Pecco Scores Again. Ivan Ortolá Dominates Moto2 at Sachsenring to Claim Victory!
“I knew I was going to struggle here, but I was still hoping for something different. Unfortunately, this year I find all the long, fast corners particularly difficult because I’m lacking rear grip, and whenever I try to push a little harder, the rear steps out.” These were the words that opened the race weekend for our Suomy rider, Pecco Bagnaia. Friday’s practice sessions already painted the picture of what was expected to be a particularly demanding weekend for the Ducati rider.
Located on the outskirts of Hohenstein-Ernstthal in the state of Saxony, around 100 kilometers from Dresden, the Sachsenring is a slow and highly technical circuit. Run in an anti-clockwise direction, it features ten left-hand corners and only four right-handers, with just one significant straight. These characteristics make it a particularly challenging track given Pecco‘s current feeling with the Ducati. Despite the difficulties, Bagnaia managed to secure ninth place on the starting grid and gained positions in both the Sprint Race and Sunday’s Grand Prix. Meanwhile, in Moto2, our rider Ivan Ortolá repeated the outstanding performance he delivered in Brno, dominating the weekend from the Practice sessions and eventually taking a superb victory.
Practice Statement
“I knew I was going to struggle here, but I was still hoping for something different. Unfortunately, this year all the long corners are difficult for me because I’m missing rear grip, and when I try to push a bit harder, the rear steps out. On this track, lap time is made in the two long middle sectors, and today I risked several highsides. Tomorrow we’ll go back to our base setup because today we tried four different solutions to find more rear grip. We’re analysing the situation, comparing our data with the riders who have more grip, and working on the electronics.”
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 13°
SPRINT RACE
A difficult Saturday, but one faced with determination and composure. Francesco Bagnaia finished the German Grand Prix Sprint Race in seventh place, a result that only partially reflects the hard work carried out by our rider on the demanding Sachsenring circuit. Starting from tenth on the grid after a qualifying session below expectations, Bagnaia fought his way up to seventh, collecting valuable championship points despite still lacking the ideal feeling with his Ducati. The Italian champion once again struggled with persistent rear grip issues, a problem that had already emerged during practice and that significantly limited his performance, especially through the many flowing corners of the German circuit. Despite these challenges, the Sprint Race highlighted both Bagnaia‘s determination and the team’s ability to react, constantly working to identify the technical solutions needed ahead of Sunday’s race. His comeback from the middle of the pack once again demonstrated the fighting spirit of the Italian rider, who never stopped searching for the best possible pace until the chequered flag.
“I’m still struggling with rear grip. Qualifying is where the problem is at its worst, and we could only manage eleventh place. I got a good start in the Sprint and managed to follow the riders ahead until the grip dropped. Unfortunately, I can’t make the rear slide like the other Ducati riders because if I do, I can’t accelerate the way I’d like. I tried to stay with Martín, but to do so I had to take a few too many risks. Seventh place is a good compromise considering the difficulties we’re facing.”
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – Sprint Race 7°
RACE
Francesco Bagnaia concluded the German Grand Prix, the eleventh round of the MotoGP World Championship, with a solid sixth-place finish. It was a determined performance despite never fully recovering the ideal feeling with his Ducati Desmosedici. After finishing seventh in Saturday’s Sprint Race, Bagnaia showed encouraging progress on Sunday. The two-time MotoGP World Champion steadily worked his way through the field lap after lap, eventually crossing the finish line in sixth, just outside the top five. The result once again underlined the commitment of both the Italian rider and the Ducati team, who spent the entire weekend searching for the best setup on one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar. Rear grip issues and tyre wear continued to affect the bike’s performance and, consequently, our rider’s competitiveness. The German Grand Prix provided valuable information for the remainder of the season. The team’s potential remains intact, and the work completed at Sachsenring will prove important as preparations begin for the upcoming races. With plenty of races still to come, Francesco Bagnaia is already looking ahead to the next Grand Prix with the clear objective of returning to fight consistently for podiums and victories. The entire Suomy team will be cheering him on.
“Sixth place isn’t a bad result considering how much we struggled. Unfortunately, the problem is always the same, and it was particularly evident on this circuit. We will continue working, and I hope that during the summer break we can find something that helps. That said, we’ve improved in many areas; we’re only missing the most important one, and that’s not easy to solve. For us, it’s essential to be able to use the rear of the bike without it sliding so much. Our goal is to get back to winning and consistently fighting for top results.”
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – Race 6°
MOTO 2
A perfect weekend, crowned by a commanding performance and a victory built on talent, determination and composure. Iván Ortolá was the undisputed star of the Moto2 German Grand Prix, taking a brilliant victory at Sachsenring after controlling the race from start to finish. After claiming his first-ever Moto2 pole position while also setting a new lap record, our rider confirmed his outstanding pace in the race, maintaining the lead from the very first lap. It was a victory that was never truly under threat, thanks to consistent pace, flawless tyre management and exceptional composure during the decisive moments of the race.
“This is a special victory, the one I had been waiting for. Winning from pole, controlling the race and defending first place until the final lap is an incredible feeling,” Ortolá said after the race. “We worked extremely well throughout the weekend, and the team gave me everything I needed to perform at my best. This victory is the reward for everyone’s hard work.”
This marks Ortolá‘s second victory in the last three races, further confirming the outstanding form of the young Spanish rider. His Sachsenring performance provides a major confidence boost ahead of the second half of the season, where he aims to establish himself among the leading contenders in the Moto2 class while closing the gap to the championship leaders. Speed, maturity and excellent race management made the difference on one of the most technical circuits on the calendar, once again confirming the talent of our Suomy rider.
Click the button below to find out all the images of the #SuomyCrew during the weekend in Germany.
