Quartararo: I think Marc Marquez will be there this weekend

MotoGP championship leader Fabio Quartararo could become the first rider not named Marc Marquez to win a premier class Grand Prix at Sachsenring since 2013 - race not held in 2020. 

But even with Honda’s considerable struggles so far this season, and Marquez still not 100% percent fit, the factory Yamaha rider is not ruling out the eight-time world champion. 

"For me, I think that he [Marc Marquez] will be there this weekend. I mean, it’s a track if I’m not wrong he got ten wins and ten pole positions," added Quartararo. 

"He will be there and I think it will be an important moment for him. At the moment I’m not really looking at him, but yeah, for sure he will be fast. At the end I’m just trying to figure out on myself. 

"It’s a great moment for him to come back; to make a podium or victory for him will be a big boost of confidence. 

"I think everyone will try to make Marc not win or podium to get much confidence for him."

Fellow countryman Johann Zarco and 2020 champion Joan Mir also agreed with Quartararo’s prediction of Marquez being a factor come Sunday. 

But with all three of those riders having podium ideas of their own and being on different machinery, it will be intriguing to see which bike adapts better to the unusual circuit layout which includes 14 left-hand corners to only four rights.  

It could well be Yamaha who are best positioned, as the last two races in Germany have seen Maverick Vinales take back-to-back podiums, while Jonas Folger was also on the 2018 podium aboard the Tech 3 Monster Yamaha. 

With the 2021 package being an absolute weapon in the hands of Quartararo this year, there’s clear reason to suggest he’s the favourite to unseed Marquez. 

When asked if the circuit will suit Yamaha, Quartararo said: "Yeah! At the end I think all the circuits are working well with the bike. 

"It’s a track that I’m not really a fan of; two years ago we had a great pace but I crashed on the first or second lap. 

"But I think that our bike suits really well to all the circuits. I’m really looking forward to it because when something happens that’s not really good on the previous races, you are more eager to start a new race weekend."