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Author: David Bodapati
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Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport extends Lewis Hamilton’s contract by 2 years
- The reigning world drivers’ and constructors’ champion will remain a team to end 2020
- By 2020, Lewis will reach eight years with Mercedes – and over two decades in the racing family
- 3 world titles and 44 wins so far make Lewis the most successful ever Silver Arrows driver
Lewis Hamilton points out to the team logo. File photo by Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport and Lewis Hamilton today announced the agreement of a two-year contract extension for the 2019 and 2020 Formula One seasons.
Since joining Mercedes in 2013, Lewis has, to date, won three world championships and 44 Grands Prix with the team; by the end of 2020, he will have spent eight seasons as a works Mercedes driver, his longest period with a single team in the sport.
Furthermore, since making his F1 debut in 2007, every single Grand Prix Lewis has driven has been powered by Mercedes-Benz engines. His career total of 65 F1 wins places him second on the all-time list behind Michael Schumacher.
Through these achievements, Lewis has earned his place in history as the most successful driver in the 112-year Grand Prix racing tradition of Mercedes-Benz.
Lewis Hamilton commented:
“This contract extension has basically been a formality since Toto and I sat down during the winter, so it’s good to put pen to paper, announce it and then get on with business as usual. I have been part of the Mercedes racing family for 20 years and I have never been happier inside a team than I am right now. We are on the same wavelength both on and off track – and I am looking forward to winning more in the future and shining even more light on the three-pointed star. I’m very confident that Mercedes is the right place to be over the coming years. Although we have enjoyed so much success together since 2013, Mercedes is hungrier than ever – from Dr Zetsche and the board members at the top of Daimler, through Toto and the team management, to every single person I meet in the corridors of Brixworth and Brackley. The competitive passion that burns bright inside me is shared by every single member of this group – always chasing the next improvement and digging even deeper to make sure we come out on top. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in the next two-and-a-half seasons.”Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff concluded:
“We have been aligned with Lewis ever since we first sat down to discuss the details of this contract after last season, but there has understandably been a lot of interest and speculation around the whole process, so it’s good to put all of that to rest and get this thing announced. We signed the final documents this week and didn’t want to keep people waiting any longer! There is not much about Lewis as a Formula One driver that hasn’t been said already – he is one of the all-time greats and his track record speaks for itself. But what I enjoy most about working with him is getting to know the man inside the racing helmet: his relentless drive for self-improvement, his emotional intelligence as a team member and his loyalty to those around him. Mercedes has become Lewis’ home in Formula One and his story is linked forever with the silver and green of Mercedes-AMG Petronas. I am very confident that we have some incredible chapters of our story together still to come.”eom/db
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MRF F1600 triple-header to highlight 12-race card: 4w Racing Nationals
Irrungattukottai, 19 July 2018: The third round of the MRF Indian National Racing Championship which has never failed to dish out high octane action while witnessing emergence of fresh talent, gets off to a start at the MMRT, about 40 km from Chennai, on Friday even as the competition hots up among title contenders in various categories. The Racing Nationals are organised by Madras Motor Sports Club under the aegis of the National governing body for the sport, the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs in India (fmsci).The championship returns to the MMRT after a gap of five months after the first round in February and the next in Coimbatore last month. A card of 12 races has been scheduled for the weekend. The programme includes Volkswagen Ameo Cup besides the first round of the MMSC fmsci Indian National Drag Racing Championship 2018 for four-wheelers which will be run post-lunch on Saturday and Sunday,
The three races in the MRF F1600, now in its seventh season, has proven to be an excellent platform for young guns to showcase their racing talent. The added incentive to the winner of the championship in the MRF F1600 is the chance to participate in the Mazda Road to Indy shootout in the United States later this year which has been organized by the MMSC. The winner of the shootout will receive a scholarship of USD 200,000.
The previous round at Coimbatore witnessed the emergence of 19-year old Ashwin Datta from Chennai who won all three MRF F1600 races in a display of raw pace that blitzed the field and gave himself a head-start in the championship.
