First career poles for Ortolá in Moto2™ and Uriarte in Moto3™
In Moto2™, the D0922 rear tyre takes centre stage in qualifying, improving the circuit all-time lap record by more than eight tenths, with the new F0468 as the race’s favourite. In Moto3™, soft solutions in qualifying and medium SC2 as the race benchmark
· A day of firsts. During the 2026 Grand Prix of Germany, at the Sachsenring, Iván Ortolá (Kalex) claimed his first pole position in Moto2™ in his second season in this category. The Spanish rider finished ahead of Manuel Gonzalez (Kalex) and Izan Guevara (Boscoscuro), completing the front row for tomorrow’s race. In qualifying, almost all riders opted for the soft SC1 compound at the front and the D0922 medium specification development at the rear. With a time of 1’21.493, Ortolá did not just take pole. He also set the new all-time lap record, improving the previous time of 1’22.329 set by Celestino Vietti in 2025 by 836 thousandths of a second. Overall, 14 riders rode below the previous circuit record during qualifying.
· And another first for Uriarte. Spanish rider Brian Uriarte (KTM) claimed his first pole position in Moto3™, confirming his strong form after taking his maiden victory at the Italian GP. Behind him, Marco Morelli and Hakim Danish, for an all-KTM front row. With 1’24.880, Uriarte set the fastest time on the sixth lap – out of ten - completed in qualifying, using soft SC1 tyres on both the front and back, just as Morelli and Danish. His performance ended just over one tenth of a second shy of the category’s all-time circuit record.
· Track evolution and temperatures. Over the first two days, the track, which was initially in less-than-ideal condition, showed a good evolution, allowing riders in both classes to progressively improve their lap times. Ambient conditions remained broadly stable between Friday and Saturday, with the morning sessions (FP1 and FP2) taking place with an air temperature close to 30°C and track temperatures between 25 and 30°C, while FP and qualifying sessions registered air temperatures slightly below 25°C and track temperatures ranging from 36°C to 43°C.
Both medium rear tyres confirm their competitive streak in Moto2™
"The first two days at the Sachsenring were very useful for gathering data and feedback on the two medium compound development rear solutions provided to Moto2™ riders. The D0922 specification is an already well-established solution, and has been used successfully on this very track last season as well, while the new F0468 made its first appearance with Moto2™ riders on Friday. While they both employ the same compound, their structure differs.
The feedback received from the riders broadly confirms the expectations that emerged during the development phase. The D0922 offers a slightly higher level of initial grip, and this made it the preferred choice for qualifying, and allowed the new all-time lap record to be set. While the F0468, despite providing a slightly lower grip in the opening laps, allows managing wear more effectively and ensures greater performance consistency over the distance. This is why we believe the new solution will be the main choice for many riders in tomorrow’s race. As for the front, the soft SC1 continues to be the go-to option for the entire grid.
In Moto3™, on the other hand, we expect the scenario to be roughly similar to what we have witnessed last season, with the medium SC2 being the almost unanimous choice for the back tyre, and also widely preferred at the front, although some riders may opt for the soft SC1, based on to their own set-ups and riding style".
