Sachsenring, Germany: MotoGP Pre-Race Report
After two weeks off, the riders have arrived at the Sachsenring in Germany. The riders are looking forward to the battle this week and in particular how the weather plays out with some rain scheduled. There is no doubt that the conditions will challenge the riders and in particular the Michelin tyres as the new asymmetric tyre will debut. The other big news of the weekend is Johann Zarco announcing his contract with the Yamaha Tech3 MotoGP team for 2017 and Alex Marquez staying with his Moto2 team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS. It is great news for both riders as they continue to focus on finishing strong in 2016 and finding the ways in which to improve for the following season.
As a top MotoGP rider you have to be a master of all conditions and this is something Lorenzo in particular has been struggling with. The German circuit is 3.7km in length with 10 left corners and 3 right corners with the longest straight stretching 700m. The numerous tight corners make the track a little slower although the riders find the pace to race against one another like there is no tomorrow. Last year it was Marc Marquez on the top spot followed by Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi. This year it could be anyone with the rain definitely up for throwing a spanner in the works.
It was during the first practice session on Friday where Lorenzo, Redding and Bradl came crashing down. Things just did not go to plan and it was obvious that the feelings with the bike were not good. The same can be said for Bradley Smith who has struggled all season long. He is not a happy boy whatsoever. Last year in the MotoGP class, Smith was competitive and showcased his ability to finish on top of the timesheets. Unfortunately, 2016 has been a disaster. Bradley believes it is a combination of things that have led to the poor results. In 2015 the Tech3 rider finished all 18 races whereas this year has led to more of the gravel trap and his leathers being torn up. The hardest task for Brad has been the mental aspects of riding the bike. He does lack a bit of confidence and this can change the entire Championship so quickly. If your relationship with the bike is questioned, the chances of finishing in the top ten are really tough.
In this sport of motorcycle racing you have to be 100% on the ball. If you are lacking by 1% this can be the difference that sets you a part from everyone. Crashes are part of the sport and they impact every single rider differently. Therefore, it is crucial to use every inch of time that is available to adjust before the lights go out on Sunday! There is no doubt that the Sachsenring will put on an incredible show for the fans around the world with some very close racing in all three categories. Every team will be watching the weather radars in order to ensure qualifying is a good one and the race set up for Sunday well taken care of.
