Marc Marquez believes 'I'm not the fastest' at Grand Prix Germany as MotoGP title race hots up - 'I still need to improve'

React to this story

Ahead of Saturday's qualifying for Grand Prix Germany, Marc Marquez recorded the fastest time of any rider during Friday's Practice session. But the Spaniard admits that he does not have the quickest race pace, and hopes he can improve.

Highlights: Outstanding Ogura claims first MotoGP victory at Grand Prix Netherlands

Video credit: TNT Sports

The current world champion has endured a difficult MotoGP season but is now seen as a credible contender to defend his title - though he still has 40 points to make up on current championship leader, Jorge Martin of Aprilia Racing.

The Ducati Lenovo rider suffered a crash in October last year which required surgery, and that continued to cause problems until a fractured metatarsal at Le Mans earlier this season gave him the chance to have a broken screw in the joint removed, as it was impinging on his radial nerve.

Since then, he has eaten away at the deficit above him, winning both Grand Prix Hungary and Grand Prix Czechia in recent months.

Grand Prix Great Britain

MotoGP Grand Prix Great Britain: Start times, schedule, how to watch and live stream

20 hours ago

He was fastest in Friday's Practice session at Sachsenring, suggesting that he has the chance of seeing plenty of improvement in Saturday's Sprint and Sunday's full-length race, both shown live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

He finished the Practice session with a pace 0.166s ahead of his rivals, setting a time of 1:19.394s.

"We tried to ride in our way. The good thing is when I pushed, the lap time arrived," he said. "But still I need to improve a few things if I want to have a constant pace."

'We escaped this weekend' - Marquez satisfied at Grand Prix Netherlands despite penalty

Video credit: TNT Sports

The race in Germany is one that Marquez has traditionally dominated, with nine MotoGP wins at the track. He won in 2021 despite his almost career-ending arm injury, but was unable to take part in 2022 and 2023 as he battled fitness concerns.

In 2024, he was second, and he won last year on his way to his seventh world title in MotoGP.

The anti-clockwise layout suits Marquez's skills, and he is the favourite here, tipped by TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson to compete for the victory with Martin.

Because of his usual form in Germany, Marquez acknowledged the expectation from many is that he will win, but he felt that a place on the podium would be good enough at this stage of the campaign.

"Looks like in Sachsenring, if I win, it's the normal thing," he added. "If I lose, which means second position or third, which for me would be OK, means that it's news. So, let's see. But at the moment I’m not the fastest out there on race pace."

Should results go Marquez's way this weekend, he could end Sunday just three points off the world championship lead, with the momentum in his favour before a short break in the season ahead of Grand Prix Britain, which starts on Friday, August 7.

Saturday morning sees the riders compete in qualifying, with Marquez's Ducati team-mate Francesco Bagnaia finishing Friday's practice as 13th quickest, meaning he must attempt to qualify from Q1 to get a healthy place on the grid for the weekend’s racing.

Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.

Stream every race of the 2026 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

Grand Prix Great Britain

Marquez complains 'you are even slower' unless you ride 'robot style'

27/07/2026 at 11:06

Motorcycling

Friday is the day for my mistakes now, says title-chasing superstar Marquez

16/07/2026 at 19:07