Marc Marquez crashes and takes out Johann Zarco splitting his bike IN HALF in German MotoGP practice

Marc Marquez crashed during a practice round at the German MotoGP in what was a horrific collision that took out Johann Zarco, splitting his bike into two pieces. 

The Spanish rider, who sits 18th in the MotoGP rankings, having failed to finish on the podium this season, lost control of his bike during a fast lap and fell to the tarmac at Sachsenring during Friday’s qualifying session. 

Zarco, who was exiting slowly from the pit lane, found himself caught in the collision course of Marquez’s Repsol Honda, which was skidding along the ground at an epic speed, with Marquez following not too far behind it. 

The bike first crashed into the front wheel of the French rider’s Ducati bike, sending Zarco flying into the air, while also tearing his bike into two pieces in a truly horrific collision. 

The speed of the incident meant that Marquez’s bike continued to fly off the track for another 50 metres and onto the gravel in front of the grand stand.

His bike (bottom) tore through Johann Zarco’s bike (right) splitting the Ducati into two 

Marquez was seen rolling and tumbling along side the bike, but managed to get up straight away and was seen running off the track to safety.

Zarco was also seen gingerly walking away from the accident, appearing to be shaken by the events. 

The Prima Pramac rider has risen to fifth in the MotoGP standings this season, finishing on the podium three times this season, notably finishing a tenth and a half of a second ahead of Marquez, the favourite, earlier in Friday’s qualifying.

Marquez notably has never lost at the German track, winning all 11 of his previous German GPs. 

But the Spaniard, who sits behind Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini for the most wins ever in the premier class, has failed to finish in his last three races. 

Zarco (left) was seen, thankfully, walking off the track after the incident but he did look jaded 

Marquez (bottom) bounced back to his feet and was remarkably seen running to safety

Marquez’s bike had lost control during a fast lap, with the Spaniard falling to the tarmac 

Zarco currently sits fifth in the MotoGP standings after three podium finishes this season

Marquez, meanwhile, has struggled this season, retiring in his last three MotoGP events 

Just four days ago, in an interview with The Guardian, he said he didn’t get scared of crashing and that the only way he knows how to race is fast.

‘I also feel I’m never scared,’ he said. ‘Maybe sometimes I’m taking too much risk but I cannot ride a bike worrying about the crashing.

‘It is the only way I know to ride a bike fast.’

When asked how many crashes he thinks he’s had in MotoGP he said: ‘I will say I have 20 a year. Maybe 250 crashes?’