Bradl 'enjoys every moment' of Repsol Honda debut

Sunday's German MotoGP marked Stefan Bradl's second race appearance of the season, but first ever in Repsol Honda colours.

Following a wild-card appearance at Jerez, the HRC test rider returned to action in front of his home Sachsenring fans after being drafted in to replace the injured Jorge Lorenzo.

Bradl's results exactly mirrored those at the Spanish Grand Prix, qualifying 14th and finishing tenth, although the gap to race winning team-mate Marc Marquez grew from 13 to 23 seconds.

"Not many people are able to ride in Repsol Honda colours at home so it was a very special weekend for me and I enjoyed every moment," said Bradl, whose previous test work has included the new carbon-fibre covered frame that Lorenzo and now Marquez have tried in recent rounds.

"It was great because the team welcomed me very well. We had a lot of things to try, because obviously as a test rider we used it also to develop some things and try some parts for the future.

"Under these circumstances the race pace was good. Maybe if I had been a little more aggressive in the opening laps I could have stayed with the group in front and been stronger. But still, a top ten was my target.

"I've done two races this year and both times in the top ten, so I'm quite satisfied."

Bradl, a full-time MotoGP rider from 2012-2016, finished fourth in the 2014 German round.

Lorenzo, who injured two vertebrae at Assen, aims to return for the forthcoming Brno round, after the summer break.