Marquez in line for title record

RUNAWAY MotoGP world championship leader Marc Marquez targets a ninth win in nine races at the German Grand Prix, with the flying Spaniard on course to have the title wrapped up in record time.

The Honda rider has a 72point lead in the championship, with teammate Dani Pedrosa and Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi, both of whom have just signed new deals with their respective teams, locked in second spot.

Marquez, 21, already has a successful track record at the Sachsenring, having won on his last four visits — in the 125cc class in 2010, in Moto2 in 2011 and 2012 and in his first MotoGP last year.

Victory today would mean he has won every race across the opening half of the season.

In a stunning season, the defending champion has already become the 13th most successful rider of all time in terms of wins, having celebrated his 40th victory at Assen two weeks ago.

He now targets a 25th podium in the elite class, having become the first rider to claim eight straight wins since the top category was introduced at the start of 2002.

Only six other riders have won eight or more MotoGP races in a single season — Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Rossi, Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo.

Rossi, a nine-time world champion across all classes and a racing legend, heads to Germany having extended his contract with Yamaha until 2016. — AFP