Marco Bezzecchi
The Sachsenring awaits MotoGP this weekend for the 2026 German Grand Prix, so our expert writers have shared their predictions – from who will win to who will take pole.
Marc Marquez is the King of the Sachsenring and did the double in Germany a year ago with Ducati. The Spaniard even bagged pole for the 2025 German GP, marking his first pole at the circuit on the edge of an industrial park in Saxony since 2019 back when he raced for Honda.
Momentum is not with Marquez heading to the 2026 German GP, though, after the reigning champion’s fight back in the title race hit a speed bump at the TT Circuit Assen last time out. Marquez had to settle for P7 in the Dutch Grand Prix due to his ongoing recovery from injury.
Instead, the star of Assen was Ai Ogura as the Trackhouse rider scored his first MotoGP win. Ogura led an all-Aprilia podium as he won the Dutch GP, as well, and P2 was also enough for Jorge Martin to now move atop the riders’ standings after Marco Bezzecchi’s crash at Assen.
Predict the podium at the German Grand Prix this weekend 🔮
Bezzecchi will be desperate to bounce back at the Sachsenring, having failed to take a point from the past three Grands Prix. Martin took Bezzecchi out at the start of the Hungarian GP, and the latter was banned from the Czech GP as he hit a marshal after crashing in the Sprint.
With that in mind, MotoGP News’ expert team of writers have shared their predictions for the 2026 German Grand Prix, including what result Bezzecchi should target at the Sachsenring.
Who will score pole position for the 2026 MotoGP German Grand Prix?
Kyle Archer – Marc Marquez: “Ducati saw Marc Marquez end his wait for an eighth German Grand Prix pole position in 2025, having last topped a qualifying session at the Sachsenring in 2019 with Honda. And like London buses, his ninth German GP pole will follow in 2026.”
David Comerford – Marc Marquez: “It seems like Marc Marquez is still not at his physical best, but the Ducati rider is close enough that he has to be considered the heavy favourite for qualifying this weekend. And I expect Marquez to bag his third pole of the year.”
Tyler Rowlinson – Marc Marquez: “The Sachsenring is Marc Marquez’s hunting ground. Even while the Ducati rider is not at full fitness, he is still the overwhelming favourite this weekend – and I am backing him to dominate and take pole.”
Ashley Hambly – Marc Marquez: “This is Marc Marquez’s bread-and-butter circuit, and he’s used to getting a result here. I do not see any reason why Marquez should not be the polesitter for this weekend’s festivities at the Sachsenring.”
Marcus Chan – Ai Ogura: “After winning last time out in the Dutch Grand Prix, I am backing Ai Ogura to continue his fine form and secure pole in Germany.”
Who will win the Sachsenring Sprint Race, and who will join them on the podium?
Kyle Archer – Marquez, Martin, Fernandez: “While Marc Marquez is still dealing with his shoulder and arm injuries, the Sprint Race format has often given the Ducati rider a chance to enjoy strong results – and the Sachsenring’s 10 left-hand corners work to his advantage.
READ MORE: How to watch the 2026 German Grand Prix, plus the Sachsenring forecast
“Yet Marquez will be the sole Ducati rider taking the fight to the Aprilia quartet this week in Germany, with factory Aprilia racer Jorge Martin leading the Noale natives’ efforts ahead of satellite Trackhouse ace Raul Fernandez in an all-Spanish Sprint podium at the Sachsenring.”
David Comerford – Marquez, Ogura, Martin: “Ai Ogura is riding beautifully at the moment, so I expect him to challenge Marc Marquez but ultimately come up short.”
Tyler Rowlinson – Marquez, Ogura, Fernandez: “The Trackhouse boys are in strong form at the moment, and they’ll be wanting to challenge Marc Marquez. Another double podium is on for the team in the Sprint, but they won’t have enough to beat the factory Ducati rider.”
Ashley Hambly – Marquez, Fernandez, Acosta: “Pedro Acosta has had a fairly difficult couple of rounds since his battle with Marc Marquez at Balaton Park. So, he is due an appearance on the podium – even if it is only on the Saturday. I can’t see anyone getting the better of Marquez in the shorter format race, although Raul Fernandez could put up a fight”.
