Simoncelli 'close to a great result'

Marco Simoncelli was just 'a small step away from a great result' when he fell from a top six finish last time out at Catalunya, a mistake he's determined to make up for this weekend in Germany.

"At Barcelona I was just a small step away from a great result, which was a shame because it would have been another injection of confidence following up our recent progress," said the Italian.

"There was frustration after the crash but not disappointment because in any case I was able to see that I can be on the pace near the front."

The San Carlo Honda Gresini rookie is now aiming to claim the kind of breakthrough result he was on-target for in Catalunya during this Sunday's eighth round.

"At Sachsenring, a circuit I like, I will try to confirm our recent progress and demonstrate it on track," he said.

"I have won in Germany for the past two years in 250 and I always seem to get the best out of myself there so I hope I can have another good race and finish it with the result that eluded me in Barcelona."

Simoncelli starts the weekend tenth in the championship but still the second-bets rookie behind Tech 3 Yamaha's Ben Spies, who is two places and 20 points ahead.