Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders Franco Morbidelli and Álex Márquez set themselves up for a double top six challenge in the German Moto2 Grand Prix after both excelled in qualifying earlier today.

Today’s qualifying session was an incredibly tight affair, with the top 18 riders split by just 0.962s. The close times meant it was imperative for Morbidelli and Márquez to qualify well, with overtaking a complicated challenge at Sachsenring, particularly through the tight and twisty first two sectors.

Taking full advantage of vastly improved weather after cool and damp conditions dominated yesterday’s practice action, Morbidelli and Márquez were a constant threat for the top six in this afternoon’s 45-minute qualifying session.

Morbidelli will launch his challenge in the 29-lap race from fifth position on the grid, with a best time of 1.24.731 leaving the Italian less than 0.1s away from securing a first front row start of 2016.

With track temperature up by over 20 degrees compared to yesterday, Márquez was able to make significant progress with the set-up of his Kalex machine to miss out on equalling his season best qualifying result by one position.

Márquez will start from eighth place on the grid after he clocked a personal best time of 1.24.942, but the Spaniard is optimistic and full of confidence that he can take a first top six finish of the season tomorrow.

Franco Morbidelli: 5th – 1’24.731
“I think we did a good job in qualifying and I was able to lap consistently throughout, which is a positive sign for the race tomorrow. I couldn’t really find the pace for one hot lap. I was able to do quite a few laps around my fastest time in the session but I struggled to find a little bit more at the end to go faster and possibly get on the front row. I am happy that I was still able to be very close to the front row and we have improved the bike again, so we have to believe that we can be in the battle for the podium again. It was important to be on the second row because this track is like a mini-moto track and it is not easy to overtake. So my grid position at least makes the job a little bit easier in the early stages of the race.”

Álex Márquez: 8th – 1’24.942
“I’m really happy with my performance in qualifying today. With overtaking so difficult at this track it is so important to be on the first three rows, so it was mission accomplished this afternoon. We still have some work to do in the warm-up  tomorrow because my rhythm for the race could be better. But we have a good base and I am confident I can put up a good fight tomorrow. I am sure I can be in the top 10 again like in Assen and that will be a good way to go into the summer break.”