The other open-wheel single-seater category, Formula LGB 1300, threw up three different winners – Team MSport’s Nabil Hussain and Sohail Shah, and Ashwin Datta (Momentum Motorsports) – in the season-opening triple-header in Coimbatore last month that accurately reflected the competitiveness of the races.
Among saloon cars, the premier Indian Touring Cars category should witness the more thrilling action. The previous round in Coimbatore was all about returning stars as Coimbatore ace Arjun Balu (Race Concepts), back on track after a five-year break, won both the races to close in on championship leader Ashish Ramaswamy (ARKA Motorsports) from Bengaluru. Just 18 points separate the duo with veteran B Vijayakumar (Prime Racing) and Nikanth Ram (ARKA Motorsports) sandwiched in between.
A fresh addition to this grid is last year’s champion, Coimbatore-based Arjun Narendran (ARKA Motorsports) who returns after sitting out the previous two rounds and his presence is expected to further sharpen the competitive edge.
In the other saloon cars categories, K Srinivas Teja (Prime Racing) heads the Super Stock with one win and four podiums as also Prabhu AS (ARKA Motorsports) in the Indian Junior Touring Cars while Raghul Rangasamy (Performance Racing), having won four races, is ahead in the Esteem Cup.
The Round 2 of Volkswagen Ameo Cup is again expected to dish out its share of thrillers as witnessed in the previous round at Coimbatore where Kolhapur’s Dhruv Mohite achieved a credible double to take a firm lead in the championship.
About Madras Motor Sports Club: The Madras Motor Sports Club has been the pioneer in developing and promoting motorsport in India since 1953, and we look to further improve in the years to come. It is the club’s endeavour to provide more opportunities for competitors, and to this end, it has chalked out various progressive programmes. From the days of Sholavaram , MMSC built its own racetrack which was inaugurated in 1979 and secured its FIA Grade-2 international certification in 2014, making it the only club which owns such a facility that has been further upgraded with international-standard Paddock, complete with VIP hospitality suites, 20 spacious garages and a separate Paddock on the western side with its own circuit. The club has organised the Porsche Super Cup, Formula Campos, Formula Asia, Asian touring car championships, Formula 3, Tata Prima Truck racing championship, the FIM Asia Road Racing Championships (2-wheelers) besides a host of other motorsport events over the years. The club also has active participation for its events from vehicle manufacturers who also use the Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT) extensively for testing their products.
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Sahara Force India gets ready for German GP
Hockenheim, 17 July 2018: As Formula One moves to Germany for Round 11 of the F1 World Championship, Sahara Force India prepares to gain some more points in its race to keep the fourth place. Quotes from the Indian outfit’s drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon and Team Principal Vijay Mallya.
Sergio: “Hockenheim is an amazing track in a country with so much racing history: it’s a race we really missed not having in the calendar last year. I remember the early years of my career, living and racing in Germany, and it’s always very enjoyable when I go back to visit. I really love German food too!
“Hockenheim is a track that gives you good overtaking opportunities, especially on the approach to the hairpin. You arrive there so fast and it’s a very big braking zone so it’s always a good place to have a go. It’s probably one of the best circuits for creating exciting racing.
“I was happy to rescue a point last weekend in Silverstone after a big recovery. The main focus for Germany is to have a clean weekend because if we maximise our performance we can be at the front of the midfield. There is a long way to go [11 races] and lots to play for. We are finding a bit more performance with each race and I still believe we can target fourth place in the championship.”
Esteban: “I feel ready for the final two races before the summer break. We have been finding performance as a team with strong results in the last few races and I want to have two good ones before the holidays.
“Hockenheim is one of the tracks I know the most. I have been driving there a lot in my career, first in F3 but also during my experience in DTM with Mercedes. It’s one of those historical tracks that are important for Formula One and there are always a lot of fans coming to see us with cards, messages and letters. It’s important to have a German Grand Prix and it’s always a special feeling racing there.
“I think the weekend can be a good one for us. The track should suit us because of the long straights and slow corners, so it’s a chance to score more points. I enjoy the circuit. It has good overtaking opportunities, especially the hairpin at the end of a long straight and the sharp left hander a bit later. The racing is usually quite close so hopefully we will have an entertaining race on Sunday.”
