Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez recaptured the lead of the championship on Sunday at the Sachsenring with victory for Honda, but it was home rookie Jonas Folger that stole the show as he pushed the Spaniard at every opportunity.
Marquez won from pole – his eighth at the circuit – but found himself in second during the early stages of the race when a quick-starting Folger took the lead from fifth on the grid on the fifth lap having made some quick passes on Dani Pedrosa, Danilo Petrucci and Jorge Lorenzo, who came through from sixth on the grid to third at the start.
A couple of small mistakes for the German were enough to cost him a shot at the win as Marquez took advantage and retook the lead, where he would remain until the chequered flag, but not without a fight from Folger, who continued to hound the #93 machine.
Pedrosa would go on to claim the final podium spot, 11 seconds down on his victorious team-mate.
Maverick Viñales claimed fourth position, with Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi for close company, the pair having made progress from their respective grid positions.
Alvaro Bautista took sixth after proving a formidable force in the fight, with Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro crossing the line in seventh for a good haul of points ahead of the summer break.
Championship leader going into the race, Andrea Dovizioso crossed the line in eighth and remains third in the standings, while Johann Zarco completed a strong recovery to vault from 19th on the grid to ninth.
Cal Crutchlow completed the top 10 for LCR Honda, with Jorge Lorenzo crossing the line in 11th spot after running at the front earlier in the race.
Marquez now heads the title race, with just 10 points covering the top four, as the sport enters its five-week summer break.