Marcus Chan – Marquez, Ogura, Fernandez: “Although Marc Marquez has admitted that he is not yet fully fit, I expect the seven-time MotoGP champion to show his best form around the Sachsenring and win ahead of Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez.”
Who will win the 2026 MotoGP German Grand Prix, and who will be on the podium?
What is Marc Marquez’s BEST win at the German Grand Prix?
Marquez has won TWELVE times at the Sachsenring across his Grand Prix career!
Kyle Archer – Ogura, Martin, Bagnaia: “The saying whenever MotoGP travels to Germany is often that the only rider who can beat Marc Marquez at the Sachsenring is Marquez. Well, that will be the case in 2026, with a second Sunday crash of the year so far ending his race.
“Marquez crashing out of the 2026 German GP will then hand Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura his chance to take back-to-back Grand Prix wins to open his MotoGP tally, following on from his win at Assen. Marquez’s dismay will also help Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia finish on the rostrum behind the man whom the Italian will replace at Aprilia in 2027, Jorge Martin.”
David Comerford – Marquez, Bezzecchi, Ogura: “I’m banking on a solid recovery from Marco Bezzecchi this weekend after his disastrous DNF at Assen. I think the Aprilias will be the nearest challengers to Marc Marquez, and Bezzecchi will have the edge on Ai Ogura over the full race distance.”
Tyler Rowlinson – Marquez, Ogura, Bezzecchi: “Ai Ogura will be Marc Marquez’s closest challenger all weekend, and he’ll ride him to the absolute limit in the German GP. Marco Bezzecchi is in need of a resurgence, and I think he’ll get just that with P3.”
Ashley Hambly – Bezzecchi, Bagnaia, Martin: “I’m expecting a full return to form for Marco Bezzecchi in the German GP after his nasty crash at Assen.
“The pressure of leading the championship is now on his teammate, Jorge Martin, so he just needs to get his head down and reach the chequered flag with Francesco Bagnaia behind and his teammate rounding out the podium positions.”
Marcus Chan – Marquez, Martin, Ogura: “A double victory is incoming for Marc Marquez, as he will bring the momentum from winning on Saturday into Sunday to fully assert himself as a serious title contender. Following Marquez home will be Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura.”
What should Marco Bezzecchi’s target be in Germany after three point-less Grands Prix?
Kyle Archer – top-five: “After three point-less Grands Prix in a row with crashes in Hungary and the Netherlands on either side of his race ban in Czechia, Marco Bezzecchi simply must finish the German Grand Prix in the top five for only the second time in his MotoGP career.
“Bezzecchi took podiums at the Sachsenring in his Moto3 (P2, 2018) and Moto2 (P3, 2021) days. But the Italian’s best MotoGP German GP result so far is P4 in 2023 for VR46, and he failed to finish the 2025 edition after crashing at Turn 1. So, Bezzecchi should be looking to score a strong haul of points in the 2026 German GP, and not push the limits for a podium.”
David Comerford – podium: “If Marco Bezzecchi rides like it’s win or bust, then that is a recipe for crashing again. He just needs to stabilise himself so he can enter the summer break feeling confident, even if he remains behind his teammate in the championship.”
Tyler Rowlinson – podium: “Marco Bezzecchi needs at least a podium in the German GP; it is as simple as that. Three non-points finishes in a row are not something he can afford to keep up, especially now that Jorge Martin, Ai Ogura, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marc Marquez are piling on the pressure.”
Ashley Hambly – podium: “The Grand Prix is when the points are won, but Marco Bezzecchi will have no hope of securing a first title if he also does not fix his Achilles heel of the Sprint Races on Saturday afternoons. So, a top-three finish in both races this weekend in Germany should be the bare minimum for him.”
Marcus Chan – top-five: “After enduring a tough spell recently, Marco Bezzecchi knows he needs to step up his game if he wants to regain the world championship lead. But he should really make sure that he firstly finishes the race and takes home some valuable points in the German Grand Prix before building towards another race victory.”
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