Reigning World Champion leads first two practice sessions for German Grand Prix. Dani Pedrosa finishes fifth, less than 3 tenths back.
The first day of practice at the Sachsenring circuit showed once again that Marc Marquez has a special connection with the German track. The Repsol Honda team rider, a winner at this weekend’s venue for the last five years (one 125cc win, two in Moto2 and another two in MotoGP), set the fastest time in both practice sessions today. Dani Pedrosa, second for most of the afternoon session, finished fifth – less than 3 tenths behind his teammate.
In the first session, Marquez was the only rider to break the 1:22 mark, with a 1:21.766 best time after 22 laps. On the last of his 25 laps in FP2 he improved by yet another tenth, stopping the clock at 1:21.621. Dani Pedrosa, fourth in the first session, finished fifth in an afternoon run in which lap times were much closer. On the seventh of the 23 laps he completed, he improved more than 3 tenths from his morning best. His 1:21.889 lap put him just 0.268s off his teammate.
Pedrosa and Marquez will have two further practice sessions tomorrow, before qualifying for the German Grand Prix.
Marc Marquez >> AUDIO
1st – 1:21.621, 46 laps, 169 km
“I think that today has been a positive day. We felt good, and that’s the important thing. It’s true that there was a strong wind that made things tough for everyone. We followed a good working plan but we still have things to improve. I don’t feel completely comfortable, but we can reflect positively on today. The important thing for the moment is that we are going well, but I am aware that tomorrow everyone will get better.”
Dani Pedrosa >> AUDIO
5th – 1:21.889, 46 laps, 169 km
“It was a good first day and we tried some different bike setups and tyres in the practice sessions, but not the asymmetric front – perhaps we will try this tomorrow, we will have to wait and see. We have to make a step with the bike ahead of tomorrow as there are a few points of the circuit where we need to improve corner entry in particular, this will be the key to lowering our times.”
