12.07.2026
MotoGP 2026 - Round 11 of 22, Sachsenring, Germany – Race
Highlights and key moments from race day at Sachsenring:
- Pedro Acosta adds 13 world championship points to his tally to maintain 7th place in the standings as the lead Red Bull KTM runner so far in 2026
- Three KTM RC16s finish inside the top ten as Enea Bastianini classifies 9th in Germany with Brad Binder just behind in 10th. Maverick Viñales retires from the race
- Moto3™ acclaim for Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brian Uriarte who wins a close duel for his second Grand Prix victory of the year and his third podium appearance
More than 261,000 spectators crowded the Sachsenring over the weekend and one of the most characteristic layouts on the calendar. The 13-corner, 3.6km trajectory emphasized the agility of the Grand Prix prototype machinery, strained the left side of the Michelin tires and was tight for overtaking opportunities. Pedro Acosta started from P8, Brad Binder from P15, Enea Bastianini P16 and Maverick Viñales from P20 for the 30-lap chase.
Acosta made good ground in the early stages and profited from the mistakes of others to move into the top four. By mid-race distance the Spaniard was circulating with a gap to the podium places but with a comfortable margin over P5. Pedro crossed the line for his best result since a podium appearance at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Both Bastianini and Binder were also proactive. Brad’s bright start took him into the top ten and Enea built a rhythm that eventually drove him up and past his brandmate. His 9th place delivered 7 championship points while Binder pocketed six for his efforts and for the progression in his competitiveness across the weekend. Maverick sought consistency despite his weakened left shoulder. He managed to circulate until three laps to go and was then forced into the pits. The Spaniard will now use the three-week summer break to work on more strength and conditioning in his left shoulder.
MotoGP will reconvene for round twelve with a trip to the flat, fast climes of Silverstone for the Grand Prix of Great Britain on the first weekend of August.
Pedro Acosta, 4th and 7th in the championship: “Super-happy. We were struggling with the front yesterday and it looks like we made a step. Our strategy was to push to lap 10-11 and then see where we were with the tires and for that I was pushing a lot in the beginning. The [tire] drop came later than we expected, so, happy with that but there is still some more performance to come. Happy with the season so far. I have not made a lot of mistakes and, although we have lost some points, KTM has been working hard.”
Enea Bastianini, 9th and 12th in the championship: “A lot of overtakes, so I got something today. It was difficult with the front tire getting hot and everything moving. Lap-by-lap I found a better feeling though, and I could do the last ten laps at a good pace. I’m not really happy with the weekend because it was quite complicated, anyway we managed to save the top ten.”
Brad Binder, 10th and 13th in the championship: “I felt like I was being so kind to my rear tire and I would have something at the end of the race but with two laps to go it completely went. I’ve never felt a [tire] drop like it and somehow we managed to get home. I can’t believe I got 10th place. We still need to find some extra speed and some extra performance although the bike package improved over yesterday. We still have some work to do.”
Maverick Viñales, DNF and 22nd in the championship: “Physically I could not give the best. We need to work and try to recover. Sometimes I feel normal but clearly I have not fully recovered. I am training - and I am trying - but braking today I had to put my arms straight otherwise I could not manage. We need to find a solution because this is taking forever. It’s a difficult moment because I cannot give the maximum and I cannot ride in the right way. It’s not a perfect match. The most important thing now is to use this summer break to recover.”
Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “A positive Sunday at Sachsenring after a challenging weekend for us. We had some limitations here for our performance but after the race today I have to say we have to be happy with results of three riders in the top ten with Enea and Brad and, of course, Pedro did an incredible job; he was really strong at the beginning of the race and kept his position. Generally, I want to say that we started the season super-well and we saw improvements and developments in many areas but we cannot be completely happy. Everyone here and at the factory has worked really hard to keep the level…but we know MotoGP is so close track-by-track. Anyway, we’re pleased with some of the Sunday results while knowing there is plenty of work to do for the second half of the season.”
