Jorge Martín fights through Q1 to chase Sachsenring sprint glory
Jorge Martín dug deep to secure his Q2 spot at the 2026 Sachsenring sprint on Friday, while Marc Márquez dominated practice to stake his claim as Sachsenring’s latest king. The Spanish ace topped the final practice session ahead of Raúl Fernández and Fabio Di Giannantonio, extending his mastery over the left-handed curves that define the German track. Martín, meanwhile, needed every ounce of focus to avoid Q1 elimination, a stark contrast to Francesco Bagnaia’s early exit into the repêchage.
Marc Márquez strolled through FP2 at Sachsenring on Friday morning, planting a 9.78s lap that left rivals scrambling. Raúl Fernández followed 0.131s behind, with Fabio Di Giannantonio another 0.040s adrift in third. The trio’s times underscored Márquez’s enduring bond with the track where he’s claimed six wins since 2013. **Jorge Martín, sixth fastest at 9.89s, needed a late push to leapfrog the Q1 cut-off** after a session littered with scrappy exits and missed lines.
The 15-lap sprint on Saturday carries 12 points for the winner, but its real prize is momentum. Martín sits fourth in the 2026 standings, 37 points adrift of Márquez, so every point counts. His Q2 berth keeps his title hopes alive, yet the track’s relentless left-handers favor Márquez’s aggressive late-braking style. A strong sprint result could see Martín cut Márquez’s lead to single digits before Sunday’s 28-lap main race.
Spanish fans can catch the sprint live on DAZN, with Movistar+ dials carrying the feed. DAZN’s app and website will stream the full 15-lap dash from 15:00 local time. Radio MARCA will provide minute-by-minute updates and post-session reactions from the garages.
Sunday’s 28-lap main race starts at 14:00, with the grid shaped by Saturday’s sprint results. Márquez will start from pole if he tops qualifying at 11:15, while Martín will line up where his Q2 run places him. The pair’s tire strategies could decide the weekend-Márquez’s smooth exits contrast Martín’s Friday grind, but the Czech track rewards boldness.
Sachsenring has crowned Márquez before, and Martín knows he must out-think the master of the left-handers to leave Germany with more than just points.