The fascination of the Sachsenring: Why MotoGP stars love the German Grand Prix

• Marc Márquez primarily thinks of his many successes in Hohenstein-Ernstthal
• Former world champion Fabio Quartararo’s last victory came in Germany
• Fabio Di Giannantonio waxes lyrical about the atmosphere around the Sachsenring

Munich. The Liqui Moly Motorcycle Grand Prix of Germany (11th to 13th July) at the Sachsenring is one of the major crowd-pullers on the MotoGP calendar. It is also one of the events with the most spectacular atmosphere: year after year, fans transform the iconic circuit in Hohenstein-Ernstthal into a madhouse as they celebrate motorcycle racing at the only German round of the world championship – last season alone, more than 250,000 visitors flocked to the Sachsenring. But how do the riders feel about the German Motorcycle Grand Prix?

“Above all, I think of my victories, as I have won there a lot. It is one of the circuits that I really like,” says Marc Márquez. With eight victories in the top class of the world championship, the Spanish superstar is the record winner of the German MotoGP race, together with Italian legend Giacomo Agostini. “I have a special relationship with the German Grand Prix. When I come to the Sachsenring, I smile more than I do elsewhere. That is because I know that it is going to be a good weekend – or at least that we will do everything in our power to make it a good weekend.”

Fabio Quartararo, who was crowned world champion in 2021, also has fond memories of the Sachsenring. The Frenchman won the Grand Prix there three years ago. “The Sachsenring,” Quartararo stresses, “is a special place for me. Especially as it was there that I claimed my last MotoGP victory to date. I particularly like the right-hander that heads uphill. You can take it in fifth gear, and really fast. It is my absolute favourite corner,” says the Yamaha factory rider.

Australian Jack Miller knows the region around the Sachsenring particularly well. The Pramac Yamaha rider spent a while living close to the track in Hohenstein-Ernstthal and says: “It is a long time ago, but I still know the region around the Sachsenring pretty well. It is a quiet and really beautiful place. I had the racetrack on my doorstep and beautiful woodland all around – perfect for jogging or cycling.”

VR46 Ducati rider Fabio Di Giannantonio waxes lyrical when he thinks about the German Motorcycle Grand Prix: “The Sachsenring is a really beautiful place. I love the atmosphere around the circuit: many people, real old-school fans, who party and have fun all weekend. On the track, I really like the fact that there are a lot of left turns. The circuit is almost like one big left-hander.”

Tickets for the Liqui Moly Motorcycle Grand Prix of Germany start at € 39 and are available online at adac.de/motogp, by phone on 03723/8099111, or by E-mail to info@sachsenring-event.de. Access to standing areas is free for under 14s when accompanied by a paying adult. New this year: for just € 5 the child ticket makes a nice souvenir and comes with an emergency contact function.