Luca Marini is expecting a 'fascinating' weekend at the Sachsenring, as the MotoGP rookie takes ♒on the shortest and slowest circuit on the calendar with his Ducati Desmosedici.

The I﷽talian arrives for round eight having matched his best MotoGP finish of twelfth last time in Catalunya, when he was just over 2.5s from team-mate and top 🉐rookie Enea Bastianini.

Marini then turned the tables by being the quickest🔴 newcomer 💛at the post race test, in 13th place compared to 17th for Bastianini.

"Sachsenring is a very special track, but withඣ MotoGP it will be even more fascinating," said Marini, whose first grand prix podium๊ came at the German venue in 2018.

"The track was already small ꦅwith the Moto2, now I'm curious to unders𒆙tand the effect on the Ducati. It will be a tough weekend and I think with very small gaps.

"The track is a few kilometres long, a few tenths will separate𒊎 us andꦯ this year the category is of the highest level with a gap often below one-second between the first and the 20th. It will be fascinating for that too!

"So let's startཧ𒊎 again from what was positive at the Barcelona test."

Avintia team manager Ru🍨ben Xaus said front tyre feeling will be crucial this weekend.

"Sachsenring is really a particular track: a very short track, with many laps. The front is really under pꩲressure and the right set-up is crucial," Xaus said.

"It will therefore be important for🔯 Luca꧙ to have a good feeling on the front to better manage the tyre drop.

"There will be a lot to learn, a very physical race, a stop and go circuit where the bike often tenꦗds to wheelie. Bike control is the key."

Bastianini currently leads the rookie of the year standings with 26 points (13th in thꦡe world championship) followed by injured Pramac Ducati rider Jorge Martin on 19 points (17th), Marini on 13 points (21st) and Aprilia's Lorenzo Savadori on 4th (23rd).