The World Championship is gearing up for the penultimate round before the summer break, which is to start in seven days’ time after the Dutch GP. This weekend (June 17-19) it is the turn of the iconic Sachsenring Circuit to host the German MotoGP 2022, tenth round of the season. 

However, Marc Márquez, the absolute monarch of the German round, will not be there this time around. The eighth-times champion is on indefinite leave as he recovers from a fourth operation on his right arm’s humerus, which was performed in the United States.

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His Saxon throne is thus now vacant. The Sachsenring is Marc’s greatest stronghold. The Spaniard has not been defeated in MotoGP at the Sachsenring since 2013 and has accrued a total of eight consecutive victories in the Premier Class, eleventh with Moto2 (2011 y 12) & 125cc (2010) triumphs. 

With the king gone, several candidates aspire to sit on the throne of the Catalan legend. We can only wait and see what happens. For now, the 3.7 km anti-clockwise track is ready for the competition to begin. Pilots will complete 30 laps for a total distance of 110.1 km. 

The @Michelin @MotoGP team and the paddock heads to the iconic Sachsenring circuit for the #GermanGP. With the very specific track layout, very short with only 3⃣ right turns, the demands on the tires are very specific

Get our raceguide https://t.co/w25cTcwlFT#MichelinMotoGP pic.twitter.com/4sPXKUDVEP

— Michelin Motorsport (@Michelin_Sport) June 15, 2022

Quartararo: To make the most of Marc’s absence 

With the #93 out of the picture, Fabio Quartararo‘s (Yamaha) chances of success at the German MotoGP 2022 have grown exponentially. By merits alone, the current leader of the championship is called to take the place of the Spaniard, despite never having won in the German track before. 

The M1, however, has visited the podium in a few of its last visits to the Sachsenring. ‘El Diablo’ was in fact third in 2021, two years after his then partner Maverick Viñales second place. Previously, in 2018 Valentino Rossi and the #12 had taken second and third place.

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Figures aside, the crown defender arrives in Germany in great spirits following his second victory of the season in Catalonia. In Barcelona he gave a perfect performance, increasing his lead in the standings to 22 points ahead of runner-up Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia). 

Quartararo has been very consistent in recent races –five podiums since Portugal– and has managed to make the most out of the slowest machine on the grid. He could be well on his way to revalidating his crown. 

Aleix Espagaró: To make up for his embarrassing mistake in Barcelona   

Another prominent name ahead of the German MotoGP 2022 is that of Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia). His pride wounded after the absurd mistake that cost him the podium at home, he will try and rid himself of that feeling of embarrassment in Germany.

The pilot from Granollers also needs to produce a great result in order to remain in the fight for the title. His reliability and great state of form could earn him his sixth podium of the season next Sunday. 

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Bagnaia & Bastianini: In search of atonement    

Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing) would also want to atone for his crash in Barcelona. Third in the standings after 3 wins (Qatar, United States & France), but 53 points off the lead with 94, the pilot from Rimini could potentially get a much-needed boost in the Teutonic round.

31 points separate him from his predecessor, Aleix Espargaró, but the Italian is closely followed by Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing), who is fourth with 91.  

Numbers aside, ‘The Beast’ needs to put an end to the strike of two–consecutive falls in his home round and Catalonia. Only then he could become a worthy candidate to fill in for Jack Miller at Ducati when the latter sets the course for KTM in 2023. 

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Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati), like his compatriot, is also eager for redemption after his accident in Barcelona, where a reckless manoeuvre by Takaaki Nakagami left him out of the game. The pilot from Turin, who has been alternating victories and zeros in the last four rounds, completes the top five with 81 points, 66 less than Quartararo. 

Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) occupies fourth place in the standings thanks to his 91 points. After his unexpected third podium of the year in Catalonia, the Frenchman hopes to be able to fish in troubled waters once again this weekend.

His teammate Jorge Martín, who joined him on the Spanish podium in second, could also play a prominent role. 

https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1533430746089721856

Images of German MotoGP 2022: MotoGP Official Twitter.