MotoGP™: Quartararo’s Germany tire gamble pays dividends!

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) claimed his second MotoGPTM victory in a row when the 2022 World Championship traveled to the Sachsenring for Round 10 – the Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland. The defending champion’s decision to run the medium MICHELIN Power Slick at the rear in spite of the hot weather paid off handsomely, helping him to finish five seconds clear of Johann Zarco (2nd, Prima Pramac Racing) and Jack Miller (3rd, Ducati Lenovo Team).  

With the air and track temperatures standing respectively at 37 °C and 49°C, Quartararo was one of only three riders to choose the medium rear. Clearly confident in his choice, he leapt from second on the grid to lead out the opening corner, before leaving his opponents struggling with his blistering pace.

Zarco emerged as his closest threat, but Quartararo followed up his recent display in Catalonia with another flawless run. Aided once again by the grip and consistency of his Michelin tires, he went on to take the flag comfortably clear of his fellow Frenchman.

The battle for third produced an entertaining stand-off between Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and Miller which ended in the Australian’s favor, despite an early ‘long-lap’ penalty that relegated him to seventh place. Espargaro ultimately crossed the line in fourth spot, ahead of Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team).

The MICHELIN Power Slick range proved strong throughout the weekend at the highly specific Sachsenring were the previous track-lap record was beaten first of all in FP2, and then again in FP3. Nine riders ended up improving on the former benchmark (1m20.195s) set by Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez in 2019, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) clocking the best effort (1m19.765s).

All six tire specifications were seen over the three days but the hot weather prompted most of the riders – i.e. except Quartararo, Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) – to fit the hard-compound front and rear on race day.

The result takes Quartararo further clear at the top of the provisional championship table, 34 and 61 points ahead of Aleix Espargaro and Zarco respectively.

Next round: Motul TT Assen, Netherlands (June 24-26).