Martin dazzles world champion Bagnaia

SACHSENRING—Jorge Martin thwarted world champion Francesco Bagnaia to land Saturday’s German MotoGP sprint race and move second in the standings.

Jack Miller for KTM completed the podium. Bagnaia’s runner-up spot at the Sachsenring kept him atop the world championships standings ahead of Sunday’s seventh race of the season.

Martin, winner of the sprint in France last month, captured his lone full race victory in the premier class at the Styrian Grand Prix in his rookie 2021 season. He was rewarded for his efforts on Saturday by leapfrogging Marco Bezzecchi into second in the riders standings, 21 points adrift of Bagnaia.

Pole-sitter Bagnaia fought off Miller to keep the lead at the start but a mistake under pressure let the Australian through to take command on the factory KTM.

“I would say right around hole 15 or 16 it started getting to where you couldn’t see that well.

“I really enjoyed those laps, I was on the limit,” said the 25-year-old Spanish sprint winner.

“But I told myself I had to go for it to get past the two bikes in front.

“I tried to keep the distance with ‘Pecco’ (Bagnaia) -- hopefully tomorrow I can fight for victory,” added the Madrid-born rider.

Bagnaia commented: “I enjoyed the battle with Jack, then Jorge who was fastest today.

“It was hard to peg him back, I have to accept second place, now we move on to tomorrow.”

Bezzecchi, who had to settle for seventh on Saturday, dropped to third overall on 113 points.

As Martin celebrated, one of his more celebrated grid rivals - six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez - was reflecting on the end of an astonishing run at the Sachsenring, where he has won the last 11 Grand Prix he has lined up in across all categories from 2010.

The Honda star, who had to go through the first qualifying session after crashing in qualifying on Friday, trailed in 11th.

The 2021 champion, Fabio Quartararo, endured another trying day at the office on his Yamaha, finishing two places behind Marquez. AFP

“I 100 percent think my bogey on 17 was because I couldn’t see, and I think Rickie’s bogey on 18 was because he couldn’t see.”

Clark was in the fairway off the tee at 17, but hit his second shot into the native scrub of a barranca.

He opted to take a penalty drop and limited the damage to a bogey.

“I’m not trying to make an excuse, but it definitely was a challenge,” he said. “My putt on 17, I literally couldn’t see it, and we just played off of feel and how Rickie’s putt came in, and then my putt on 18, same thing.”

Fowler didn’t mention the light, or lack thereof, when discussing his bogey at the last.

“I hit a good putt,” he said, but he added that he, too, was surprised that the round played so late in the day—finishing around 8:00 pm.

“If it was a Tour event and you were away from the clubhouse you’d be looking around for them to blow the horn,” he said.

Fowler and Clark will be teeing off an hour and 10 minutes earlier in the final group on Sunday, both in search of a first major title and trying to hold off four-time major winner Rory McIlroy and former Masters champion Scottie Scheffler. AFP