The Repsol Honda rider’s 1’20.336 lap was enough to net him first position on the grid for this weekend’s MotoGP™ battle.
This is Marc Marquez's 6th consecutive pole at the Sachsenring, leading to victory for the Spaniard for the last 5 years in a row. He said: "We will try for six wins, the most important thing is the confidence with the bike is really high. In this circuit I always get good results but this weekend I feel good and I’m constant. I was also fast over one lap so I’m happy, also happy with the work that we have done. Tomorrow is the most important so we have to keep on like this."
Joining him on the front row are his team mate Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha).
Second place on the grid is Pedrosa's best qualifying result of the season: "Yeah, I was happy with my first feeling in the first run but Crutchlow didn’t see me and ruined my lap. Unfortunately I had to stop and change tyres and I wasn’t sure if we could do it on the second tyre because sometimes you don’t get the same feeling. Actually I produced a good lap and to get the front row at this track is very important. Hopefully we can make a little step tomorrow as Marquez’s pace is very high and we’re still missing a little. Hopefully we can make a good start and make the right tyre choice, which will be critical."
After starting from 8th in Assen, Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha) is back on qualifying form but concerned by the pace show by the Repsol Honda duo: "Impressive, it seems the Honda has no problems. They’re able to brake later and accelerate very soon. It will be tough to stay with them, I am the first Yamaha to do a 1’20 in this track so I am very happy with this lap time. I did my best and I didn’t get even close to them. I think our goal is to try to get the podium, the victory will be difficult but you never know. The podium is definitely achievable."
Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team) will start from 4th place, with Yonny Hernández (Octo Pramac Racing) in a very respectable 5th after having to fight his way through Q1. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) completes the second row in 6th.
The Espargaro brothers will have a chance to wish each other luck before the lights go out, given that they start together on the third row with Aleix (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in 7th and Pol (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) in 8th.
Rounding out the top 10 are British riders Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Cal Crutchlow (CWM-LCR Honda), who start from 9th & 10th respectively.
The MotoGP action continues on July 12 at 09:40 local time with the warm up session, with the race to start at 14:00.
1. Marc MARQUEZ, Repsol Honda Team - 1'20.336 2. Dani PEDROSA, Repsol Honda Team - 1'20.628 +0.292 3. Jorge LORENZO, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP - 1'20.921 +0.585 4. Andrea IANNONE, Ducati Team - 1'21.029 +0.693 5. Yonny HERNANDEZ, Octo Pramac Racing - 1'21.115 +0.779 6. Valentino ROSSI, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP - 1'21.220 +0.884 7. Aleix ESPARGARO, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR - 1'21.239 +0.903 8. Pol ESPARGARO, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 - 1'21.274 +0.938 9. Bradley SMITH, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 - 1'21.329 +0.993 10. Cal CRUTCHLOW, CWM LCR Honda - 1'21.409 +1.073 11. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Ducati Team - 1'21.503 +1.167 12. Maverick VIÑALES, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR - 1'21.796 +1.460
