Sachsenring, Q2: Ducati trio lead the way – concerns for Bezzecchi after a highside!

All five Ducatis, all four Aprilias, as well as two Yamahas and one KTM, faced off in Q2 at the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring to determine the starting grid for the first four rows. The two former world champions, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) and Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha), had secured their places in the second session during Q1.

Marc Marquez’s fastest time in free practice was the quickest lap of the weekend so far ahead of Q2. The factory Ducati rider lapped the Sachsenring in 1:19.394 minutes on Friday afternoon. The pole position record was set last year: Fabio di Giannantonio’s time of 1:19.071 was the benchmark for Q2.

A moment of shock: Bezzecchi crashes at high speed

During the first flurry of action, Marco Bezzecchi was thrown from his factory Aprilia in a highside. The Italian lost control on the fast downhill section (Turn 7) and hit the tarmac hard.

Bezzecchi remained on the ground and only got back up after a brief pause to catch his breath. The former World Championship leader had already gone into the Sachsenring weekend in a weakened state following his heavy crash at Assen.

Aprilia rider Fernandez on course for pole from the start

His team-mate Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse-Aprilia) set the fastest lap of 1:19.262 minutes in the first stint and was therefore on course for pole position. Alex Marquez (Gresini-Ducati) was second ahead of Fabio di Giannantonio (VR46-Ducati). Marc Marquez was only in fourth place after the first attempt, 0.305 seconds off the pace.

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On his second set of tyres, Marc Marquez moved up to second place, closing the gap to Fernandez’s time to just 0.089 seconds. Di Giannantonio set the fastest sector times and moved into the lead. The clock stopped at 1:19.188 minutes. Ai Ogura was also quick, slotting into third place and thereby pushing Marc Marquez out of the front row.

Marc Marquez only took the lead on his third attempt

However, the world champion made a third attempt and set the fastest sector times. Marc Márquez broke Di Giannantonio’s pole record with a time of 1:19.041 minutes. Shortly afterwards, his brother Alex moved into second place. This meant three Ducatis were in the top three.

Pedro Acosta wanted to spoil the Ducati party at the top and set the fastest time in the first sector. However, the Spaniard lost a lot of time in the second sector and was no longer a threat to the leading Ducatis.

The order at the top remained unchanged: Marc Márquez took pole position ahead of his brother Alex and Ducati team-mate Fabio di Giannantonio. Raúl Fernández was the best Aprilia rider in fourth place, ahead of his Trackhouse team-mate Ai Ogura. Fabio Quartararo rose to the occasion and secured a place on the second row in sixth.

Franco Morbidelli qualified in seventh place but received a grid penalty for once again dawdling on the ideal line on Friday and hindering another rider. Marco Bezzecchi finished Q2 in eighth position, having set a time before his highside crash. Team-mate Jorge Martin disappointed in ninth place and was the slowest Aprilia rider.

Pedro Acosta was the best-placed KTM rider in 10th on the grid. Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller (Pramac-Yamaha) rounded off the top 12. Miller impressed on Friday but was only the second-fastest Yamaha rider in Q2.

Saturday’s 15-lap MotoGP Sprint will start at 3.00 pm.