MotoGP German GP Preview, Session Times and Where to Watch?
MotoGP returns to the Sachsenring for the German Grand Prix this weekend, one of the toughest circuits on the calendar. Here are the Session times and where you can watch the German Grand Prix.
Just a week on from the last round at Assen, the championship has been blown wide open as just 10 points separate the championship leader Jorge Martin and Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia. Bagnaia dominated the Dutch GP weekend, winning both the Sprint Race and Grand Prix as well as being fastest in every session except the Warm-Up.
Coming into the German Grand Prix, Martin will be wanting to strike back at the momentum Bagnaia currently has and re-extend his championship lead. Many have speculated that with Martin’s announcement that he will be moving to Aprilia next season, his Pramac Ducati Desmosedici GP24 might see fewer developments and certain data not shared with the Spaniard, as Ducati wouldn’t want a rider to leave the team with too much knowledge.
With the tight and twisty circuit of the Sachsenring, we are certainly in for a thrilling weekend with a lot of riders being thrown into the mix, as Ducati’s engine power has less of an effect on this circuit. We can expect the KTM riders of Brad Binder and especially Pedro Acosta to certainly be challenging for a podium position, with Acosta still young enough to set a potential “Youngest Winner” record. Aprilia may also be in the mix, with Vinales challenging for the podium at Assen, and Trackhouse Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez challenging for the victory at the Spanish GP in Catalunya, which has similar characteristics to the Sachsenring.
The Circuit
13 Corners link together the Sachsenring circuit in Germany, one of the tougher circuits on the MotoGP calendar as the margin for error is so small. With 3 corners to the right and 10 corners to the left, it certainly favours riders who are confident on their left side lean angles, and the tight, flowing nature of the circuit means that a battle will cost both riders a lot of time on the track.
The most favourable overtaking zones will be at Turn 1’s heavy braking right-hander , with riders braking whilst riding on a bump in the track, the rear of the bike will likely start to stand up as riders push to find their limit. With the track tightening into Turns 2-3, most of the racing action will be delayed until later in the lap, unless the rider in front makes a mistake.
The circuit certainly punishes a rider for riding offline even slightly, so tyre grip and conservation is going to be pivotal in the Grand Prix on Sunday, with moderate track elevation changes, like the downhill section of turns 6-8.
Another likely overtaking zone will be on the back straight heading into the heavy braking zone of Turn 12, followed up by the next left-hander at the final corner of Turn 13, a steep uphill medium length corner that is somewhat difficult to judge as the exit of the corner is barely visible.
Bagnaia’s Championship Charge
Francesco Bagnaia has been the first rider in the new Sprint race weekend format to score the full 37-points at consecutive races, doing so at both Mugello and Assen. Coming into the German Grand Prix, Bagnaia and Martin are separated by just 10-points. If Martin finishes second place in both the Sprint and Grand Prix, with Bagnaia taking victory in both as well, then they will be even on points heading into the next round.
However, with Bagnaia winning the last two Grands Prix and the last two Sprints, Martin will need to disrupt the reigning champion’s momentum heavily in order to re-establish himself as the dominant rider in the championship. As many have said since Jorge Martin’s Aprilia announcement, the Spaniard is likely going to stop receiving updates and data on the Pramac Ducati, which could eventually cost him the championship.
King of the Ring – Marquez’s Sachsenring History
Marc Marquez comes into this weekend with a thoroughly impressive record around the Sachsenring circuit, taking victory every single time he has entered the race in the premier class. He won every German GP across the junior and premier classes from 2010-2021, with the 2020 round being cancelled due to Covid. Marquez would then miss the 2022 German GP due to surgery on his arm, as well as missing the 2023 German GP after a heavy crash in the Warm-Up.
With Marquez now on a Ducati, could this be the perfect race for Marquez to take his maiden victory with Ducati? only time will tell, and with other manufacturers expected to bring strong packages this weekend, Marquez is in for one of the greatest challenges of his career. Aside from other manufacturers, Marquez is also on an older spec Ducati and therefore will be fighting an uphill battle against the likes of Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini on the Factory spec. However, with the Marquez magic in 2021, returning from his injuries and still managing a victory, everything is on the table this weekend.
Remy Gardner’s MotoGP return
After Alex Rins suffered a heavy crash at Turn 1 of the Dutch GP, the Spaniard would unfortunately pick up multiple minor injuries as a result of a high side, leaving him out of the running for the German GP. Remy Gardner will therefore stand in for Yamaha, having the opportunity to prove himself once again after a disappointing 2022 campaign with KTM.
Gardner is fresh off the back of a podium finish in the Assen World Superbikes round in Race 2, with 4th place finishes in Race 1 and the Superpole race. We have seen a familiar story like this, with Garrett Gerloff replacing an injured Franco Morbidelli at Assen back in 2021. Gerloff is also a podium finisher in the World Superbikes with Yamaha, and Gardner will be looking to hopefully impress the Japanese manufacturer in his bid for a potential full MotoGP return.
Session Times – In local German time
Friday:
FP1 – 10:45am-11:30am
FP2 – 15:00pm-16:00pm
Saturday:
FP3 – 10:10am-10:40am
Qualifying – 10:50am-11:30am
Sprint Race – 15:00pm
Sunday:
Warm-Up – 9:40am-9:50am
Grand Prix – 14:00pm
Where to Watch?
UK viewers can watch all the racing action on TNT Sports, which is also available on Discovery Plus.
U.S viewers will be able to watch on truTV via TNT Sports, as well as the action being streamed on Max.
Featured Image – Ducati Corse Media