Grand Prix of Germany photographs can be found HERE
Results MotoGP Grand Prix of Germany
1. Marc Marquez (ESP) Ducati 40:53.148
2. Ai Ogura (JPN) Aprilia +1.996
3. Raul Fernandez (ESP) Aprilia +5.104
4. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +7.684
9. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +19.140
10. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +22.137
DNF. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3
World Championship standings MotoGP
1. Jorge Martin (ESP) Aprilia, 208 points
2. Ai Ogura (JPN) Aprilia, 194 points
3. Marc Marquez (ESP) Ducati, 190
7. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 148
12. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 76
13. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 64
22. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 10
KTM GP Academy
Moto3 lapped Sachsenring 23 times and initially produced a five-rider show for the podium places. Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brian Uriarte started from Pole Position for the first time (and from the front row of the grid for the second Grand Prix in succession). The rookie carried on his strong pace in the dispute for prizes and was joined by teammate Alvaro Carpe, who started from 5th, and fellow rookie Rico Salmela who launched from the second row.
Uriarte set the early pace. As the group closed and flexed, the 17-year-old found himself engaged in a duel with Maximo Quiles for the win. He studied his rival and then plotted a last lap attack. Brian moved into the lead through Turn 3 and then slid across the line to celebrate his second victory of the campaign by less than a tenth of a second.
Salmela was busy in his push for a first trophy. The Finn finished 5th and entered the top five for the third time in 2026. Rico was fractions of a second from the podium. Carpe finished 11th after surviving a massive ‘moment’ into Turn 8 and running off the track. Alvaro had been vying for the podium and rescued 5 points. Valentin Perrone had to recover ground from P19 on the grid but the Argentine crashed in a multi-rider incident on the second lap.
Uriarte has risen to 2nd in the world championship standings, 104 points behind runaway leader Quiles and with Carpe close in 3rd. KTM front the Constructors table.
Brian Uriarte: “The battle was there! A one point I was pushing all race…but I wanted to see how Maximo was going and I didn’t know how he was managing the tires. With a few laps to go I could feel my chest protector slip to the side; I tried to put it back and it was a bit uncomfortable. I managed to forget about it and just go for the win. It meant risking it all the way to the last corner; I was tucking the front and going sideways. Everything! I want to thank my whole team - they are amazing - and they are helping me grow as a rider as well as a person. We’ll continue trying to be at the front.”
Moto2 ran for 25 laps and Red Bull KTM Ajo were hungry for Grand Prix points and solid presence in the race order. Collin Veijer and Jose Antonio Rueda started from top ten positions. Veijer tried to join the leaders in the push from P9 on the grid while Rueda showed progress again to come through practice and qualification with P11 and was close to his teammate from the outset. There was little overtaking action at the top of the leaderboard but Rueda was impressive to rise to 8th and outdo his teammate by one place. P8 is Jose Antonio’s second top ten standing of his rookie term.
Round five of the 2026 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup meant the tenth race of the season on Sunday afternoon. Ryota Ogiwara won the ninth outing by the narrowest of margins on Saturday and the Japanese was aiming to be a protagonist again as the large pack of Grand Prix aspirants looped around Sachsenring but crashed out. Nine riders barreled to the finish line within one second after 19 laps and Indonesian youngster Kiandra Ramadhipa scored P1 by less than a bike length. The penultimate fixture of the 2026 series will come alive at Red Bull Ring for the Austrian Grand Prix in September.
Results Moto3 Grand Prix of Germany
1. Brian Uriarte (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo 33:02.694
2. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team +0.063
3. Matteo Bertelle (ITA) KTM +5.053
4. Marco Morelli (ARG) CFMOTO Aspar Team +5.060
5. Rico Salmela (FIN) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +5.139
11. Alvaro Carpe (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +15.928
DNF. Valentin Perrone (ARG) Red Bull KTM Tech3
World Championship standings Moto3
1. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 231 points
2. Brian Uriarte (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 127
3. Alvaro Carpe (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 126
4. Marco Morelli (ARG) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 115
8. Valentin Perrone (ARG) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 79
11. Rico Salmela (FIN) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 51
Results Moto2 Grand Prix of Germany
1. Ivan Ortola (ESP) 35:00.119
2. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team +0.614
3. Izan Guevara (ESP) +3.229
8. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +10.205
9. Collin Veijer (NED) Red Bull KTM Ajo +11.237
DNF. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team
World Championship standings Moto2
1. Manuel Gonzalez (ESP) 195.5 points
2. Izan Guevara (ESP) 144
3. Senna Agius (AUS) 136
4. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 116
5. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 115
10. Collin Veijer (NED) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 55.5
16. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 27
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