- Fresh after the speed bonanza of Mugello, Augusto Fernandez absorbs MotoGP around the endless and technical Sachsenring curves to reach the top 11 after 30 demanding laps
- Fernandez again catches the eye with his attitude, application and progression after decent speed in the German Saturday Sprint
- Jonas Folger aptly fills in once more and rides to 17th position on Sunday at his home Grand Prix for his third best result since helping out the team from round three of the series
- Moto3™ props belong to David Alonso in the top five as Jake Dixon roughs-up the Moto2™ field on his way to 3rd and another podium finish
Augusto Fernandez engaged in a pulsating affair of mini scraps, tire preservation, pace and strategy as the German Grand Prix played out on the tightest and one of the trickiest tracks on the calendar. The Sachsenring was also – typically – rammed with eager fans as MotoGP clicked down the laps during mid-afternoon. The Spaniard was only three tenths of a second away from the top ten. As the flag fell and the strain on the throttle eased, AF37 added five points to his locker and left Germany with numbers on his scorecard for the seventh time this season. Jonas Folger meanwhile finished in 17th place.
From Italy to Germany and now to the Netherlands: the TT Circuit Assen is the oldest Grand Prix venue on the MotoGP slate and GASGAS will try to conquer the characteristics of the flat and weaving Drenthe course for the first time next weekend.
Augusto Fernandez, 11th: “Happy to finish in the points again and also because we had a strong pace all race. I think we could have been better than 11th- maybe top ten – but I paid the price for a bad start. Anyway, the bike worked well, we made steps again and every GP things are getting better and a bit easier for me. We’ll keep going.”
Jonas Folger, 17th: “A nice race, I enjoyed it even though I still couldn’t do the pace I wanted. We still need to improve our grip and turning, and we have to keep working on that. We have to look at the first part of our braking process. I was riding alone for the most part today but I enjoyed the laps and the atmosphere here. Thanks again to the team.”
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “This P11 for Augusto is a strong conclusion to the German GP and it has been a positive weekend overall for the team. Augusto learned all through the weekend, as always, and getting close to the top ten is a good result. He made a small mistake at the start and lost three positions right away but caught the guys back after saving a big ‘moment’. He showed good potential and made a lot of fast laps. We’re super-happy with the job he is doing. It was a more complicated race for Jonas as he lacked some feeling with the front tire and that meant he could not relax into a pace but he made the checkered flag and brought some more experience and information for us. Now we move to Assen for the finale of these three races in a row.”
Results MotoGP Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland
1. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati 40:52.449
2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +0.064
3. Johann Zarco (FRA) Ducati +7.013
11. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +19.997
17. Jonas Folger (GER) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +48.962
World Championship standings MotoGP
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 160 points
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati 144
3. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati, 126
14. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 36
21. Jonas Folger (GER) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 7
Moto3 and Moto2
David Alonso started from 15th on the grid, just ahead of Rysei Yamanaka, and both had to act quickly to make ground in the opening laps. The Spaniard again showed his skill for maximum application in the first minutes of the race and soon reached the top five. The Japanese was just behind and both were in the heat of the fiercest battle among the second group. At the flag Alonso emerged with a well earned 5th spot. Yamanaka classified in 8th position.
David Alonso, 5th:
“After the problem we had on Saturday we knew it would be a complicated race to start from that position on the grid. I made a good start and the first laps were fantastic. I was then just missing a bit more to grab that extra position which would have put me with the front four. Anyway, it wasn’t to be, and I was in the second group and a big fight. It was a positive experience and I learned a lot and, importantly, I achieved my objective which was to win that battle for 5th. If you can’t be with the leaders then it’s good to win the fight where you are and that’s what we did. Happy. More points and now another new track at Assen. We’ll try and study it during Friday and do the maximum amount of laps during the sessions to discover the lines and push where we can.”
Ryusei Yamanaka, 8th: “After a difficult race in Mugello I changed my mindset for this race and was even more focused, and I needed to be because it was stressful in practice and qualification. Today I was trying to overtake like crazy! Then, finally, I could do it but it wasn’t enough because the leading group had gone and the last lap was tricky. I went wide a bit in Turn 1. I didn’t have space to attack again on the last corner. P8, not that great, but at least nice to make the top ten which is mandatory for me. I’d like a podium before the summer break so we’ll try again in Assen.”
Jake Dixon carried the extra confidence of his recent podium result in Mugello as well as a decent front row start into the 25-lap Moto2 race at the Sachsenring. The Brit’s positive charge at the end of Q2 was crucial for the short and off-cambered dive into Turn 1 and from where he emerged with the target of the top three. Jake could do little about the pace of Pedro Acosta but used all his available grip and experience to attack Tony Arbolino and almost grabbed 2nd place at the line. Just a tenth of a second was the difference but he was at least able toast to a third trophy of the campaign and scale to 4th in the championship. Izan Guevara concentrated on making progress from the latter half of the grid and is still building his feeling and awareness of Moto2 machinery after recovering from an early season injury. He was able to bank experience and education from a busy ride in the initial stages but was caught out on the entry to Turn 13 and crashed.
Jake Dixon, 3rd: “A massive step. I was 11th here last year. Frustrating to be 3rd again though. I tried a lot to comeback and I know I can find a bit more but on that last lap I had zero grip. There were not many prime places to pass and I made mistakes trying to have a go at 2nd. I gave everything. I wasn’t quite strong enough for the win and Assen could be perfect time to pounce before going into the summer break.”
Izan Guevara, DNF: “A race where I tried to find my limits and, sometimes, it ends this way. I didn’t have the best start but concentrated on regaining ground until the crash. Not the best conclusions from our time here at the Sachsenring so we’ll forget it and look ahead to Assen where we’ll take the same approach to make steps forwards.”
Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland photographs can be found HERE
Results Moto3 Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland
1. Deniz Öncü (TUR) KTM 33:10.531
2. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN) Husqvarna +0.095
3. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM +12.074
5. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS Aspar Team +17.158
8. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team +17.468
World Championship standings Moto3
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM, 125 points
2. Jaume Masia (ESP) Honda, 84
3. Ivan Ortola, (ESP) KTM, 81
7. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS Aspar Team, 62
12. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team, 34
Results Moto2 Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland
1. Pedro Acosta (ESP) 35:15.315
2. Tony Arbolino (ITA) +2.730
3. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team +2.825
DNF. Izan Guevara (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team
World Championship standings Moto2
1. Tony Arbolino (ITA), 139 points
2. Pedro Acosta (ESP), 124
3. Alonso Lopez (ESP), 82
4. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team, 79
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