Vijay Mallya: “It’s been satisfying to get both cars in the points for the last two races. It’s what we need to do for our fight in the constructors’ championship. Germany marks the half way point in the season and it feels as though we have some momentum now. The updates we introduced in Silverstone helped and there’s more performance to be unlocked. We’ve been a bit unlucky in the first half of the season, especially getting caught up in first lap incidents, so I think we are due a change in fortune. Scoring points in all of the remaining races is a realistic target, but I expect the midfield fight to get even closer in the races to come.”
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Another podium for Bengaluru schoolboy Ruhaan Alva in Italy
File photo of Ruhaan Alva in action. Photo: by Team Alva Adria (Italy), 16 July 2018: India’s Ruhaan Alva came up with a fighting drive to finish on the podium with a fifth place in the sixth round of the Easykart Italia Championship at the Adria International Raceway here on Sunday. It was Ruhaan’s second consecutive podium finish following his first runner-up place in the previous round.
Ruhaan, the 12-year old schoolboy from Bengaluru and supported by Play Factory, Sona Miller and Birel Art India, started the 100cc category final in 17th spot but cut through the field to finish fifth.
The top five finishers were presented with trophies on the podium.
Earlier, in the pre-final, Ruhaan had shown impressive pace to move from 12th to fourth before getting involved in an incident that pushed him down to 15th which put him 17th on the grid for the final race that followed.
“I was quite happy with my pace through the weekend and was hopeful of strong result. Unfortunately, I could not qualify higher than 17th for the final, but had a good run to finish fifth which put me on the podium,” said Ruhaan who is among the six drivers selected by the prestigious International Easykart Driver Talent program organized by Birel ART in Italy.
Ruhaan Alva’s next round is in September after the summer break in the championship.
eom/db
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Double for Babit Lyngdoh: DMSC JK Tyre 2018 Autocross
Dimapur (Nagaland), 16 July 2018: The 4th DMSC JK Tyre 2018 Autocross successfully concluded here late on Sunday, with the Meghalaya duo of Babit Lyngdoh and Kamlesh.
Driving through twisty and hairpin turns inside the track in front of delighted crowds, Babit completed a grand double, winning the Open as well as the Above 1.1 Categories. He hit the post in a record-breaking 2:00.47 in the Open category and was equally fast (2:03:81) in the Above 1.1 category.
Kamlesh proved to be the star in the SUV category, needing 2:14.13 to emerge the victor. Sandeep Sharma of Delhi underlined his class, taking the second position in as many as three categories. He took 2:03:22 to finish behind Babit in the Open category, 2:03:91 in the Above 1.1 Category and 2:14:50 in the SUV class for two runner-up places.
Local lad Dennis Assumi too had the distinction of coming third in two races, the Open and the SUV categories
Over 60 drivers from different parts if the country participated in this three-day event organised by the Dimapur Motorsports Club. The winners were rewarded with trophies and cash prizes
Results: Open Category: 1. Babit Lyngdoh (Meghalaya, 2:00.47); 2. Sandeep Sharma (Delhi, 2:03.22); 3. Dennis Assumi (DMSC, 2:04.28)
Above 1.1 category: 1. Babit Lyngdoh (Meghalaya, 2:03:81); 2. Sandeep Sharma (Delhi, 2:03:91); 3. Obeth (AMAM, 2:04.09)
SUV category: 1 Kamlesh (Meghalaya, 2:14.13); 2. Sandeep Sharma (Delhi, 2:14:50); 3. Denis Assumi (DMSC, 2:18.91)
Below 1.1 cc: Imli Pongen (2:06.50); 2. Atoka Awomi (2:09.78); 3. TomitoShohe (2:09.81)
Rookie: Imli Pongen (2:06.06); 2. Atoka Awomi (2:11.34); 3. Jaki Trang (2:11.41)
Special category (Lady): Phoebe (Meghalaya).
