Jens Meyer/Associated Press
Marc Marquez soared home to win his third consecutive MotoGP German Grand Prix on Sunday, the first time this season he's claimed back-to-back podium finishes after clinching second in Assen last month.
Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi took second and third place, respectively, with the official MotoGP Twitter account confirming Marquez's win, reviving his chances of a title defence:
Here's a look at Sunday's final results, along with a breakdown of the riders' standings following the German Grand Prix:
2015 MotoGP German Grand Prix Results 1 Marc MARQUEZ 41'01.087 2 Dani PEDROSA +2.226 3 Valentino ROSSI +5.608 4 Jorge LORENZO +9.928 5 Andrea IANNONE +20.785 6 Bradley SMITH +23.215 7 Cal CRUTCHLOW +29.881 8 Pol ESPARGARO +34.953 9 Danilo PETRUCCI +35.875 10 Aleix ESPARGARO +37.253 11 Maverick VIÑALES +37.274 12 Yonny HERNANDEZ +42.081 13 Hector BARBERA +48.611 14 Alvaro BAUTISTA +50.687 15 Jack MILLER +53.769 16 Nicky HAYDEN +58.921 17 Eugene LAVERTY +1'02.738 18 Alex DE ANGELIS +1'03.122 19 Loris BAZ +1'11.162 20 Michael LAVERTY +1'15.910MotoGP.com
2015 MotoGP Riders' Standings 1 Valentino ROSSI Yamaha ITA 179 2 Jorge LORENZO Yamaha SPA 166 3 Andrea IANNONE Ducati ITA 118 4 Marc MARQUEZ Honda SPA 114 5 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati ITA 87 6 Bradley SMITH Yamaha GBR 87 7 Dani PEDROSA Honda SPA 67 8 Cal CRUTCHLOW Honda GBR 66 9 Pol ESPARGARO Yamaha SPA 64 10 Maverick VIÑALES Suzuki SPA 57 11 Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati ITA 51 12 Aleix ESPARGARO Suzuki SPA 44 13 Yonny HERNANDEZ Ducati COL 32 14 Scott REDDING Honda GBR 30 15 Hector BARBERA Ducati SPA 19 16 Loris BAZ Yamaha Forward FRA 14 17 Alvaro BAUTISTA Aprilia SPA 13 18 Jack MILLER Honda AUS 12 19 Stefan BRADL Yamaha Forward GER 9 20 Michele PIRRO Ducati ITA 8 21 Nicky HAYDEN Honda USA 8 22 Eugene LAVERTY Honda IRL 7 23 Hiroshi AOYAMA Honda JPN 5 24 Mike DI MEGLIO Ducati FRA 2 25 Alex DE ANGELIS ART RSM 1MotoGP.com
Marc Marquez was showing all the signs in practice this weekend that he'd be fit to challenge for top spot in Saxony, and after triumphing at this circuit for the last five years, the signs looked good.
The Spaniard claimed victory in each of the last two MotoGP German Grand Prix races, winning two Moto2 meetings in 2012 and 2011, as well as a Moto3 title in 2010.
However, the pressure was turned on with Valentino Rossi striving to make his way into the top three from fourth, and a determined Doctor is a dangerous customer indeed.
Briton Scott Redding encountered some horrible fortune on the very first lap as he crashed out to bring an early end to his afternoon, shortening Honda's chances of clinching the win:
Jorge Lorenzo was of course another ingredient in contention for first place, and the re-emergence of Rossi saw the two Yamahas battle away in their bid for a podium spot.
Rossi initially stuttered in what looked to be a shaky moment or two, but the Italian swiftly re-asserted himself to start breaking lap records and piling pressure on the likes of Marquez out in front:
As suggested by Motorcycle News Sport, the head-to-head between Lorenzo and Rossi promised to peel some of the pressure off Marquez and allow him to open up a cushion as leader:
It looked like the Repsol Honda combatant would be permitted to stride in for his second win of the year, but protecting Yamaha's podium positions will have been seen as an even greater priority for Rossi and Lorenzo.
Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso was another high-profile name to fall out of the reckoning in Saxony after he crashed out in eighth. Thankfully he emerged from the spill unhurt.
Having finished second in the opening three races of the 2015 campaign, the 29-year-old has had to endure a torrid streak of bad fortune lately after failing to finish in three of his last four outings:
Just when it looked as though a leading pack was established, four-time German Grand Prix winner Dani Pedrosa made his surge to take second from Rossi to set up a Repsol Honda one-two at the head.
However, that didn't look likely to shift Marquez out in front, who had been consistently lapping in the one minute and 21 seconds range to defend his cushion.
Rossi wouldn't be rattled so easily and stuck close to Pedrosa despite the change-up in order.
Coming into the final few laps, Rossi was as close as 0.2 seconds from his target, but Crash.net confirmed Pedrosa would open up the gap to just about wrap up second:
Marquez's place atop the pile was assured and Rossi couldn't alter the order so late, leaving the team-mates to seal a one-two triumph not just for Repsol Honda, but for Spain, too.
Considering their deflated form this season, it's a huge result for Marquez and Pedrosa alike, boosting their 2015 prospects, while restricting Rossi and Lorenzo to third and fourth, respectively.
Andrea Iannone will be somewhat disappointed with his fifth-place finish, the first time in three races he's failed to finish among the top four, while Cal Crutchlow, Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro continue their duel outside the top spots.
Marquez will hope success in Germany can provide a springboard for the rest of the campaign and look to continue his winning streak at Indianapolis next month.
