Second place in an attritional German Grand Prix is more than what Alex Marquez expected from his weekend at the Sachsenring.

A week after fracturing a finger in his left hand, Alex Marquez returned to a MotoGP podium as he finished in second place at the German Grand Prix.

The Spaniard admitted that the best he could have expected was second, as he knew he would not be able to beat his brother.

However, he was one of ten riders to finish the race at the Sachsenring, but was able to collect vital Championship points.

"When you come to the Sachsenring you expect to be second," Marquez told MotoGP.com.

"To be second here is like a victory, because Marc today was amazing again, like at Aragon. For us the maximum was to be second, which was something I did not expect.

"When I started riding, I thought P5, P6, or P7 would be ok, but I was there, I was not riding in a really good way because I was stiff through the left corners.

"We were a little bit lucky with the two riders in front of us crashing, maybe the injury helped me today with focusing on not crashing.

"I am really happy, because all these hours going to the physio and in these machines to try and help the bone, have paid off.

"Now we need to give our maximum to recover and arrive at Brno a little bit better."

Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio di Giannantonio crashed out of the race ahead of Marquez at Turn One, something that he believes occurred due to the wind.

"The wind," he explained.

"When we were on the grid, I was looking at the flags on the hospitality suites on the right side. I had already told myself to pay attention there.

"The lap that Diggia crashed, I was on the brakes really late, and I was on the limit. So, when I saw him crash, I released the front brake, so maybe his crash saved me.

"When I saw the results and only ten riders finished I knew that today was so tough so I am happy with second."