About JK Tyre Motorsport: JK Tyre has always been closely associated with the world of sports. Almost three decades back the company laid down a long term and sustained approach to promote Motorsport. Participating in this form of the sport has helped the company in continuously updating its products to meet the challenges of gruelling Indian conditions. The sport at that time in India was perceived for elite but JK Tyre took upon itself to package and redesign the sport to suit the masses. The company not only made the sport affordable but also equivalent to International operating standards. JK Tyre’s foray into Motorsport was a well thought out strategic decision to not only use and develop this virgin branding platform but also to realize the dreams of making India a force in the World of motorsport.
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Marquez takes ninth Sachsenring win in style; Rossi storms to 2nd from P6: MotoGP Round 9
Marc Marquez after winning the German GP at Sachsenring on Sunday. A MotoGP image Chemnitz (Germany), 15 July 2018: A tactical masterclass saw the reigning World Champion Marc Marquez, the number 93, to be able to pull clear to take an incredible ninth German GP win in a row – from his ninth pole in the MotoGP World Championship Round 9 at Sachsenring, 8 km from here on Sunday.
Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has re-written another piece of history in the Pramac Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, storming from a ninth pole in a row to take his ninth win in a row across all classes. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoG) took second and maintains his second place in the standings after an impressive bounce back after a tough Friday at the track, with the podium completed by teammate Maverick Viñales.
At lights out it was Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) who got the holeshot from pole, moving from third into the lead as Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) slotted into second – with Marquez shuffled back into third. Rossi made a good start from sixth to move into fourth ahead of teammate Viñales, with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) the key man to lose out from fifth.
Once at the front, Lorenzo set about putting the hammer down, making it the sixth race in succession the Mallorcan has led. It didn’t take too long for Marquez to make his way through to be the man behind his compatriot, however, and a game of cat and mouse began at the front as Marquez reeled in the rhythm ahead of him.
Meanwhile, Rossi attacked Petrucci for third and moved through, as Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) then crashed out at Turn 12, the Brit’s say in the podium fight over early. Lorenzo was holding firm at the front, but Marquez then chose his moment and struck – taking over in the lead and leaving Lorenzo to be reeled in by Rossi.
That the Italian did, and the rider from Tavullia got his own hammer down once past to try and claw back some time to Marquez, but it wasn’t to be. The number 93 pulled the pin with perfect timing, with enough grip left to see him make a gap and keep it until crossing the line for the stunning ninth win in a row at the Sachsenring – and all from pole.
Rossi was then safe in second for another podium finish, but teammate Viñales left it late to complete the rostrum. First Petrucci was the man pushing to pass a Lorenzo struggling with grip, before Viñales arrived on the scene and attacked the Mallorcan and then the Italian to take third and a second successive podium.
That made Petrucci top Independent Team rider in a well-fought fourth, just ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team)’s stunning ride to fifth. Bautista was the fastest man on track for a good number of laps and kept that incredible form to the end, the final man able to muscle past Lorenzo by the flag.
Lorenzo took P6 ahead of a tough day for teammate Andrea Dovizioso, with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) putting in a solid ride to eighth. Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) improved from his worst qualifying of the season so far to take ninth despite the difficult weekend, with an incredible ride from Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) putting the Brit in the tenth to take KTM’s first top ten of the season.
Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) was top rookie in eleventh and takes over at the top of the Rookie of the Year standings, ahead of Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who was caught in an early incident that saw Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) make contact with Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and both go down; also affecting Iannone and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing). Miller finished P14, with Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) between him and Iannone. Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) completed the points.
Now summer awaits but it’s not too long until we’re back at Brno for the Czech GP – where the second half of the Championship will hit top gear straightaway as the pressure starts to ramp up towards the season finale…
MotoGP™ Race Results
1 – Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA 41’05.019
2 – Valentino Rossi (ITA) YAMAHA +2.196
3 – Maverick Viñales (SPA) YAMAHA +2.776
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First Independent Team Rider
4 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA) DUCATI +3.376eom/db -
Brilliant Binder takes maiden Moto2 win
Moto2 podium on Sunday. A MotoGP image The South African took an immaculate victory as the Championship takes another twist in an unpredictable race
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) claimed the first South African intermediate class win since 1980 at the Pramac Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland after a sublime ride, beating Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) to victory as the Spaniard claimed his best Moto2™ result in second, with Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) claiming his first Grand Prix podium in third.
