German MotoGP, Sachsenring - Free Practice (3) Results
World championship leader Quartararo sets the pace during a close Free Practice 3 for the German MotoGP at Sachsenring.
The top ten riders after FP3 (combined times) receive direct access to the second and final part of qualifying, meaning the likes of Mir, Morbidelli, Vinales (who fell), Rins and Pol Espargaro (another faller) will take part in Qualifying 1.
The top ten was covered by 0.334s with the top 18 within 0.640s!
Sachsenring, the shortest and slowest circuit for top speed in the world championship, was not part of last year's Covid calendar, which also meant Marc Marquez's record of winning every race at the circuit since he joined the MotoGP class in 2013 remained intact. Add in three victories in the 125cc/Moto2 classes and the Spaniard is unbeaten at the track since 2009!
Marquez faces a challenge to continue that run given his best of seventh place since his return from injury and Honda being without a podium this season - but while still struggling for strength in his right arm and corresponding shoulder area, Marquez has far less trouble with left-hand corners, which dominate the anti-clockwise German track.
The #93 is also finally using the new 2021 Honda fairing upgrade this weekend, a Yamaha style 'loop'. Marquez, fastest for much of Friday, had a lap time cancelled in the closing stages of FP3 but still held on to a top ten place.
Rins is returning to action for Suzuki after missing Barcelona due to a fractured wrist in a bicycle accident.
| German MotoGP, Sachsenring - Free Practice (3) Results | |||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max | |
| 1 | ^1 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1'20.348s | 17/24 | 294k |
| 2 | ^7 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.056s | 18/21 | 302k |
| 3 | ^5 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +0.085s | 18/22 | 302k |
| 4 | ˅3 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.103s | 18/23 | 298k |
| 5 | ^2 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.103s | 18/19 | 298k |
| 6 | ^8 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +0.153s | 19/21 | 302k |
| 7 | ˅1 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.212s | 15/22 | 293k |
| 8 | ^14 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.216s | 23/24 | 301k |
| 9 | ^3 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.314s | 18/24 | 298k |
| 10 | ^3 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.334s | 21/22 | 297k |
| 11 | ^5 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.359s | 17/20 | 293k |
| 12 | ˅2 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.401s | 18/23 | 290k |
| 13 | ˅10 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.539s | 21/24 | 295k |
| 14 | ˅10 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.541s | 22/22 | 298k |
| 15 | ˅4 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.555s | 21/23 | 295k |
| 16 | ^5 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.613s | 18/23 | 294k |
| 17 | ^1 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +0.630s | 19/20 | 298k |
| 18 | ˅3 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.640s | 21/22 | 300k |
| 19 | ˅14 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.922s | 17/19 | 297k |
| 20 | = | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +1.067s | 17/19 | 293k |
| 21 | ˅2 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.099s | 17/17 | 297k |
| 22 | ˅5 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.321s | 20/20 | 298k |
Key:
^X Rider is X positions higher than FP2.
= Rider is same position as FP2.
˅X Rider is X positions lower than FP2.
| Riders directly to Qualifying 2 - Top 10 Combined Practice Times: | |||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team |
| 1 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 2 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) |
| 3 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) |
| 4 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) |
| 5 | Aleix Espargaro | ESP | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) |
| 6 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* |
| 7 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) |
| 8 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) |
| 9 | Marc Marquez | ESP | Repsol Honda (RC213V) |
| 10 | Alex Marquez | ESP | LCR Honda (RC213V) |
* Rookie
Fastest Friday time:
Miguel Oliveira POR KTM 1m 20.690s
Official Sachsenring MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda 1m 20.115s (2019)
Fastest race lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda 1m 21.228s (2019)
