Sachsenring, the polygraph test for Ducati and Honda

The Sachsenring marked the halfway point of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship. After the cancellation, the calendar remains at 20 races and the German GP is the tenth of the season. A race in which two details stand out. The first of these is that the German circuit has been Ducati’s “black hole” since the Borgo Panigale brand came to MotoGP in 2003. The opposite of what the Sachsenring means for Honda. And not just because Marc Márquez has won there in his eight MotoGP appearances, but because four more riders climbed to the top of the podium on an HRC bike.

Ducati and its forbidden circuit

In World Championship rumors there is a consensus that Gigi Dall’Igna’s bikes are currently the best bikes on the MotoGP grid. He proved his five wins out of ten possible with two different riders, and re -confirmed the racing maxim which says the level of a motorcycle is marked by its second rider. And in that aspect, cum laude are the records Ducati got in the early part of the championship. In addition to the two winners -Enea Bastianini and Pecco Bagnaia-, she climbed the podium along with Jorge Martín, Johann Zarco and Jack Miller … Will the Bologna brand be ready to break the curse of the Ducati/Sachsenring this weekend?

Ducati in the Sachsenring

2003 podium
2004 11th
2005 9th
2006 5th
2008 Wins
2009 4th
2010 podium
2011 8th
2012 6th
2013 7th
2014 5th
2015 5th
2016 Podium
2017 6th
2018 4th
2019 4th
2021 5th

In other words, Ducati has only won the Sachsenring once, and that was in a distant 2008, when Casey Stoner took advantage of the fall of a Dani Pedrosa leading the unique race. After that, it won’t happen again, and as well Ducati hasn’t set foot on the podium in Germany since 2016.

The special characteristics of the German circuit, small, narrow, where the bikes are usually non -stop supported by the sidewall of the wheel, act as a kind of kryptonite in Borgo Panigale bikes.

Has the situation changed with Desmosedici’s new “friend”? To break the “curse” Ducati will dock in Germany with its eight drivers, each with their own driving style. The answer next Sunday

Honda, Sachsenring without Marc Marquez

The first argument that comes to mind when it comes to the Sachsenring and Honda is Marc Marquez’s eight wins there in the HRC’s RCV. An incredible record that Marc mythologized last year by winning there for the first time since he returned after the July 2020 crash in Jerez and his subsequent via crucis. Eight consecutive wins which should add the 125 cc win in 2010 and the two Moto2 wins in 2011 and 2012.

Unfortunately this weekend Márquez is not on his circuit, he has to follow the career on television. In his absence, it will be interesting to see what the four riders are capable of defending Honda’s “sovereignty” over the Sachsenring. Because before Marc Márquez arrived, HRC bikes had already confirmed their superiority over the Sachsenring.

Memory in races is usually very short, but in Germany with Honda Valentino Rossi won in 2002, Sete Gibernau in 2003, Max Biaggi in 2004 and Dani Pedrosa in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Since 2013 Marquez has had eight consecutive victories. .

In other words, Honda has won every MotoGP race held at the Sachsenring except 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009, and its worst result was fourth place. Huge challenges await for Pol Espargaró, Stefan Bradl, Takaaki Nakagami and Alex Márquez, the Honda riders this weekend.