BarcelonaMarc Márquez’s shadow is incredibly elongated. Cervera is off the tarmac immersed in the rehabilitation of the fourth operation of his arm, but his name never disappears from the paddock. Since 2013, Sachsenring has been his playground: he has won there for eight consecutive years. He is the king of the German track, but with his absence, the crown was looking for a successor and Fabio Quartararo is a pilot of those who mark time. The Frenchman, and current World Cup champion, was noticed when the traffic lights went out to take the lead and stand as heir to the throne with a convincing victory.
The Diablo has established itself as an exceptional pilot. The little boy who loved motorcycles so much that he crossed the Pyrenees to grow up is the great French hope of motorcycling, and a world reference for his clean and elegant riding. Last year he won his first World Cup with a superb championship, but the last few unsolved races sowed the doubt: would it be the beginning of a reign or rather the flower of a day? There are many riders who have lifted the most prized trophy in motorcycling, but few have established themselves as legends. The Yamaha is signing a season with exquisite records and with this new victory widens its margin in the overall, hitting the table and shouting that it has come to stay.
All this, in a track of the most peculiar of the World Cup. With a majority of left-wing twists, which is not uncommon on calendar circuits, the German Grand Prix is a date that always promises surprises. With Márquez out of play, Quartararo was the big favorite to take the race. And already at the start the Frenchman has overtaken Pecco Bagnaia, who came out from the pole, in the first bend. Since then, with pristine tire management and serious driving, he has been running miles to cross the finish line without opposition. Bagnaia tried to face him, but four laps later the start of the Grand Prix ended up skating on the gravel.
With a wide margin compared to the other riders, Quartararo was thrown without looking back. Johann Zarco, rider of the Ducati satellite team, has taken the weight of the Italian brand with gusto and has tried to get closer to the French. Efforts, however, have been in vain and he has had to settle for second place, crossing the finish line almost alone. The fight for third place, on the other hand, has been fierce. Aleix Espargaró and Jack Miller have given majestic advances and tracks. The Catalan from Aprilia, however, could not prevail at the speed of the Australian’s Ducati and returned to the box, fourth, quite angry.
The World Cup has a clear leader: Fabio Quartararo will not stop until he takes his second consecutive championship. Historically, whoever leads the World Cup after the German Grand Prix lifts the trophy, and Quartararo wants to make good predictions.
