Sachsenring, Germany: MotoGP Pre-Race Report
The last race before the summer break is here. This week the riders will be making their way to Germany to take on the famous Sachsenring. The feelings about this racetrack are mixed amongst the riders as some like it and others dislike it. Sachsenring is a technical circuit with an abrasive tarmac and fast left handed turns that make it a punishing circuit on both the tyres and riders physicality. As a result of this, Bridgestone will be providing its innovative asymmetric front slick in its tyre allocation for the Grand Prix. This is the first time in the 2015 season that this has been made available to the riders. To those who are not familiar with the stripe markings on the tyres, if you see a blue stripe this is the asymmetric tyre.
Unfortunately, Stefan Bradl will not be taking part in the race this weekend as a result of the surgery that he had performed last week to fix his right scaphoid fracture. Stefan will be around at the track for his sponsorship and work commitments but Claudio Corti will ride his bike instead. Corti was to repay the team for the opportunity with a strong result and will do his best. The other German rider who will have eyes watching him is Sandro Cortese. The Dynavolt Intact GP Team rider is already eager to get his weekend started. Racing in front of his home crowd is a special experience and in any case Sandro will go all out to put on the best show for his fans and team. Sandro will be chasing down the likes of Johann Zarco, Tito Rabat who just recently broke his collarbone, Alex Rins and Sam Lowes. Rabat had a heavy crash during his training at the Almeria circuit and is a strong rider to take part in this weekend’s Grand Prix. His collarbone will definitely be aggravated, as the circuit is particularly demanding on that part of the body.
In other news, Marco Melandri has left MotoGP. Melandri and Aprilia Team Gresini came to a mutual agreement to end his contract and therefore as a result Melandri will no longer be with the team. Test rider Michael Laverty will take his spot for the weekend and continue to ride alongside teammate Alvaro Bautista for the remainder of the season. It has been a true test for the team and Michael feels as though his understanding of the bike is there to be able to capitalise on a return to the sport. Laverty will have to do everything in his power to make sure his performance is up there with his teammate who has more track time with the Aprilia Gresini machinery.
In terms of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, both riders are feeling strong, calm and looking forward to the race with an amazing atmosphere. Rossi has a happy mindset. Rossi expects Jorge to come back strong and that the Yamaha machinery will need to be reconfirmed in terms of speed and race pace. In the past, Jorge has come very close to winning and he will be doing what he can throughout the week to ensure his bike and his mind are ready for battle. It could be a win that Lorenzo has been looking for year after year. Rossi will be right there with Marc Marquez to also try and take the glory! The same principle will apply in Moto3, as the riders currently in that category have never won a Grand Prix at the Sachsenring circuit
