In strong laps by Pol Espargaro, the Repsol Honda Team rider was constantly fighting for the top 5, while Marc Marquez put together a busy and informative day after his first FP1.
There was almost nowhere to hide when the sun set on the Sachsenring, the German summer in full force when the eighth round of the 2021 World Cup began on Friday. While the ambient temperature continued to climb above 30 ° C, the track temperature for the second session of the day quickly exceeded 50 ° C.
With 10 wins in a row on the German circuit from his previous ten visits, all eyes were on Marc Marquez as the field set off for FP1. They didn’t have to wait long because Marquez was already the fastest on his fourth lap with a 1’21.660 – a time in which he would remain unchallenged throughout the first session. Marquez looked just as strong in Free Practice 2, holding his position in the upper echelons of the timing storm until a flurry of late laps moved him down in order as he chose not to fit a new tire. Marquez finished the day 12th overall and is pleased with what he and the Repsol Honda Team have learned today as they continue to focus on the future.
Pol Espargaro was eager to try out the Honda RC213V at the Sachsenring, as the Honda machine had done classically well on the German circuit. From FP1 onwards, Espargaro was immediately up to speed and finished the morning session in fourth, just 0.350 seconds behind his teammate. With another 0.9 seconds in Free Practice 2, Espargaro kept his position in the top 5 and ended the day in fifth place overall. Turn 3 proved to be a problematic corner for Pol Espargaro, which fell once in Free Practice 1 and again early in Free Practice 2 in the downhill right-hand bend. Both times he walked away unharmed.
With similar conditions forecast for Saturday morning, it looks like it will be another intense battle for the top ten. Free practice 3 starts at 09:55 local time.