap. With Rossi clear in second, Vinales was able to secure a double-podium finish for Yamaha has he passed Petrucci two laps from home, while Lorenzo was also passed by Alvaro Bautista on the Angel Nieto Team Ducati to come home in sixth.

Cal Crutchlow was running in fifth before crashing out of of the German Grand Prix
Cal Crutchlow was running in fifth before crashing out of of the German Grand Prix (Reuters)

After taking his fourth podium in five races, Rossi said: “Usually it’s a difficult track for the [Yamaha] M1 but we got a double podium so we’re really happy for the team. I’m also happy as I did a fantastic race and made no mistakes. I’m happy and it’s a great way to go to the holidays.”

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow proved he had the pace to stay with the front-runners as he set a fastest lap while running in fifth on the third lap, but fell into the treacherous Turn 12 on the ninth lap after running wide at the end of the long back straight, while Bradley Smith came home a credible 10th with Scott Redding taking the final championship point in 15th.

Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales secured a double-podium finish for Yamaha
Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales secured a double-podium finish for Yamaha (Reuters)

Brad Binder recorded his maiden Moto2 victory by leading home Joan Mir and Luca Marini, with championship leader Francesco Bagnaia having his lead cut to just seven points after crashing out, while Jorge Martin took his fifth Moto3 win of the season to take a seven point lead in the championship as he finished ahead of Marco Bezzecchi and Scotland’s John McPhee.

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