Marquez apologised to Vinales over Q2 clash

Marquez, who secured his eighth successive Sachsenring pole on Saturday, was trying to keep his tyres at operating temperature during the wet session when the Yamaha rider came across him on a flying lap.

Vinales scythed up the inside of the Honda man on the run down to the Omega corner, but ran wide.

Marquez believed his compatriot would remain off the racing line, but Vinales drifted back over and the pair touched in the middle of the corner.

Vinales was visibly frustrated at Marquez's actions, but the Honda rider later insisted the incident was nothing more than a 'misunderstanding' caused by his unusual line through the corner.

“With Maverick, it was a little bit of a misunderstanding there,” he said. “I was pushing, I was trying to keep the rhythm on wet tyres, especially in the beginning and I overtook him.

“I was pushing just on another lap, but maybe my line in Turn 2 is very different; I go in really slow and try to keep the gas.

“But he overtook me from the inside, he went a little bit wide and, honestly, I expected that [he was] going [to stay] wide.

“But then [he] came back earlier than what I expect and we have some contact. I already said sorry to him, but the most important is both of us stayed on the bike.”

Vinales did not dwell on the incident when asked about it, but warned he would not hesitate to be aggressive with Marquez should a similar situation arise.

“In qualifying [it] happens,” Vinales, who struggled to 11th in qualifying, said.

“It's okay, now I have it in the pocket if one time I have to do it.”

Marquez, who is 11 points down on standings leader Andrea Dovizioso, admits the current championship battle is out of his control.

However, with his nearest title rivals out of position, and given his strong form at the Sachsenring, Marquez is aware he has been presented with his best chance this season to take points back in the championship contest.

“It's something that is not in my hands. I can win the race, but if Dovi or Vinales finish second still I'm there.

“But of course, it's a circuit that I will have some possibility to make close the gap from the top guys and we will try.

“We do not have this opportunity every weekend, but my main target is to try to finish in front of all of them to be closer in the championship.”

Lewis Duncan

Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont