Fine line separating top two ahead of Germany

Tuesday, 13 July 2010

A single point is the difference between Marc Márquez and Pol Espargaró at the top of the 125cc World Championship, meaning a fantastic spectacle is in prospect at the eni Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland this weekend.

The psychological boost of the 125cc World Championship lead going into the four-week summer break is at stake this weekend at Sachsenring, and the battle is sure to be intense at the eni Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland.

Currently holding the most slender of advantages – just a single point – at the head of the standings is Marc Márquez, thanks to his superb run of four straight wins in the previous four races. The Red Bull Ajo Motorsport rider could become the first rider since Valentino Rossi (in 1997) to win five or more successive races in the category if he triumphs.

His main rival going into the weekend is Pol Espargaró, who on 131 points will ensure that the anticipation for this weekend’s race will be at a peak. The Tuenti Racing rider has finished on the podium for six consecutive races, and last season finished fifth from 19th on the grid at the German track. Interestingly none of the current 125cc class has previously won at Sachsenring.

Third in the standings but in a situation which is much more complex is Nico Terol. Following his last-lap crash at Catalunya, which resulted in a lung contusion and fractured L1 and L2 vertebrae, the Bancaja Aspar rider’s condition will be assessed before a decision is taken on his participation. He will be desperate to not lose any further ground, as he aims to make up what is now a 13-point distance to Espargaró.

Bradley Smith will be in determined mode after his second podium of the season at Catalunya, and the Bancaja Aspar man is 24 points off his team-mate. In fifth and sixth respectively and level on 60 points are Efrén Vázquez (Tuenti Racing) and Sandro Cortese (Avant Mitsubishi Ajo).

Five wildcard riders will also compete; Daniel Kartheininger (Freudenberg Racing Team), Marvin Fritz (LHF Project Racing), Toni Finsterbusch (Freudenberg Racing Team), Eric Hubsch (Team Sachsenring) and Kevin Hamus (Thomas Sabo Team Hanusch).

A win for any of the Derbi riders would be a 100th Grand Prix victory for the factory, which would make them just the sixth manufacturer to reach the milestone in history of GP racing.