Sachsenring, FP2: Alex Márquez ahead of Aprilia duo – Yamaha crash at Turn 1

Blue skies, sunshine and a temperature of 20 degrees welcomed the 21 MotoGP riders on Saturday morning for the second free practice session at the Sachsenring. The focus was on race set-up and final preparations for qualifying and the sprint.

Diogo Moreira (LCR-Honda) and Franco Morbidelli (VR46-Ducati) had already been handed grid penalties following Friday afternoon’s qualifying session. Both will have to start three places further back in the Grand Prix. The reason was that they had hindered other riders whilst on a fast lap. For Morbidelli, this was already his second offence in a row, having previously been penalised at Assen for a similar incident.

World Champion Marc Marquez set the fastest time on Friday. The Ducati factory rider completed a lap of the 3.671-kilometre Sachsenring in 1:19.394 minutes. At the start of FP2, lap times were initially in the mid-1:20s, with the two factory Ducatis setting the pace. Later, Gresini rider Alex Marquez took the lead with a lap of 1:20.333.

Alex Rins crashes out at Turn 1 – Yamaha prepares a replacement bike

Shortly after the halfway point of the session, Yamaha factory rider Alex Rins caused yellow flags in the first sector. The Spaniard had gone off at Turn 1. In the Yamaha pit, the second bike was being prepared for action.

There was little change at the top, with Alex Márquez holding on to first place. Behind him, Aprilia factory rider Marco Bezzecchi had moved into position. Pedro Acosta also managed to break into the top three. The two factory Ducatis ridden by Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia had slipped to fourth and fifth places. KTM rider Maverick Viñales fell short of expectations, finishing in last place.

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Sachsenring: Quali Moto3

MotoGP World Championship

11.07.2026 - 12:40

Alex Márquez in the lead, Maverick Viñales last

Alex Marquez’s fastest time remained unchallenged in the closing stages of FP2. The Spanish Gresini Ducati rider held on to the top spot with a lap time of 1:20.333. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse-Aprilia) moved up to second place with just a few seconds to go, but was already 0.321 seconds off the pace. Another Aprilia, ridden by Marco Bezzecchi, followed in third place.

Starke FP2-Session von Toprak Razgatlioglu: Platz 10

Foto: Gold and Goose

Pedro Acosta was the best-placed KTM rider in fourth. World Champion Marc Marquez rounded off the top five. Francesco Bagnaia took sixth place, but will have to compete in Q1 due to his poor performance on Friday. Ai Ogura followed in seventh place ahead of Yamaha works rider Fabio Quartararo. Jorge Martin and Toprak Razgatlioglu rounded off the top 10.

Maverick Viñales finished last. The Spaniard, who will be out of a ride for 2027, was 1.921 seconds off the pace.