Jorge Martín finished second in the practice session for the MotoGP German GP. The current championship leader was 0.340s behind the fastest rider, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia), and just ahead of another Aprilia ridden by Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing).
With the cold conditions at Sachsenring, the #89 explained to the MotoGP site that the tyres were challenging: ‘For sure it was a strange day. The conditions were tricky with this wind and also with the cold temperatures. I think we were a bit on the limit with the front tyre: the medium was too soft and the hard, it wasn’t hot enough to put it. So I think that’s why there were some crash’.
Despite these challenges, Martín emphasized his confidence and competitiveness: ‘I felt confident, I felt fast, I was working always with used tyres and trying to understand how to be faster at the end of the race because it was maybe my weak point last season. I feel confident. The bike is working well, I felt fast straightaway in the morning, so I could work more on the details. Let’s see if tomorrow we can make another step’.
When asked about Aprilia’s strong form on Friday, the runner-up in the last year’s championship asserted that Ducati seems stronger in race pace: ‘For sure they are a big threat in terms of time attack. I feel in terms of pace we are still one step ahead. But they are close. This track is really strange, they can do it for sure. And if on Sunday the conditions are a bit strange also with the wind and some cooler temperatures, they can be fighting’.