MotoGP preview: Sachsenring

As the dust settles on an eventful and incident-packed Dutch Grand Prix last Saturday, the MotoGP contingent has only a few days off before heading across the border to the Sachsenring in Germany to do battle once more for championship supremacy.

Following Jorge Lorenzo’s DNF in Assen due to his Yamaha being taken out by Álvaro Bautista (Honda), and Australia’s Casey Stoner (Honda) taking a win, both Lorenzo and Stoner are even at the top of the championship standings with 140pts apiece, albeit with Lorenzo in first place due to having one more win under his belt.

This has added yet further spice to the Sachsenring race, as the pair will look to get one over on each other for the lead. Last year it was Lorenzo who got the better of Stoner to take second, while Dani Pedrosa recorded his fifth win at the track.

"I hope we can go to Sachsenring and get another good result especially after our tough, but rewarding weekend in Assen,” said Stoner. “We were quite competitive there last year, but in the long corners we are struggling a little more with our bike at the moment so we're going to need to work hard on Friday and Saturday, try to find more grip from the edge of the tyre and also see if we can reduce the front chatter.

“It's a very interesting track, maybe not one of the greatest on the circuit but has one of the best corners coming down the hill which is a little scary with spending so much time on the left before switching to the right side of the tyre.

“It's a good atmosphere there though with all the spectators so close to the track; it feels like a Coliseum! There's always an interesting race there as we saw last year so we'll see what this weekend has in store.”

Pedrosa, who has taken victories in the last two years at the circuit, will be hoping to break his duck this season, and take his maiden win of 2012 to catch up to the leading pair. Behind him the Yamaha duo of Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso are separated by just 1pt as the teammates continue to tussle for intra-team top honours. Dovizioso will be brimming with confidence after recording his second podium of the season, whilst Crutchlow looks to be on full pace despite his fractured ankle.

The satellite Hondas will aim to put a disastrous weekend behind them, with Stefan Bradl keen to impress in front of his home crowd after his Assen crash. Bautista, who was handed a penalty after his Lorenzo crash, meaning he will start from the back of the grid, will no doubt look to keep his head down and pick off where he left off after a successful Silverstone.

Ducati duo Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi continue their struggle with the Desmosedici, as they seek to overcome rapid rear tyre degradation issues. The Italian outfit will however be buoyed by Hayden’s pace last time out, and will hope that the tyres can last the distance in Germany.