German MotoGP, Sachsenring - Free Practice (3) Results

Free Practice (3) results from the German MotoGP at Sachsenring, round 8 of the 2021 world championship.
Fabio Quartararo German MotoGP, 18 June 2021
Fabio Quartararo German MotoGP, 18 June 2021
© Gold and Goose Photography

World championship leader Quartararo sets the pace during a close Free Practice 3 for the German MotoGP at Sachsenring.

The top ten riders after FP3 (combined times) receive direct access to the second and final part of qualifying, meaning the likes of Mir, Morbidelli, Vinales (who fell), Rins and Pol Espargaro (another faller) will take part in Qualifying 1.

The top ten was covered by 0.334s with the top 18 within 0.640s!

Sachsenring, the shortest and slowest circuit for top speed in the world championship, was not part of last year's Covid calendar, which also meant Marc Marquez's record of winning every race at the circuit since he joined the MotoGP class in 2013 remained intact. Add in three victories in the 125cc/Moto2 classes and the Spaniard is unbeaten at the track since 2009!

Marquez faces a challenge to continue that run given his best of seventh place since his return from injury and Honda being without a podium this season - but while still struggling for strength in his right arm and corresponding shoulder area, Marquez has far less trouble with left-hand corners, which dominate the anti-clockwise German track.

The #93 is also finally using the new 2021 Honda fairing upgrade this weekend, a Yamaha style 'loop'. Marquez, fastest for much of Friday, had a lap time cancelled in the closing stages of FP3 but still held on to a top ten place.

Rins is returning to action for Suzuki after missing Barcelona due to a fractured wrist in a bicycle accident.

German MotoGP, Sachsenring - Free Practice (3) Results
Pos RiderNatTeamTime/DiffLapMax
1^1Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)1'20.348s17/24294k
2^7Jack MillerAUSDucati Team (GP21)+0.056s18/21302k
3^5Johann ZarcoFRAPramac Ducati (GP21)+0.085s18/22302k
4˅3Miguel OliveiraPORRed Bull KTM (RC16)+0.103s18/23298k
5^2Aleix EspargaroSPAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)+0.103s18/19298k
6^8Jorge MartinSPAPramac Ducati (GP21)*+0.153s19/21302k
7˅1Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)+0.212s15/22293k
8^14Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Team (GP21)+0.216s23/24301k
9^3Marc MarquezSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.314s18/24298k
10^3Alex MarquezSPALCR Honda (RC213V)+0.334s21/22297k
11^5Joan MirSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.359s17/20293k
12˅2Franco MorbidelliITAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.401s18/23290k
13˅10Maverick ViñalesSPAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.539s21/24295k
14˅10Alex RinsSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.541s22/22298k
15˅4Danilo PetrucciITAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+0.555s21/23295k
16^5Valentino RossiITAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.613s18/23294k
17^1Luca MariniITASky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)*+0.630s19/20298k
18˅3Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)+0.640s21/22300k
19˅14Pol EspargaroSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.922s17/19297k
20=Lorenzo SavadoriITAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)*+1.067s17/19293k
21˅2Enea BastianiniITAAvintia Ducati (GP19)*+1.099s17/17297k
22˅5Iker LecuonaSPAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+1.321s20/20298k

Key:
^X Rider is X positions higher than FP2.
= Rider is same position as FP2.
˅X Rider is X positions lower than FP2.

Riders directly to Qualifying 2 - Top 10 Combined Practice Times:
PosRiderNatTeam
1Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)
2Jack MillerAUSDucati Team (GP21)
3Johann ZarcoFRAPramac Ducati (GP21)
4Miguel OliveiraPORRed Bull KTM (RC16)
5Aleix EspargaroESPAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)
6Jorge MartinSPAPramac Ducati (GP21)*
7Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)
8Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Team (GP21)
9Marc MarquezESPRepsol Honda (RC213V)
10Alex MarquezESPLCR Honda (RC213V)

* Rookie
Fastest Friday time:
Miguel Oliveira POR KTM 1m 20.690s

Official Sachsenring MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda 1m 20.115s (2019)
Fastest race lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda 1m 21.228s (2019)

By Peter McLaren

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