Positive end to Sachsenring weekend with eighth for Marini
SachsenringA weekend of work from the Honda MotoGP riders was rewarded with an eighth place finish by Luca Marini who continued his perfect run of points on Sunday
Starting the 30-lap Grand Prix with his usual speed off the line, Luca Marini was immediately able to capture ground as he and his Honda HRC Castrol teammate tussled through the opening corner. Gaining an early advantage, the #10 led the hunt for Jack Miller and Fabio Quartararo just ahead of the factory Honda HRC duo. Keeping Miller within a few tenths for the majority of the race, Marini moved ahead with just a handful of laps to go and worked to catch Quartararo before the chequered flag. Crossing the line in eighth sees the Italian continue his run of point-scoring finishes on Sunday and move to within just eight points of Alex Marquez in the battle for ninth in the World Championship standings.
Pro Honda LCR's Diogo Moreira started from 18th on the grid, after receiving a grid penalty for slow riding during qualifying. The Brazilian made a good start, despite admitting that the new grid procedure made it challenging during the opening laps. Throughout the 30-lap race, Moreira faced difficulties with grip but managed the situation well, finishing the race in 11th place and scoring valuable points.
After a strong start followed by an intense battle with his rivals, Cal Crutchlow settled into his rhythm and pushed to improve his position. With eight laps to go, the Castrol Honda LCR replacement rider crashed at Turn 3 while fighting for the final points-scoring positions.
Joan Mir’s race would last just seven laps after closing in on his teammate and battling for the top ten early on. Falling alone at the final corner, Mir was unharmed in the fall.
The MotoGP World Championship will now enter the ‘Summer Break’, the three-week gap before the British GP, August 07 – 09. A chance for riders and team members to refresh their mind and bodies before an intense end to the season and the 1,000cc era.
We did the best that we could, at the moment this is the potential we have so I am satisfied with what we have done. As in Assen, the team and I worked well to end the week in a better place than when we started it and the learnings from the Sprint race helped a lot. In this first half of the season I think we have tried everything, every setting, every piece and every detail, I have to thank my guys for their work on this. I remain optimistic that we can find something in the second half of the year to make a step because we should not be happy with eighth place. Now just one race in the next six weeks, a good chance to focus on the body and mind and see what the engineers can discover for the second half of the season.
We did the best that we could, at the moment this is the potential we have so I am satisfied with what we have done. As in Assen, the team and I worked well to end the week in a better place than when we started it and the learnings from the Sprint race helped a lot. In this first half of the season I think we have tried everything, every setting, every piece and every detail, I have to thank my guys for their work on this. I remain optimistic that we can find something in the second half of the year to make a step because we should not be happy with eighth place. Now just one race in the next six weeks, a good chance to focus on the body and mind and see what the engineers can discover for the second half of the season.
Super long race! Thirty laps was a lot. I tried to stay focused, avoid mistakes and manage the race well. We survived and scored some points, which is always important. With the new grid procedure, it was difficult to get a better start. I stayed with the group and gathered information to improve, which was important.
Super long race! Thirty laps was a lot. I tried to stay focused, avoid mistakes and manage the race well. We survived and scored some points, which is always important. With the new grid procedure, it was difficult to get a better start. I stayed with the group and gathered information to improve, which was important.
I had some problems during the race. In the end, I made a mistake and crashed. Still, I really enjoyed battling with some of the other riders, that was great. Overall, we can be pleased with the performance. I gained more track speed, improved the feeling with the bike and, most importantly, got more valuable track time. I’ll always prefer crashing while fighting for positions than finishing the race at the back.
I had some problems during the race. In the end, I made a mistake and crashed. Still, I really enjoyed battling with some of the other riders, that was great. Overall, we can be pleased with the performance. I gained more track speed, improved the feeling with the bike and, most importantly, got more valuable track time. I’ll always prefer crashing while fighting for positions than finishing the race at the back.
A shame to end the weekend like this. I started the race well and was right with Luca, just waiting for a moment to make a move and then attack the Yamaha riders. I lost the front in the last corner and that was our Sunday over. Fortunately, I am OK, but of course this situation is really frustrating. Now we have some time to reset and come back after the break with our heads clear.
A shame to end the weekend like this. I started the race well and was right with Luca, just waiting for a moment to make a move and then attack the Yamaha riders. I lost the front in the last corner and that was our Sunday over. Fortunately, I am OK, but of course this situation is really frustrating. Now we have some time to reset and come back after the break with our heads clear.
