He left it late but in the end, it was Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) who will launch from pole in Sunday’s Sachsenring race ahead of Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) and Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) after a fantastic qualifying session.
Below are 10 reasons why you need to tune into VideoPass to watch the pivotal 2018 German GP. Who are you backing to emerge victorious your MotoGP™ League?
1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) starts from pole position for the ninth consecutive year at the Sachsenring, including six successive years in the premier class. He is aiming to take his ninth successive win at the German GP, the sixth in MotoGP™, and equal his record at any one track in the premier class that was set in Austin earlier this year.
2. This is Marquez’ 48th pole position on what is his 99th start in the premier class (48.5% rate), and his 76th of his Grand Prix career.
3. Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) starts P2 for the second consecutive time at the Sachsenring, equalling his best qualifying result in the MotoGP™ class.
4. Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) will start the race from 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.
5. A Yamaha rider hasn’t won since Assen last season with Valentino Rossi, equaling their longest streak 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.
6. After passing through Q1, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) qualified fifth, which is his best qualifying result at the Sachsenring since he was fourth back in 2010.
7. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), who has finished on the podium twice at the Sachsenring in the premier class (2013 and 2016), qualified seventh and as the second Independent Team rider.
8. Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) qualified ninth, which is his best qualifying result since he was also ninth in Aragon last year.
9. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), who has won four times at the Sachsenring in the premier class, starts from tenth on the grid - his best qualifying result since Le Mans earlier this year.
10. Heading the fifth row is Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) who found himself in Q1 for the second successive time. He failed to reach Q2 for the first time since last season’s German GP when he qualified 19th, the fourth time this has happened in his MotoGP™ career.