Image: Supplied.

Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez made it 10 pole positions in a row at the Grand Prix of Germany on Saturday, continuing his dominant run as the ‘king of Sachsenring’.

Marquez escaped the clutches of rookie sensation Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) by two tenths with a record lap of 1m20.195s and is on course to challenge for a 10th win in a row at the circuit.

Quartararo was once again a key challenger despite a big wobble in FP3 that partially dislocated the Frechman’s shoulder, with Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) completing the front row and missing out on second by just 0.006s.

The drama started early as Q1 saw Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) lead Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) into Q2 to fight for the top 12, and that had some serious consequences for championship challenger Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) as he was knocked out by just a few thousandths. He’ll face a fight back on Sunday from P13.

By far the leading Ducati rider in qualifying, Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) had a great session to launch from P5, he’ll sit next to the brave Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) – the Briton qualifies sixth for the German GP despite suffering a torn ACL and a small fracture to the top of his tibia ahead of this weekend.

Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Franco Morbidelli leads row three ahead of Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and the duo will line up with Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) alongside them. Nakagami qualified P10, with the Japanese rider beating fellow Q1 graduate Rossi by 0.033s to turn the tables on ‘The Doctor’ in Q2.

In Moto2, Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) is on pole position after coming through Q1 and setting a 1m23.585s to beat fellow Q1-protagonist Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) to the top by just 0.079s. Home hero Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) completes a front row, with Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) ninth.

The Moto3 field will be led away by Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) after posting a 1m26.135s, taking the honour from compatriot Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) by just 0.057s at the Sachsenring. Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) completes the front row.

Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE) became the first-ever MotoE World Cup E-Pole sitter after setting a 1m27.456s to end the session nearly eight tenths clear of the competition. It’s Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing) in second and Eric Granado (Avinita Esponsorama Racing) third, with Josh Hook (Octo Pramac MotoE) 16th.

Detailed results

Image: Russell Colvin.

Set to start from P2 in today’s pair of 16-lap races at Morgan Park’s fourth round of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), Cru Halliday believes ‘evolving’ with the flow of each encounter will be key to a successful weekend.

The Yamaha Racing Team rider has been consistent all year long, and is currently ranked second in the championship standings – just one point shy of leader Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCperformance).

“I’ve already asked myself what the approach will be many times, but I don’t think there’s a game plan – I’ll just have to let the race evolve around me and go with it,” Halliday explained to CycleOnline.com.au.

“Every time the racing and competition is this close – when you start making plans, it sort of backfires on you and you go into limbo mode. As the race evolves, I’ll hopefully stay with it – if I can go, I’ll go – if I can’t, I’ll just try stay in there and grab as many points as I can for the championship.”

The 2018 Supersport champion finished qualifying just 0.246s shy of pole-sitter Mike Jones (DesmoSport Ducati), while he’ll also be joined on the front row by Wayne Maxwell (Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia).

Image: Russell Colvin.

GSR Kawasaki’s Glenn Scott has confirmed he’s sustained multiple injuries in a heavy crash that brought out the red-flag in yesterday’s final practice session at Morgan Park’s fourth round of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship.

The privateer crashed heavily on entry into turn three, sliding under the air fence and directly hitting the wall. He subsequently suffered a dislocated hip and multiple fractures in his back, although the full extent of his injuries is still to be determined.

“Not a start to round four we were hoping for,” Scott said in statement. “FP3 yesterday I crashed on entry to turn three, sliding straight under the air fence and hit [the] wall, soon after greeted by my ZX-10RR.

“I suffered a dislocated hip, wasn’t that a new pain! And unfortunately have suffered multiple fractures in my back. We find out more today about my back after an MRI scan in Brisbane. Hoping for good news and short recovery times. Will keep you all posted.”

The New South Welshman was critical of track safety at the Morgan Park venue, believing he’d back on track today for qualifying if the circuit was ‘fit for national level racing’.

“These are the risks we take riding these unsafe circuits,” he added. “Our passion to ride is so great when we roll into a circuit like Morgan Park you can see it is not fit for a national level of racing but we ignore the dangerous sections and go anyway.

“ASBK and MA need to step up and change this! If that wall wasn’t so close on the outside of turn turn, I’d be throwing a new set of fairings on my bike, dusting my leathers off and heading out for qualifying today.”

Image: Russell Colvin.

Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia’s Wayne Maxwell has set the pace in Friday practice at Morgan Park’s fourth round of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).

The former champion posted his fastest time of 1m13.334s in the final session, which was cut short due to a red-flag incident involving Glenn Scott (GSR Kawasaki), who required medical assistance.

DesmoSport Ducati’s Mike Jones was just shy of P1 after lodging a 1m13.452s time, edging out Cru Halliday’s (Yamaha Racing Team) time of 1m13.515s.

Josh Waters (Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia) was a fraction off the top three after a best time of 1m13.527s, as Yamaha Racing Team’s Daniel Falzon significantly improved on his earlier time with a 1m13.798s to conclude the top five.

Positions six to 10 were completed by Matt Walters (Kawasaki Connection), Mark Chiodo (Penrite Honda Racing), points leader Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCperformance), reigning champion Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) and Maxima BMW guest rider Aaron Morris.

Image: Russell Colvin.

In the Supersport category, points leader Tom Toparis recorded the fastest time aboard his Yamaha YZF-R6, lodging a quick-time of 1m15.455s in the final session. Nic Liminton (Yamaha) was just behind in second with a time of 1m15.694s, followed by Reid Battye (Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia), who posted a 1m15.835s.

Making his return to ASBK, albeit in Supersport, Corey Turner was fourth fastest aboard Honda machinery, edging out Callum Spriggs (Yamaha) in fifth.

Senna Agius (Kawasaki) rose to the top of the Supersport 300 timesheets in the final practice session, his time beating Locky Taylor (Yamaha) and John Lytras (Yamaha). Hunter Ford (Yamaha) and Harry Khouri (Yamaha) completed the top five. The Yamaha R3 Cup was topped by Taylor and Lytras, as Brandon Demmery (Yamaha) locked out the first three.

Tom Grane (Yamaha) was fastest in the Oceania Junior Cup ahead of Max Gibbons (Yamaha) and Angus Grenfell (Yamaha). Bikes are back on-track tomorrow for qualifying and the first races of the weekend in the support categories.

Detailed results

Image: Foremost Media.

Following a recent test with the high-profile KYB Moriwaki Racing team, reigning Australian Superbike champion Troy Herfoss has confirmed his spot within the squad for the 2019 Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan.

The prestigious event will mark the final round of the 2018/2019 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) on 28 July, where the Australian will joined on the team by Yuki Takahashi and Tomoyoshi Koyama.

“We did a track day at Morgan Park, which was really brief, and then I got a last-minute invite to go and test the Moriwaki Racing bike at Suzuka,” Herfoss explained.

“I didn’t get a lot of time riding in Japan either – about 17 laps over two days – but it went well and I was able to secure the ride over there. I’m looking forward to getting back over there straight after Morgan Park.”

Herfoss, who claimed seventh overall last year as part of the Honda Asia Dream Racing team, will be accompanied at the event by fellow ASBK contender Josh Waters (Team MotoMap SWAT Suzuki), along with EWC regulars Josh Hook (F.C.C. TSR Honda France) and Broc Parkes (YART).

The Gold Coast-based athlete returns to ASBK duties this weekend at Morgan Park in Queensland following an extended break in the series.

“It’s been a long break between rounds and I’ve been off the bike for a long time, but I’m hoping it will be business as usual,” he added. “The bike is set-up well and we were competitive in race three at Tailem Bend, so although I haven’t ridden a lot, I feel good heading into this weekend.

“This stage of the year is when you will start to see the guys who are going to potentially win the championship will establish themselves further. It’s definitely a really important time and I’m happy that I am within striking distance.

“If I was to come out of this weekend like last year, it’d only take my main opponents to have a couple of third or fourth-place finishes and I would almost be in the lead – it’s so close that it is almost anybody’s at the moment.”

Just two weeks after violently high-siding and subsequently fracturing his right radius, Michael van der Mark will attempt to line-up this weekend at Donington Park’s eighth round of the 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship in Great Britain.

Immediately undergoing surgery, the Dutchman always believed this weekend’s British round was a possibility, however all will be determined following the opening practice session on Friday.

If van der Mark isn’t at an adequate level to race, the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK squad has British Superbike regular Tarran Mackenzie on standby for a fill-in role.

“I knew as soon as I’d had the surgery on the wrist that a return to racing at Donington Park was a possibility, so that’s what I’ve been working towards since,” van der Mark explained. “I haven’t lost any strength in the wrist, which was my main concern. The movement is still slightly restricted, but I’ve been having physiotherapy since Misano to improve this.

“It has hardly impacted on my training and I’ve been able to train with the same intensity as I did before the injury, so I hope to be passed fit to ride this weekend.

“It’s good to have Tarran there on standby, as the medical assessment and actually racing the bike are two very different things. I will only really know if I’m fit to race, rather than just fit to ride, after FP1 on Friday.”

Van der Mark is currently ranked third in the championship standings despite missing all three races at Misano.