As for Marc Marquez’s career, it’s inevitable that it is now discussed in terms of the ‘before’ and the ‘after’ the decisive moment being his right arm injury, sustained at Jerez in July 2020. His broken humerus and the subsequent medical consequences saw him miss the entire 2020 season, the Spaniard only returning in time for the third round of the 2021 season. He continues to struggle, but the German GP might just provide him with an opportunity to show his stuff.

Almost a home round

His best result so far has been a seventh-place finish (at Portimao), while he’s suffered three consecutive DNFs in the latest races. It’s clear that we’re not seeing the Marc Marquez we know, the man who won, pretty much hands down, six MotoGP titles in seven years.

But this weekend brings one of his favourite rounds, at a track that is special to him. We’re talking about the Sachsenring, where the Honda rider is unbeatable in MotoGP to date, having won all of the six reigning class races in which he's competed. And that’s not all, because he also has two Moto2 and one 125 victory to his name.

Good news for Marquez

The Sachsenring holds no secrets for him and features more left-hand turns (ten compared to just three right-handers), and this is key for Marquez, in his current physical condition. The 28-year old also heads to the track following a very productive day of testing at Barcelona, which followed on from the race, during which he was able to complete significant work aboard the Honda RC213V.

The combination of all these factors could mean we see the Spaniard back up front. Having said that he felt like the ‘old Marc’ for a few laps of the Catalunya GP, perhaps he’ll be able to consolidate this in Germany  and score the kind of result that reflects his immense talent.

Translated by Heather Watson

MotoGP Germany, Petrucci: “The Sachsenring suits me, I'm confident”