MotoGP – GoPro Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland – Race Results

Despite a spate of injuries, crashes and poor passing decisions earlier this year, Marc Marquez has stopped the slide and returned to  his old ways in style.  The two time world champion started from 2nd place on the grid and took the lead by the end of lap two to totally dominate the German Grand Prix.

From the end of the first lap, the race was a dull procession of the four factory Honda and Yamaha riders, including Marquez, Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.  Lorenzo tore off the line from third on the grid to lead for a couple of laps, but was overtaken by first Marquez and eventually the other three as he struggled to maintain the blistering pace set by the leader.

“It was very difficult” said Lorenzo after the race to Spanish media.  He, like all of the riders except the two factory Honda men, was running a slightly softer tire, which in the heat of the German summer did not provide as much grip as the race wore on.

Rossi, starting from 6th on the grid, stormed up to second place, a position he held for almost half the race, but Dani Pedrosa was undeterred and passed him.  The two stayed nose to tail for nearly ten laps, until with only three laps remaining Pedrosa pulled clearly away to secure his place for the finish.

“I think for sure Dani has something in his pocket” said Rossi of Pedrosa’s late race surge.  Dani, typical to his style, told the media in the post race interview that he too struggled with grip.

The MotoGP championship is now halfway through the 2015 season and will break for one month before resuming at the Indianapolis raceway in the US.  As it stands, Valentino Rossi leads the title fight with 179 points, 13 ahead of his Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo.  Ducati factory rider Andrea Iannone is third with Marc Marquez a distant forth.

2015 World Championship Points Standings after 9 rounds