Can Marquez Conquer the Rain to Take Pole at Sachsenring?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Marc Marquez secures pole position at Sachsenring.
- Unpredictable wet conditions challenged all riders.
- Johann Zarco finished close behind Marquez.
- Marco Bezzecchi demonstrated strong performance.
- Marquez's 73rd career pole highlights his dominance in MotoGP.
Hohenstein-Ernstthal (Germany), July 12 (NationPress) - In a thrilling display of skill, Marc Marquez demonstrated his prowess at the Sachsenring by securing a remarkable pole position amidst challenging wet conditions during the MotoGP qualifying session for the German Grand Prix.
Despite the rain wreaking havoc on grip levels and visibility, Marquez executed an extraordinary lap late in Q2, surpassing Johann Zarco by a mere 0.151 seconds to achieve his 73rd career pole in the top category.
The qualifying event was marked by high drama and unpredictability. Persistent rain since the morning had washed away the dry line that had begun to emerge in FP2. In Q1, Zarco stood out early, posting a time of 1:28.370 to lead the session and progress alongside Maverick Viñales. Others, like Miguel Oliveira, narrowly missed advancing despite valiant performances.
Q2 erupted into immediate chaos. Viñales was thrown from his bike at Turn 4 during the out-lap, shortly before Jack Miller experienced a similar crash at the same corner. Thankfully, both riders emerged unscathed, but the stage was set for a perilous session.
Brad Binder set the first timed lap, followed by Franco Morbidelli, who briefly held the top spot with a time of 1:29.776. Then it was Marquez's turn. With eight minutes left on the clock, the championship leader took command with a 1:28.730, later improving despite a minor scare at the Waterfall section. At one point, Marquez led the pack by over a second.
Zarco kept pushing and closed the gap to just 0.065 seconds with a fantastic lap in the final moments. Just as it seemed Marquez’s pole was under threat, he responded brilliantly. His final lap was sufficient to fend off Zarco's challenge, even as Morbidelli attempted one last push before crashing out at Turn 8.
Completing the front row is Marco Bezzecchi, who exhibited impressive speed in the challenging conditions. Morbidelli will start fourth, alongside rookie Pedro Acosta and the resilient Alex Marquez, who is competing with a fractured left hand.
The third row comprises Fabio Quartararo, Friday's fastest rider Fabio Di Giannantonio, and Miller. Binder, Francesco Bagnaia, and Viñales round out the top twelve.