
For the first time in 2018 Movistar Yamaha painted the MotoGP podium a cool shade of blue. Valentino Rossi’s second place – his best result of the nine rounds of the season so far – and Maverick Viñales’ hungry and exciting flight to third spot meant the teammates did the majority of the Sachsenring rostrum soaking in Germany.
The FIM World Championship continued to bask in hot summer conditions as the sunshine drifted across from Assen and the Netherlands almost two weeks previously to coat the swirling, dipping, compact and relentlessly turning Sachsenright layout. The German asphalt is the scourge of many a knee and elbow pad for the MotoGP stars and it was Rossi who provided winner Marc Marquez (now owner of a staggering nine consecutive wins at the venue) with his closest challenge.