Marquez, second in Germany despite a crash

The ninth round of the World Championship has begun with a good feeling for Marc Marquez, who was able to overcome a crash early in the day to set the second fastest time of Friday –behind Aleix Espargaro. Dani Pedrosa also went down halfway through the second session, concluding in tenth place and half a second off the top.

After completing just 4 laps, Marc Marquez was flung from his Honda at Turn 2 of the Sachsenring circuit in a spectacular highside. Despite the heavy fall, the current MotoGP World Championship leader was able to return to the pits and continue with his work in the first session, finishing sixth. Lowering his best time by 6 tenths, he led the way for most of the afternoon runout, concluding with a 1’22.158 time on the sixth of 20 laps that placed him second overall.

Dani Pedrosa ended the day tenth. Eighth in the morning session, the Repsol Honda joined his teammate in suffering a crash –his coming on the fifth lap of the second session. He lost the front under braking at Turn 12, but completed a further 18 laps. He could not, however, best his time from his third lap, and his 1’22.589 top time as half a second off that of Espargaro.

With data gathered today, tomorrow Marquez and Pedrosa will continue setting up their Honda in the last two practice sessions, before the qualifying session that will decide the starting grid for Sunday’s final race before the summer break.

Repsol