The opening stages of the Moto2™ race where chaotic. First, Miguel Oliveria (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had a moment on the last corner of the opening lap, luckily staying on after getting out of shape – making contact with the helpless Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP) as he tried to pass. Then a lap later, Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) crashed out of P2 at the same corner, with Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) having to take avoiding action, running into the gravel and dropping down to 26th. The drama wasn’t over, with Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) highsiding out of contention at T2 on lap three, leaving Marini, Mir and Binder at the front.
The Italian held station at the front, before Mir went up the inside at Turn 1 to take the lead of the race. Five laps later, Binder then made his move, first getting past Marini at Turn 1 before slicing his way through on race leader Mir at the bottom of the Ralf Waldmann corner. The South African wasn’t able to create a gap, but his lap 10 move proved to be the race-winning overtake, with Binder looking like he was on rails around the Sachsenring as he eventually claimed victory by 0.779 seconds, with 0.154 splitting Mir and Marini in P2 and P3.
Further back, Oliveira had re-grouped and got himself up to fourth after passing Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) and home rider Marcel Schroetter (Dynavolt Intact GP). The Portuguese rider couldn’t bridge the gap to the front three though and settled for P4, with Lowes getting the better of Schroetter on the last lap to claim his best result of the season in fifth – the German sixth at his home Grand Prix.
After his tangle with Oliveira, Vierge crossed the line P7, with Simone Corsi (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2), Fabio Quartararo (MB Conveyors – Speed Up Racing) and Jorge Navarro (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) rounding out the top 10.
Remy Gardner (Tech 3 Racing) produced a gritty ride as he continues his return from two broken legs, with Bagnaia brilliantly salvaging P12 – his Championship lead now cut to seven points though. 13th was Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) after his heavy Saturday crash, with Dominique Aegerter 14th (Kiefer Racing) and Augusto Fernandez (Pons HP40) earning another point scoring ride in 15th.
So, it was a magnificent maiden Moto2™ victory for Binder, while the Championship pendulum swings again with Oliveira cutting the gap to Bagnaia as the paddock heads for the summer break.
Moto2™ Race Results
1 – Brad Binder (RSA) KTM 39’46.3067
2 – Joan Mir (SPA) KALEX +0.779
3 – Luca Marini (ITA) KALEX +0.933 -
Pramac Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland Sunday Guide
Sachsenring, 15 July 2018:
MotoGP
Marc Márquez starts from pole for the ninth successive year at the Sachsenring, including six successive years in the premier class. He is aiming to take his ninth successive win at this track, the sixth in MotoGP, and equal his record at any one track in the premier class from Austin earlier this year.This is the 48th pole position for Marc Márquez on what is his 99th start in the premier class (48.5%), and the 76th of his Grand Prix career.
Danilo Petrucci starts from second on the grid for the second successive time at the Sachsenring circuit, equalling his best qualifying result in the MotoGP™ class.
Jorge Lorenzo has qualified in third, which is his best qualifying result at the Sachsenring since he was also third back in 2015. He will be aiming to take his first ever Grand Prix win at this track.
The highest-placed Yamaha rider on the grid is Maverick Viñales in fourth, which is the best qualifying result for a Yamaha rider at this track since Valentino Rossi was third two years ago. Last year, he finished fourth from 11th on the grid. He will be aiming to become the first non-Honda rider to win at the Sachsenring in the premier class since Valentino Rossi in 2009.
Yamaha riders have not won since Assen last season with Valentino Rossi (18 successive races), equalling their longest sequence without a win since the 18-race sequence that included the last two races of 2002 and the 16 races of 2003. The last time Yamaha had a winless streak of more than 18 races was the 22-race sequence including the 15 races of 1997 and the opening seven races of 1998.
After passing through Q1, Andrea Dovizioso has qualified fifth, which is his best qualifying result at the Sachsenring since he was fourth back in 2010.
Valentino Rossi, who crossed the line in fifth last year at the Sachsenring, starts from sixth on the grid and will be aiming to stand on the podium for fifth time this year.
