MotoGP, Ducati at the Sachsenring to confront another taboo

Jack Miller’s win at Jerez, one of the toughest tracks for the Desmosedici GP, says a lot about the potential of the ‘red bike’ this year. And if Ducati has done it once, it can clearly do it again. This could well be the case at the Sachsenring, the German track that is hosting this weekend’s GP and one at which the Borgo Panigale manufacturer hasn’t had much luck in recent years.

Less than inspiring results

From 2014 until now, Ducati has never won at the Sachsenring. Its best result came at the hands of Andrea Dovizioso, or rather a third place back in 2016. In 2018 and 2019, Danilo Petrucci did better than his team-mate, finishing fourth, the Italian now out for a podium place this time around.

This year the Borgo Panigale manufacturer heads into round eight with three riders fighting for the title, factory riders Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia and team Pramac’s Johann Zarco, second and just 14 points behind fellow countryman Fabio Quartararo. The trio has shown to be strong and so expectations are high.

The precedent

Miller and Zarco have previously won at the Sachsenring, the Australian in Moto3 in 2014 and the Frenchman in 2016, the latter also finishing second the year before with a pole position to boot. Pecco reached the third step of the podium in 2017, in the intermediate class, but now he's in the reigning class and also needs to consider the championship standings. Will Ducati once again step up and surprise everyone, battling for the win at this track too? Considering what they’ve done so far, there is every chance they’ll have something to celebrate come Sunday.

Translated by Heather Watson

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