Sachsenring MotoGP: Sandro Cortese storms to home win

Red Bull KTM rider Sandro Cortese claimed a priceless home victory in the German Grand Prix this afternoon to seize the lead in the Moto3 world championship.

The 27-lap race was delayed after torrential rain struck the Sachsenring just moments before the scheduled start and the field left the grid to change to a full wet set-up.

When the action did finally get underway it was Australian Jack Miller that took control at the start but conditions improved drastically and the race finished under sunny and warm skies.

Miller led from the second lap until lap 16 as a dry line quickly started to appear and it was Cortese that took control on lap 17.

French rider Alexis Masbou then headed the field on lap 22 but Cortese fought back two laps later and he kept his composure to win by 0.635s.

With title rival Maverick Vinales struggling to master the fast changing conditions on wet tyres, Cortese’s win could prove vital at the end of the season.

Vinales was 17th and Cortese now heads to next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello with a comfortable 18-point advantage.

Masbou claimed his first ever world championship podium in second with Luis Salom securing his fourth rostrum of 2012 with third.

The Spaniard just held off Miller on the final lap to take the final rostrum spot by less than 0.1s.

British rider Danny Webb was 18th on the Mahindra machine while Danny Kent was unable to capitalise on his best ever qualifying result having started from second.

His Red Bull KTM machine suffered on overheating issue and he retired on lap 23 having earlier entered the pits.