Cal Crutchlow, who has finished on the podium at the Sachsenring twice in the premier class, in 2013 and 2016, has qualified seventh and is the second Independent Team rider.
Andrea Iannone starts from the middle of the third row, which is the best qualifying result for Suzuki at the Sachsenring since Maverick Viñales was sixth fastest two years ago.
Álvaro Bautista has qualified in ninth place, which is his best qualifying result since he was also ninth in Aragón last year.
Dani Pedrosa, who has won four times at the Sachsenring in the premier class, starts from tenth on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since Le Mans.
Takaaki Nakagami, who has qualified 12th, equalling his best qualifying result in the MotoGP™ class, is now the first of the five rookies this year to reach Q2 more than once.
Heading the fifth row on the grid is Johann Zarco, who was in Q1 for the second successive time. He failed to go to Q2 for the first time since the German GP last year, when he qualified in 19th place on the grid, and the fourth time overall.
Moto2
Mattia Pasini starts from pole position for the seventh time in the Moto2™ class, becoming the Italian rider with most pole positions in the class ahead of Franco Morbidelli. He will be aiming to win for the second time at the Sachsenring, along with 2006 (125cc).Mattia Pasini (32 years 335 days old) is the oldest rider to qualify on pole position in the Moto2™ class, beating his previous record from Italy earlier this year.
Luca Marini starts from second on the grid, which is his best ever qualifying result and his second successive front row start. He will be aiming to stand on the podium for the first time in what is his 45th Grand Prix race.
Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia, who crossed the line third place last year in Germany, has qualified in third place making three Italian riders on the front row for the first time in the Moto2™ class.
Heading the second row on the grid as the highest-place KTM rider is Sam Lowes, which is his best qualifying result since he was second in Austin earlier this year.
Lorenzo Baldassarri starts from the middle of the second row, which is his best qualifying result since he was third fastest qualifier at Le Mans this season.
Xavi Vierge starts from sixth on the grid, which is the second successive time he has qualified on the first two rows.
Álex Márquez, who crashed out of the race last year (breaking two vertebras), heads the third row on the grid ahead of his teammate Joan Mir, winner of the 2017 Moto3™ race in Germany. This is the second time this year that Márquez failed to qualify on the first two rows on the grid.
Second across the line last year at the Sachsenring, Miguel Oliveira starts from 15th, which is the fourth time this year he has failed to qualify within the four front rows.
Moto3
Jorge Martín has qualified on pole position for the sixth time this year and the 15thtime in the Moto3™ class. He missed the race at the Sachsenring circuit last year after breaking his right leg in FP2.This is the 12th successive pole for a Honda rider, which is the longest run of successive pole positions in the Moto3™ class by the Japanese manufacturer since the introduction of the class in 2012.
Marcos Ramírez, who stood on the podium for the first time in his Grand Prix career last year in Germany, starts from second on the gird as the highest-placed KTM rider, which is his best qualifying result – and his first front-row start – on what is his 36thstart in the Moto3™ class.
Enea Bastianini completes the front row of the grid, which is second front row start at the Sachsenring circuit after his pole position in 2016. Along with Marcos Ramírez, he is the only rider of the current field who has stood on the podium at this track, both in 2015 and 2016.
Heading the second row is Jaume Masiá, despite a big crash in FP3, which is his best qualifying result on what is his 12th start in the Moto3™ class.
Arón Canet, who qualified on his most recent pole at the Sachsenring last year, has qualified fifth, which is the fourth successive time he has qualified on the first two rows on the grid. He crashed out of the race in Germany last season.
Tony Arbolino starts from sixth on the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he was on pole position in Argentina earlier this year.
Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi has qualified seventh, which is the fourth time this year he has failed to qualify on the first two rows on the grid.
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Marquez edges Petrucci by just 0.025 to take pole: MotoGP Round 9
Independent team rider and Friday’s second-fastest Petrucci was denied his first pole on Saturday. A MotoGP image After the first runs in the session, it was Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) on the provisional pole as the Spaniard was the first to break Marquez’ previous pole lap record from 2015, before the first charge on the second exit saw Lorenzo threaten that – with Petrucci in close pursuit. Over the line, the two took over at the top, with Petrucci just ahead, as Marquez began his third run – later crediting the two-stop strategy as a key to his ninth pole at the venue.
