Sachsenring's High-Speed Drama
Raul Fernandez Leads Sachsenring MotoGP Practice, Marc Márquez Recovers from Early Crash
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Key Points
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Cal Crutchlow encountered technical difficulties at the start of FP1, forcing him off the racing line just after the session began.
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Álex Márquez briefly led FP1 mid-session, aided by the blue Gresini Racing livery that marked a notable moment for the squad before the session progressed.
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Marc Márquez crashed at Turn 3 early in FP1 but recovered to post a 1:20.880 and finish second behind Fernández.
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Fermin Aldeguer was sidelined during FP1 as he recovers from a T7 vertebra fracture suffered at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen.
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Bezzecchi set an early pace with a 1:21.798 before other riders improved, highlighting strong pace for Aprilia returning to action.
Raul Fernandez set the pace in opening MotoGP practice at the Sachsenring, posting a 1:20.829 to edge Marc Márquez by just 0.051 seconds in FP1 at the German Grand Prix. Márquez had briefly topped the times before Fernandez's late lap knocked him down to second — this despite Márquez recovering from an early Turn 3 crash that threatened to derail his session entirely.
Fabio Di Giannantonio rounded out the top three for VR46 Ducati, signaling strong pace from the Italian squad. The session was full of drama, with multiple crashes and incidents shaping the early order ahead of qualifying at one of MotoGP's most demanding circuits.
Márquez Crashes Early But Fights Back to Second
Marc Márquez went down at Turn 3 in the early stages of FP1. The nine-time champion climbed back on his Ducati and quickly returned to the top of the timesheets. His recovery lap of 1:20.880 was good enough for second — but not good enough to hold off Fernandez's late charge.
Márquez has since warned that his race pace may not be his strongest card this weekend. Despite topping early practice, he said that not winning would be acceptable. Head Topics reported he acknowledged he is "not the fastest" in Germany when it comes to raw race speed.
Fernandez Steals the Show With Late Flying Lap
Raul Fernandez, riding for Trackhouse MotoGP, timed his best lap perfectly. His 1:20.829 came late in the session, bumping Márquez off the top spot by the slimmest of margins. It was a strong statement from the Spaniard, who has shown flashes of speed all season but rarely led a session outright.
Di Giannantonio's third place added further weight to Ducati-powered machines dominating the top of the order. Joan Mir also featured strongly in the early standings, giving Honda fans a rare reason to feel encouraged. Álex Márquez briefly led mid-session under Gresini Racing's blue livery before his brother and Fernandez displaced him.
Crashes and Incidents Stack Up Around the Circuit
The Sachsenring proved unforgiving on Friday. Franco Morbidelli crashed at Turn 3, the same corner that caught out Márquez. Maverick Viñales had a high-speed tumble at Turn 11, one of the fastest and most dangerous parts of the track. Both riders walked away, but the session was a sharp reminder of the circuit's risks.
Cal Crutchlow also hit trouble early, running into technical difficulties that forced him off the racing line just after the session began. Meanwhile, Fermin Aldeguer sat out FP1 entirely. He is still recovering from a T7 vertebra fracture he suffered at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen.
Bezzecchi and Aprilia Show Early Promise at Sachsenring
Marco Bezzecchi put Aprilia on the map early in the session, setting a 1:21.798 before the faster riders improved. That pace showed Aprilia returning to form after a difficult stretch. The Sachsenring's layout — with its sweeping, high-speed corners — suits certain machines more than others, and Aprilia appeared to find a rhythm quickly.
Cycle News noted that the full picture of pace will become clearer in Saturday's combined practice and qualifying. Márquez remains the heavy favorite at a track where he has dominated for years. But Friday showed the field is tight, and Fernandez, Di Giannantonio, and Mir all have the speed to challenge.
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