MotoGP Germany: Quartararo dominates French one-two at ‘The Ring’

Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo completed another MotoGP masterclass after dominating at the Sachsenring on Sunday.

The Frenchman met the flag five seconds clear of Prima Pramac’s Johann Zarco to claim Yamaha’s first victory at the German track since Valentino Rossi in 2009. Ducati Lenovo’s Jack Miller recovering from a long lap penalty to celebrate on the podium for the third time this year.

After securing a new all-time circuit record on Saturday, Pecco Bagnaia sat at the head of the MotoGP grid in preparation for 30 gruelling laps around the short and sharp 3.7km Sachsenring. Reigning champion Quartararo and Zarco completing the front row.

Ducati dominated the first three rows with six of the top eight on Bologna machinery as the factory searched for its first victory in Saxony since Casey Stoner in 2008 and with Marc Marquez recovering from shoulder surgery once again - having won the last eight races - the ‘King of the Ring’ title was firmly up for grabs.

Miller lined up in sixth with a long lap penalty looming following a crash under yellow flags in Saturday’s FP4. The temperatures rising to 35℃ ambient and 52℃ on track ahead of lights out as Gresini’s Enea Bastianini was the sole rider to opt for medium front Michelins with Maverick Viñales, Repsol’s Pol Espargaro and Quartararo running medium rears in the challenging conditions.

The Yamaha man bettered Bagnaia’s GP22 as the pack released with Aleix Espargaro up to third on the Aprilia RS-GP. Zarco demoted into the path of Gresini rookie Fabio di Giannantonio with Miller heading Luca Marini and Viñales in the top eight before the Aprilia rider struck for seventh.

Bagnaia looked to attack the Champ through turn one next time around before Quartararo hit