Scott Redding is chasing a hat-trick of podium finishes this weekend, as he heads to the German Grand Prix at the tight and technical Sachsenring circuit. Mika Kallio is looking for a reversal in fortune in Germany after a technical issue robbed him of a certain top five finish last time out at Assen.

Redding followed up a second place in his home Grand Prix at Silverstone with an impressive third in the Dutch TT at Assen on Saturday, his third podium finish in four races. The 19-year-old Briton also closed the gap on the championship leaders and now lies fifth, just ten points off third place in the standings.

Securing a third successive podium will be a tough task for the Marc VDS rider this weekend. While Silverstone and Assen are fast, open circuits, the Sachsenring is very different in character. Tight and technical, the circuit features a number of slow turns in the first two sectors where acceleration is key to a fast lap time.

Kallio looked all set to claim only his second top five finish of the season last time out at Assen, until the rear tyre span on the rim at half race distance and the resulting chatter forced the Marc VDS rider to drop back to tenth. Despite the problem, Kallio continued on to finish tenth, making him the only rider in Moto2 to secure a top ten finish in every race this season.

The 29-year-old Finn made his Grand Prix debut at the Sachsenring back in 2001, a track he rates as one of his favourites, and has enjoyed some success there in recent years. A win in the 125cc class back in 2005 was backed up with a second place in the 250cc race just two years later.

At just 3.671 kilometres in length the Sachsenring is one of the shortest tracks on the Moto2 calendar, while its technical nature also makes it one of the slowest. The anti-clockwise track features ten left-hand turns and only three right-hand corners, making tyre choice for the race critical as the left side of the tyre, especially the rear, is subjected to far higher forces than the right. The Moto2 riders will run dual compound rear tyres once again at Sachsenring, with a soft-medium compound used on the right side of the tyre to maintain grip as the tyre cools between the right-hand turns.

Scott Redding #45:
“Obviously I'm heading to Germany looking for another podium, but it won't be so easy this weekend. Unlike the previous two circuits, the Sachsenring is tight and very technical, with acceleration out of the slower turns in the early part of the lap critical to a good time. A position on the front two rows of the grid and a good start are always important there, as the first corner is very tight and everyone seems to arrive at warp speed. You really don't want to be mid-pack going into turn one for the first time; it's almost guaranteed that someone will outbrake themselves and clean out a couple of people! It will be a tough weekend, as always, but I'm pretty confident we can be up there at the front on Sunday.”

Mika Kallio #36:
“I was a bit unlucky at Assen; I was well positioned in the race for a top five finish, maybe even a podium, but the problems with the rear tyre put paid to that. The Sachsenring is a bit of a special place for me, as it's the track at which I made my Grand Prix debut as a wildcard in 2001. A lot of riders don't like the circuit, as it's fairly short and slow, but it remains one of my favourites and I've had some good results there in the past. Once again we need to focus on qualifying, as a good grid position is probably more important here than anywhere else, but I'm pretty confident for the race. I've been consistent this year, finishing inside the top ten in every race, but it's not enough. We have the pace for a top five finish, and that's definitely what I'll be aiming for this weekend in Germany.”

Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“With three podiums in four races Scott is currently on a run of form that has seen him at the front, battling on equal terms with the likes of Marquez, Iannone and Espargaro, and I'm confident he can do the same in Germany. The Sachsenring is a very different track to Silverstone and Assen. It's tight, technical and demanding of both rider and tyres, but I'm confident that, once again, Scott will rise to the challenge. Mika rode a good race at Assen, only missing out on a top five finish because of the tyre spinning on the rim. Sachsenring is one of his favourite circuits, so if he can avoid the bad luck that's plagued him in recent weeks then I expect to see him running at the front too this weekend.”