Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) may have started the GoPro Motorrad Grand Prix at the Sachsenring from ninth, however it did not take long for the Italian to move up three spots shortly after the lights went out, to a better positioned sixth. He was on a charge towards the front group of five riders that had formed on the first lap. Rossi came under pressure from LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow early on, yet he held firm; closing the gap by lap six to Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team). Closely shadowed by Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Rossi took hold of fifth place a lap later, before he got caught up in a battle with his compatriot. Again, the 'Doctor' was unwilling to hand over his position for any longer than a few seconds, before he also passed Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) for 4th place.
With a clear track ahead of him, the nine-time World Champion put his head down to try to decrease the over three-second gap to third place. Rossi was eager to reel in his rival, but had to focus on keeping Dovizioso at bay, as well as his own teammate Maverick Viñales. Ultimately, he had to let Viñales pass, and together the factory Yamaha riders cruised towards the chequered flag - with Rossi taking solid points as he secured fifth place.
Valentino Rossi, P5: "It was a difficult weekend, because we suffered a lot, like we had done at other tracks this year, but fortunately we were able to work better. The race was not so bad, because I kept a good pace going from the beginning until the end. I‘m happy when I fight for the podium, but still this fifth place is quite good, these are good points for the championship and we are just ten points from the top, so I think the championship is still very much open. I think I will relax for two weeks now and, after two weeks of staying with my friends and recharging my batteries, I will start to train because we have arrive in Brno ready, at a 100% fitness level."