– July 21, 2013, is a date that holds a special place in Stefan Bradl’s career. At the US Grand Prix in Laguna Seca, the then LCR Honda rider wrote German MotoGP history.
Read more Alonso’s Future: What impact does the Hungary update have at Aston Martin?
Bradl started from pole position for the first time in the premier class and finished the race in second place behind exceptional talent and Honda brand colleague Marc Marquez. It was his first and only podium in MotoGP and the sporting highlight of his career in the highest motorcycle world championship class.
Sensation in Qualifying: Bradl beats Marquez
Already Saturday in California caused disbelieving looks in the paddock. On the demanding up-and-down track of Laguna Seca, Bradl achieved a perfect lap: with a time of 1:21.176 minutes, he secured his first MotoGP pole, just 0.017 seconds ahead of Marquez.
It was a special moment for the German, as he prevailed against the already established top riders of the premier class.
Laguna Seca was considered one of the most special tracks on the calendar. The narrow circuit with the famous Corkscrew corner demanded courage, precision, and absolute trust in the motorcycle. Bradl found exactly this mix of speed and consistency on this July weekend of the 2013 season.
Battle against Marquez and a historic podium
In the race, Bradl could not convert pole into his first MotoGP victory, but he impressively confirmed his strong performance. Behind later world champion Marc Marquez, he crossed the finish line in second place after 32 laps. Valentino Rossi completed the podium in third place.
Photo gallery: Stefan Bradl’s career highlights
Particularly noteworthy: Bradl left numerous established names behind, including the then title contenders Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo. Bradl himself had the pace of a top rider that weekend.
Read more Low-cost carrier instead of private jet: Racing Bulls fly via easyJet back home
Lasting significance for Bradl’s MotoGP career
The second place at Laguna Seca was more than just a good result for the German. It was the biggest moment in Bradl’s still young MotoGP career up to that point.
After his Moto2 title in 2011, the step into the premier class had been a big challenge. With LCR, Bradl mostly fought for consistent results and had to assert himself against the factory riders from Honda, Yamaha, and Ducati.
The podium in California showed the potential that lay within the German. It was also a historic moment for German motorcycle racing: Bradl ended a long dry spell without a German MotoGP podium in the premier class. For him personally, it would remain his first and only podium success.
But even if Bradl later did not become a regular podium contender and his MotoGP career was marked by injuries, changing conditions, and enormous competition, Laguna Seca 2013 remains his personal masterpiece.
- Formula 1Formula 1 technology: Russell’s retirement reveals details about Mercedes’ underbody
- DTMBoP trouble and curious tire tactics at BMW: “There is artificial intervention”
- Formula 1Mercedes turnaround: Toto Wolff open to team orders to secure victory
- Formula 1Alonso’s future: What impact does the Hungary update have at Aston Martin?
Second place against a generation of superstars like Marquez, Rossi, Lorenzo, and Pedrosa is one of the greatest individual successes for a German in modern MotoGP.
Read more Expert: Ferrari should have hired Verstappen’s engineer for Hamilton