On that last dash with the clock counting down, the number 93 was just off in the first sector, put in a personal best second sector and then a red third one – meaning he was up on the previous best overall. But it was mere hundredths and it went right down to the wire, with a solid final sector seeing Marquez just maintain the advantage and pip Petrucci by the tiniest of margins. That means it’s exactly the top two from last season, except then, it was over a tenth and a half, and this year it’s half a tenth covering the front row.
Viñales wasn’t able to improve and stayed fourth, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) moved up to fifth after coming from Q1 and Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) found some more pace on Saturday to complete the superstar-studded second row – with every one of them keen to get the launch of their lives and move forward at lights out. With Lorenzo ahead of them on the front row, that could be a task. The front row riders share 11 titles between them – but so do the second.
On the third row, the former podium finisher at the venue Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) took P7, ahead of practice pacesetter Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and the on-form Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team), with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) rounding out the top ten. The number 26 has an impeccable record at the track – it’s the venue at which he’s had the most success, along with Valencia – and could be one to watch when the lights go out.
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) starts P11 and Q1 graduate Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) starts P12, with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) hot on their heels in thirteenth. Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) complete the top fifteen on the grid after Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), who just missed out on a place in Q2, received a six-place grid penalty for the race following ‘irresponsible riding’ in FP3; now starting P19.
Think you know what’s going to happen in the German GP? You might be the only one…From 14:00 (GMT +2) the grid will be back out to race and see who will take the momentum into the summer break.
MotoGP™ Qualifying Results
1 – Marc Marquez (SPA) HONDA 1’20.270
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First Independent Team Rider:
2 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA) DUCATI +0.025
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3 – Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) DUCATI +0.057 -
It’s an all Italian affair: Marini and Bagnaia join Pasini on Moto2 front row
First-ever all-Italian front row in Moto2. A MotoGP image Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) grabbed his second pole of the season at the Pramac Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland to finish 0.181 seconds ahead of fellow Italian Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46), with his teammate, Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46), rounding out the front row to make it an all-Italian front three for the first time ever in Moto2™.
The intermediate class took to the Sachsenring in beautiful conditions and it was the eventual pole sitter who came out the blocks with all cylinders firing, climbing to the top of the timesheets to set his benchmark time of 1:23.787 on his fourth flying lap – a time that would go unbeaten. The two VR46 riders went out in tandem with Bagnaia leading Marini around the 3.6km circuit, with the latter going 0.002 quicker than his teammate to claim his second consecutive front row start. Bagnaia had to settle for third, but will be confident of challenging for the win in Sunday’s race to try and extend his Championship lead over Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – the Portuguese rider starts 15th.
Fourth and the leading KTM was Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) as he launches from the front of the second row, with 0.001 splitting the British rider from Bagnaia. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) recovered from a crash in FP3 to qualify fifth on the grid, with FP2’s quickest rider Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP) rounding out Row 2 at the team’s home Grand Prix.
After a heavy fall at Turn 8 in FP3, Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was able to earn a seventh place start in qualifying, with teammate Joan Mir just 0.013 behind him in eighth. At his home Grand Prix, Marcel Schroetter (Dynavolt Intact GP) will launch from ninth in a bid to stand on the rostrum for the first time, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in 10th – less than four tenths from pole position.
Fabio Quartararo (MB Conveyors – Speed Up Racing) was an early faller in the session at Turn 3, the Frenchman will have work to do from P18 if he’s to claim his third consecutive podium. Meanwhile, Khairul Idham Pawi (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) also crashed at Turn 3 late on – both riders were ok.
Less than a second covers Pawi in P24 to pole in what is an incredibly tight intermediate class field. Who will take victory at the German GP tomorrow? Find out when the Moto2™ riders go racing at 3.40 pm Indian time (12:20 local time -GMT +2) on Sunday. Watch live on Sony Ten in India.
Moto2™ Qualifying Results
1 – Mattia Pasini (ITA) KALEX 1’23.787
2 – Luca Marini (ITA) KALEX +0.181
3 – Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) KALEX +0.183
