Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) was leading this soaking wet race by more than seven seconds after just four laps when he fell braking for turn one. Casey Stoner (Ducati) eventually won from Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) with Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki) just hanging onto third from a flying Alex de Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V).

As rain sheeted down the lights went out and Dani hit the front from second on the grid. Andrea Dovizioso (JiR Scot Honda RC212V) snatched second from row two, Colin Edwards (Yamaha) was an early front-runner too and Stoner lay fourth having started from pole.

At the end of lap one Dani had pulled out a staggering two second lead over Dovi. With a clear track in front of him Pedrosa was simply pulverising the rest of the grid. On a sodden track he set an... // PaddockTalk

MotoGP report. Torrential rain hit the Deutschland Grand Prix : -  

LCR Honda MotoGP rider Randy de Puniet got the final 8th place in today’s 30 lap German Grand Prix at Sachsenring circuit.

The tenth round of the season started today at 14:00 local time and was held in wet conditions after two days of dry practices.

Rain showers hit the 3.671Km track early in the morning and the premier class riders used the 25 minute warm up session to chose the correct tyres for the German race and the 27-year-old aboard the Michelin shod Honda RC212V set the 8th quickest time on the damp surface.

Started from the 6th position, De Puniet was 8th at the end of the first lap behind Rossi but he never had the right feeling on rain tyres during the race.

Stoner got his 4th 2008 victory followed by... // F1SA

MotoGP report. Repsol Honda endures tough day in Germany : -  

The Repsol Honda Team endured its toughest day of the year so far at rain-lashed Sachsenring today. Dani Pedrosa led the early laps in superb style but crashed out, leaving Nicky Hayden the team’s only finisher in an unlucky 13th place after an early race pit stop.

Watched by 98,000 fans, Pedrosa led from the start and set a fast pace. After five laps he was already seven seconds ahead of his closest rival but then he fell at high speed as he braked for the first turn for the sixth time.

The Spaniard slid into the run-off, rolled through the gravel several times and finally came to a halt against the safety air fence. He has fractured the top bone of his left index finger and has a suspected fracture of his right ankle.... // F1SA

German GP: Honda Gresini MotoGP Race Recap - De Angelis Stars With Fourth!

Alex De Angelis took a starring role in the Grand Prix of Germany in wet conditions at the Sachsenring today. The San Marino splashed his way through his first wet MotoGP race to mount an incredible challenge for the podium, taking his Bridgestone-shod Honda RC212V all the way to fourth place after an exciting battle with Chris Vermeulen for third.

Nakano picked up more important championship points by coming home in ninth place.

Alex De Angelis (4th): “Considering the dreadful weather today, the last thing I expected was to be fighting for the podium. Of course, I thought I could have a good race but for me that meant fighting for eighth or ninth place, so to finish fourth is very satisfying – even... // PaddockTalk

German GP: Repsol Honda MotoGP Race Recap - Pedrosa Crashes, Hayden 13th

The Repsol Honda Team endured its toughest day of the year so far at rain-lashed Sachsenring today. Dani Pedrosa led the early laps in superb style but crashed out, leaving Nicky Hayden the team’s only finisher in an unlucky 13th place after an early race pit stop.

Watched by 98,000 fans, Pedrosa led from the start and set a fast pace. After five laps he was already seven seconds ahead of his closest rival but then he fell at high speed as he braked for the first turn for the sixth time. The Spaniard slid into the run-off, rolled through the gravel several times and finally came to a halt against the safety air fence. He has fractured the top bone of his left index finger and has a suspected fracture of his... // PaddockTalk

German GP: JiR Scot Honda MotoGP Race Recap - Very Satisfying

For JiR Team Scot and Andrea Dovizioso the weekend of the German Grand Prix was very satisfying. After two days of free practice, which confirmed the team’s good potential for the race and a qualifying that gave the JiR Team Scot the best position of the season on the grid, Andrea Dovizioso started fast, and was flying in the heavy rain, behind Spain’s Dani Pedrosa. For at least a third of the 30 lap race, the JiR Team Scot rider remained in a podium position, but was then joined by Chris Vermeulen, Alex De Angelis and Colin Edwards. The American rider battled for a long time with Andrea until the crash, which put the Yamaha rider out of the race. Andrea eventually finished in fifth position for the third... // PaddockTalk

Auto Racing Daily (Enlarge photo)

The Repsol Honda Team endured its toughest day of the year so far at rain-lashed Sachsenring today. Dani Pedrosa led the early laps in superb style but crashed out, leaving Nicky Hayden the team’s only finisher in an unlucky 13th place after an early race pit stop.

Watched by 98,000 fans, Pedrosa led from the start and set a fast pace. After five laps he was already seven seconds ahead of his closest rival but then he fell at high speed as he braked for the first... // Auto Racing Daily

MotoGP report. Randy de Puniet sixth fastest at Sachsenring qualifying : -  

LCR Honda MotoGP Team rider Randy De Puniet made solid progress today getting the sixth fastest time overall in the qualifying session for the Grand Prix of Deutschland that gets underway tomorrow at 14:00 local time.

After this morning damp free session, the weather improved for the 60-minutes afternoon qualifying session at the 3.671 km German track with ambience temperature of 20°C and the Frenchman aboard the Michelin shod Honda RC212V posted his best lap time of 1’21.821 on lap 26 of 27 obtaining the second row for tomorrow’s 30 lap race.

De Puniet, like some other premier class riders, lost some track time this morning due to the slippery surface but then he found the correct set-up of his machine... // F1SA

German GP: Honda MotoGP Qualifying Recap

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) worked typically hard in a tough hour of final qualifying to snatch a front row start from second on the grid behind poleman Casey Stoner (Ducati) with Yamaha rider Colin Edwards completing the front row.

This is Dani’s seventh front row start of the season so far and the current World Championship points leader had to work hard for it. Stoner, who has been in commanding form here, looked set to boss the hour-long session and it took Dani until the final five minutes to cement his place on the front row.

But when he did it was a convincing lap, just 0.353 seconds shy of his Australian rival’s 1m 21.067s pole time. Title rival Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) could only manage seventh on the grid for a... // PaddockTalk

German GP: JiR Scot Honda MotoGP Qualifying Recap - Dovizioso Fourth

The second day of practice for the German Grand Prix was concluded under dry conditions with some clouds in the sky but with temperature on the Tarmac down by 10 degrees compared to yesterday. Conditions therefore were good for the Honda/Michelin riders and also for Andrea Dovizioso, who took fifth in the morning despite some competitors actually going slower than yesterday. In the afternoon the JiR Team Scot squad found a good result – the best of the season so far in qualifying – and Andrea eventually went very close to the front-row but will instead start the German Grand Prix tomorrow in fourth place on the grid. For sure this will be a race full of emotion with Andrea and the team motivated to confirm... // PaddockTalk

German GP: Repsol Honda MotoGP Qualifying Recap - Pedrosa Tops Morning Practice

Repsol Honda rider and World Championship leader Dani Pedrosa had a good day at the Sachsenring today, topping this morning’s free practice session aboard his RC212V and qualifying a promising second fastest in this afternoon’s qualifier. Team-mate Nicky Hayden was also impressive this morning, running third fastest, but wasn’t quite able to repeat the performance in qualifying, coming out eighth.

The morning session started on a wet track following an earlier downpour but by the end of the hour Pedrosa and Hayden were both running fast on race tyres, the only riders to improve on their Friday pace. Pedrosa, who scored his seventh front-row start of the year today, still has some further... // PaddockTalk

MotoGP report. Third and fourth row starts for Team San Carlo Honda Gresini riders at Sachsenring : -  

Shinya Nakano and Alex De Angelis will start from ninth and tenth on the grid for the German Grand Prix, which will take place over 30 gruelling laps of the Sachsenring circuit tomorrow.

After showing excellent form over the opening three free practice sessions, both Shinya and Alex again ran into difficulties when it came to pushing for a top grid position on a softer tyre during qualifying practice.

Morale remains high for tomorrow, however, with the Japanese and the San Marino rider both looking in good shape in race trim.

“The third row meets our minimum expectations but ninth position is not 100% satisfactory. This morning we struggled with the lower temperatures, which... // F1SA

Alex De Angelis and Shinya Nakano started the German Grand Prix on the right foot at Sachsenring, the two Team San Carlo Honda Gresini riders taking starring roles in today's opening free practice sessions, ending the day in second and seventh place respectively.

De Angelis was the only rider other than Casey Stoner to break the 1'22 barrier, setting a consistently fast pace over a number of laps.

Nakano also gave positive feedback after lapping seventh fastest in the afternoon session, with just a few tenths covering the riders immediately above him.

Alex De Angelis (2nd - 1'21''993): "I was definitely expecting good results here at Sachsenring because this is a good track for me. Honestly, though, I didn't expect to be quite so fast from this morning's first practice and again in... // Yahoo! Eurosport

Sachsenring, 11 July: The opening day of free practice for Sunday's Deutschland Grand Prix was conducted in near perfect summer weather today with ambience temperature of 30o.C at the 3.671Km Sachsenring track which hosts the ninth round of the season.

LCR Honda MotoGP rider Randy De Puniet clocked his fastest lap time of 1'23.116 (less than 4 tenths off the 4th fastest Valentino Rossi ) in the middle of the afternoon session chasing the correct set-up for tomorrow's qualifying session.

The Frenchman aboard the Michelin-shod Honda RC212V made 58 laps throughout the day setting a good rhythm on race trim. Stoner topped the... // Yahoo! Eurosport

Repsol Honda riders Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden made a steady start to their German GP weekend at the Sachsenring today, the pair completing the first two practice sessions in fifth and eighth positions.

World Championship leader Pedrosa was fourth this morning but slid off at Turn 12 in the early stages of this afternoon’s session, run in muggy 30 degree heat. The Spaniard was unhurt and his RC212V only suffered minor damage but he had to complete the session on his number two bike and was unable to better his morning time. All being well, he should be able to move forward tomorrow.

