Eight is great as Marquez goes top
MOTOGP: CHAMPION HOLDS GERMAN UPSTART AT BAY
Folger records his first podium in front of his home crowd.
Reigning world MotoGP champion Marc Marquez stormed to his eighth consecutive German Grand Prix win yesterday to snatch the overall championship lead.
The Spaniard held off a spirited challenge from home favourite Jonas Folger to claim his second win of the season after starting from pole position.
German rookie Folger produced a stunning ride for Yamaha’s satellite team to claim his maiden podium finish, as Marquez’s Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa came home in third.
Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso went into the race at the top of the standings, but finished down in eighth place to slip to third overall.
Marquez, who was fourth going into the day, now leads the championship by five points from Maverick Vinales, with Dovizioso a point further back in third.
“It was a really fast race. The rhythm was incredible. I was riding really good but I saw Jonas overtook me,” Marquez said.
“Leading the championship is something I couldn’t believe. We are doing a really good championship.” Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi showed good form to back up his first win of the season last time out in Assen by finishing fifth behind Vinales, but the Italian still dropped to fourth overall.
Folger thrilled the home crowd in the opening stages by passing Pedrosa and Marquez to take a shock lead on his Yamaha Tech3 after qualifying in third.
He maintained the lead for a few laps before Marquez retook control. The 24-year-old was made to work hard by Folger, but pulled away in the last two laps to win by 3.310 seconds.
“I never expected this. I was really strong and could follow Marc,” said Folger.