By Donovan Fourie | Guest Contributor | MotoGP Analyst
This weekend, the MotoGP Championship heads to the Sachsenring, a historic circuit nestled in eastern Germany — 100km west of Dresden and 300km south of Berlin. What began as an 8.6km road circuit winding through the village of Hohenstein-Ernstthal has evolved into one of MotoGP’s most distinctive tracks.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, officials transformed the original layout into a designated motorsport facility, giving us the current 3.6km Sachsenring — the shortest on the calendar.
A Unique Challenge for Riders
Sachsenring might be short, but it’s far from simple. With an average speed of just 166.3 km/h, it’s the fourth slowest on the calendar. It’s also one of only a few anti-clockwise circuits, putting serious strain on the left-hand side of the tyre — especially through the punishing run of seven continuous left-handers in the back section.
And then, just when the riders settle into that left-leaning rhythm, they hit the infamous “Waterfall” — a fast right-hander down a steep drop. Many have been caught off guard here, with crashes often triggered by the cooler right side of the tyre losing grip.
Who’s Hot Going Into the Weekend?
Despite Mugello and Assen not being ideal for him, Marc Marquez came out on top at both. Now, he returns to Sachsenring — a track where he holds a record eight wins. On form and riding the dominant Ducati, Marquez seems the clear favourite… but we’ve said that before.
Pecco Bagnaia, last year’s winner, is battling setup issues this season. Unless his team can work some magic, repeating last year’s result might be a long shot.
Meanwhile, riders like Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco could benefit from the slower nature of Sachsenring, which suits the underpowered Yamahas and Hondas. And don’t count out South Africa’s own Brad Binder — Sachsenring has traditionally treated him well, but he’ll need to overcome KTM’s front-end struggles to make an impact.
Wet Weather Could Shake Things Up
Forecasts suggest rain is likely on Friday and Saturday, which could see all practice sessions run in the wet. If the skies clear up by Sunday, riders may find themselves heading into the main race without a single dry session under their belts — a wildcard element that could completely flip the script.
Final Word
Sachsenring always delivers — whether it’s the punishing corners, tricky tyre temps, or surprise winners. With wet weather and top riders looking to prove a point, expect drama from start to finish in Germany.