Hayden made some useful improvements to his RC212V in today’s second outing and the American believes he can find a good few tenths during tomorrow’s final two sessions.

“This morning we started... // WhoWon.com

German GP: JiR Team Scot Honda MotoGP Practice Recap

The first day of practice for the German Grand Prix ended with a positive result for Andrea Dovizioso who is comfortably in the top ten. Despite a fast, but innocuous crash early in the second session at the penultimate corner – a scene of many crashes today – JiR Team Scot has collected important data, which will be used to further improve the situation tomorrow. After completing the fifth best time of the morning, the increase in temperature from the morning to the afternoon from 30 to 40 degrees meant that it was not possible to improve, but Andrea Dovizioso and the team are confident of moving forward tomorrow.

Cirano Mularoni - Team Manager JiR Team Scot

“With regard to practice today the result is positive... // PaddockTalk

F1SA (Enlarge photo)

Randy de Puniet tenth fastest and confident after day one.

The opening day of free practice for Sunday’s Deutschland Grand Prix was conducted in near perfect summer weather today with ambience temperature of 30°C at the 3.671Km Sachsenring track which hosts the ninth round of the season.

LCR Honda MotoGP rider Randy de Puniet clocked his fastest lap time of 1’23.116 (less than 4 tenths off the 4th fastest Valentino Rossi) in the middle of the afternoon session chasing the correct set-up for tomorrow’s qualifying session.

The Frenchman aboard the Michelin-shod Honda RC212V made 58 laps throughout the day setting a good rhythm on race trim.... // F1SA

F1SA (Enlarge photo)

Alex de Angelis second fastest as free practice starts at Sachsenring.

Alex De Angelis and Shinya Nakano started the German Grand Prix on the right foot at Sachsenring, the two Team San Carlo Honda Gresini riders taking starring roles in today’s opening free practice sessions, ending the day in second and seventh place respectively.

De Angelis was the only rider other than Casey Stoner to break the 1’22 barrier, setting a consistently fast pace over a number of laps.

Nakano also gave positive feedback after lapping seventh fastest in the afternoon session, with just a few tenths covering the riders immediately above him.

“I was definitely expecting good results here at Sachsenring because this is a good track for me. Honestly, though, I didn’t expect to be quite so fast from... // F1SA

German GP: Honda Gresini MotoGP Practice Recap - De Angelis Second Quick

Alex De Angelis and Shinya Nakano started the German Grand Prix on the right foot at Sachsenring, the two Team San Carlo Honda Gresini riders taking starring roles in today’s opening free practice sessions, ending the day in second and seventh place respectively.

De Angelis was the only rider other than Casey Stoner to break the 1’22 barrier, setting a consistently fast pace over a number of laps.

Nakano also gave positive feedback after lapping seventh fastest in the afternoon session, with just a few tenths covering the riders immediately above him.

Alex De Angelis (2nd - 1’21’’993): “I was definitely expecting good results here at Sachsenring because this is a good track... // PaddockTalk

Repsol Honda makes a steady start at the 'ring.

Repsol Honda riders Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden made a steady start to their German GP weekend at the Sachsenring today, the pair completing the first two practice sessions in fifth and eighth positions.

World Championship leader Pedrosa was fourth this morning but slid off at Turn 12 in the early stages of this afternoon’s session, run in muggy 30 degree heat. The Spaniard was unhurt and his RC212V only suffered minor damage but he had to complete the session on his number two bike and was unable to better his morning time. All being well, he should be able to move forward tomorrow.

Hayden made some useful improvements to his RC212V in today’s second outing and the American believes he can find a good few tenths during tomorrow’s... // F1SA

Pedrosa Aiming To Cement Points Lead

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa will be aiming to cement his World Championship points lead at the Sachsenring where last year he scored a dominant win and team-mate Nicky Hayden took third place to give Repsol Honda its first double podium of 2007.

Pedrosa retook the 2008 points lead with a fine ride to second place at the recent Dutch TT, while Hayden came close to completing the team's first double podium of the year.

This is the busiest time of year for the Repsol Honda Team -- the German GP is the fifth MotoGP round in just seven weeks and is immediately followed by next weekend's US GP. Pedrosa, Hayden and their crews are thus working very hard. Pedrosa knows he needs to find a few extra tenths to strengthen him World Championship... // Motorsport.com

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) arrives in Germany with a four-point lead over Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) and Ducati rider Casey Stoner 25 points behind Rossi. With just two races to go before the summer break – here and at Laguna Seca, USA – this Grand Prix is of immense import.

Title impetus is key over this 18-race series and the man of the moment is Stoner. With two consecutive pole-to-flag wins to his credit, the Aussie World Champion is on a roll and he’ll be going all out for a three in a row ‘hat trick’. But he’ll encounter two Repsol Honda riders who are strong performers here.

Both Dani and his team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V) were on the rostrum last year, Dani on the top step and Nicky in third. Hayden has finished third... // PaddockTalk