Marquez 'in a different position' heading to unbeaten MotoGP track

Winner at the Sachsenring since 2009 and unbeaten in the MotoGP class, what will the recovering Marc Marquez be able to manage in this weekend's German GP?
Marquez 'in a different position' heading to unbeaten MotoGP track

Marc Marquez hasn't been beaten at the Sachsenring since 2009 in the 125cc category, kicking off a ten-race winning streak – that includes all seven of his German MotoGP class appearances – the following year.

The run would have ended last season when the Repsol Honda rider was sidelined with a broken arm, but Sachsenring was dropped from the shortened Covid calendar.

The Spaniard returns to Germany this weekend with a best finish of seventh from his five races this season, crashing out in the last three events while battling rear grip problems with his RCV and a continued lack of strength in his right arm and shoulder.

Throw in Honda's longest premier-class losing streak since 1982 and it looks a long shot for Marquez to extend his victory run on Sunday.

Nonetheless, the anticlockwise circuit will play into the eight-time world champion hands, or rather shoulder, since he struggles far less in the left-hand corners that dominate the Sachsenring layout.

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The improvement in Marquez's physical condition was also underlined by a massive 87 laps at the Catalunya test, compared with just 7 laps a month earlier at the Jerez Test.

“After the test day in Barcelona, the week between races went very well to recover. In this test we worked a lot and now we come to the Sachsenring where I have always enjoyed riding in the past," Marquez said.

"This year of course we arrive in a different position, but hopefully the layout should allow us to be more competitive from the physical side. Let’s see what the weekend brings.”

Monday’s post-race test was an important for new team-mate Pol Espargaro, as he also worked to improve rear grip, finishing with the sixth fastest lap time.

“We arrive here in Germany after a good day of testing in Spain. It has been a hard few races so it is important to keep our focus and do what we can this weekend," said Espargaro, a best of eighth place so far this season.

"The Honda has been strong here in the past and with what we found in the test I hope that we can make some steps forward. Everything in MotoGP is so close so even a small improvement will help a lot, especially on Saturdays.

"We now have two races before the summer break, we want to head into the break on a positive.”

Espargaro is currently twelfth in the world championship, but just two points behind the lead Honda of Takaaki Nakagami, with Marc Marquez in 18th place and 99-points behind title leader Fabio Quartararo.

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