Michael Scott | July 14, 2018
2018 German MotoGP Saturday News
A Kinder Turn 11
Balmy conditions and a softer-than-previous right-hand compound on the all-asymmetric tyres required at the quirky Sachsenring shared the credit for the absence of the usual crashes at the daunting Turn 11.
This fast right-hander, this year renamed in honour of the late former 250 star Ralf Waldmann, follows six increasingly quick left-handers, giving the right-hand-side of the tyre ample chance to cool down.
Since it is also over a blind brow, and culminates in a dizzying plunge down the so-called Waterfall, it has in the past been the scene of a number of sometimes injurious crashes.
This year there has not been one – nor in the smaller classes either.
Kallio Sidelined
Mika Kallio will be out for the rest of this weekend, and also from his planned wild card ride at the Austrian GP in four weeks, after his heavy crash yesterday left him requiring surgery to repair ligament damage to his right knee.
In his third wild card ride of the season for the Red Bull KTM factory MotoGP team, the Finnish rider explained that when he started braking for the fast Turn 8, “the back came round”. He took to the gravel, but was travelling at such speed that he had no choice but to bail out before hitting the barrier.
Alas, it was still too late, and he thumped into the air-fence … with his bike following him and clobbering him hard. “I’ve broken ligaments before,” he said. But it had never been as painful as this.
Moto2 rider Niki Tuuli was also out after the first day: in too much pain after a partial finger amputation as the result of a grisly crash at Assen.
MotoGP rider Franco Morbidelli withdrew yesterday after FP1, in pain from Assen hand injuries. His place on the EG-VDS Honda was taken by former Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl.
Aleix Espargaro Hit with Penalty
Aleix Espargaro made some fulsome gestures in FP3 after a fast lap was baulked on the last corner when he came upon Xavier Simeon and Alex Rins cruising on their way into the rather awkwardly placed pit lane.
Only a few minutes later, however, the Spanish Aprilia rider was himself cruising on the racing line on the entry to the same corner, when a speeding Marc Marquez came storming up behind, and had to back off.
This time, Espargaro’s waves were in apology; but when Race Direction examined the incident they felt it was worthy of sanction. And since it was his third offence this year, the punishment was a costly six grid places. He was third in Q1, but the penalty turns 13th overall into 19th, on row seven.
Rins and Simeon were also called before the stewards, but escaped punishment.
Binder on board with Red Bull KTM Moto2
Former Moto3 champion Brad Binder’s Moto2 future with the Red Bull KTM team has been assured, with the South African signed up to stay with the team in 2019 for a third season in the middle class.
Binder had a troubled start last year, carrying troublesome injuries after breaking his arm in tests at the end of 2016. The injury was slow to heal, needing two extra operations before he was back to full strength at the end of last year, claiming three podium finishes.
Yet to make the top three this year, Binder said: “I feel we still have unfinished business in Moto2, and great improvements to make. It motivates me to have a whole factory supporting me again.” It will be his fifth season with the official Ajo-run team.
On-bike Cameras All the Rage in Germany
Dorna’s ever-improving TV feed was further boosted at the Sachsenring, with not only the usual arties long-lens slo-mo shots, but a record number of on-bike cameras
Through all classes there were 130 of the units, offering view in every direction, including a new over-the-shoulder angle.