This week marks the start of a new era in the MotoGP™ eSport Championship! The first Online Challenge kicks off the WINDTRE Rising Stars Series, a new Dorna initiative aimed at finding young talent in the rapidly expanding world of eSports.
Fittingly such an occasion should be celebrated at the Sachsenring, one of the most historic venues currently used by MotoGP™. Situated 20 kilometres from the city of Chemnitz in the east of Germany, the Saxony venue was originally an ultra fast street circuit that was an incredible 28 kilometres long.
It hosted its first World Championship Grand Prix in 1958 and quickly became a favourite of Italian legend Giacomo Agostini, who amassed a stunning eleven victories in the 500cc and 350cc classes there between 1965 and 1972.
A new purpose-built circuit was built among the roads of the old famous venue in 1998 and since then it has become a regular fixture on the MotoGP™ calendar. Recently it has become a famous hunting ground of Marc Marquez, who has gone unbeaten on German soil since his 125cc victory in 2010 – a run that has seen him accumulate an incredible ten wins.
Known for its tight, undulating layout, sell-out crowds and enthusiastic pasty-like atmosphere, the Sachsenring is a standout on the calendar that usually signals the end of the season’s first half.
At 3.6 kilometres in length, it’s one of the year’s slower layouts. Throttle control is put to the test as gamers have to steer a fearsome 260bhp MotoGP™ machine through a series of tight, narrow bends. But once the correct racing line has been found, this can be one of the most fun tracks around.
It all starts with the uphill run to turn one. Just as you hit sixth gear jump on the brakes as you approach the kerbs of the left of the track and shift down to first gear. Run in a little hot and square off the bend before accelerating into the fabulous downhill turns two and three. Quickly switch from left to right into the long Omega curve, taken in second gear. Be patient with the throttle and dab the rear brake to tighten your line when necessary.
Accelerate up to third gear through the uphill turns five and six and then put your throttle control to the test! Gradually accelerate up to fifth gear while hitting the apexes on the inside of turns seven and eight.
Turn in early and shift back to third for turn nine then hold a wide, arcing line through ten and eleven, ensuring you hit the apex on the inside of the latter as it sets you up perfectly through the track’s most spectacular feature.
‘The Waterfall’, as turn twelve has been christened, should be attacked in fifth gear. Just feather the throttle slightly as you hit the apex and then accelerate into sixth gear on the downhill approach to turn 13. This is another bend that demands a late apex. Having shifted back to third gear, wait until the last minute to turn in and accelerate smoothly toward the final corner. Drop back to second, turn in early and accelerate over the line.
Marc Marquez’s outright lap record stands at 1m 20.195s. If you can approach that then you know you’re on the right track!