---
title: "Dovizioso fastest in Germany FP1 as technical issue hinders Rossi"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/06/30/dovizioso-fastest-germany-fp1-technical-issue-hinders-rossi/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2017-06-30T09:12:17Z"
modified: "2017-06-30T09:12:17Z"
---

# Dovizioso fastest in Germany FP1 as technical issue hinders Rossi

Championship leader Andrea Dovizioso led the way in a tight opening free practice session for the German Grand Prix, as the field got to grips with a brand new track surface at the Sachsenring.

The 2.29-mile Sachsenring was resurfaced earlier in the year, but due to strict noise limits in the area, Michelin were unable to conduct any testing on the new surface.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/06/800143488.jpg)

As a result, both of Friday’s sessions were extended by 10 minutes and riders were forced to complete a minimum of five laps on the hard rear tyre to give Michelin as much data as possible on the new surface.

Marc Marquez has won in Germany every year of his grand prix career, and led the way in the early stages of the session with a 1m22.265s, the Honda rider 0.0235 seconds clear of the rest.

Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales, keen to put his Assen crash behind him with victory this weekend, took over at the top of the timesheets from his compatriot 20 minutes in, while team-mate Valentino Rossi watched on after his YZR-M1 shut down at Turn 6 10 minutes into the session.

With rain forecast for later today and for Saturday as well, the final 10 minutes saw a flurry of fast laps as riders tried to secure a place in the top 10 and potentially the second part of qualifying.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/06/800141942.jpg)

Marquez returned to the top of the standings with a 1m22.012s, improving on his next tour to a 1m21.895s. Vinales edged him by 0.261s a few minutes later, though it was Ducati’s Dovizioso who secured top spot with a 1m21.599s in the closing 30 seconds.

Dani Pedrosa languished outside of the top 10 as the chequered flag approached, but leaped up to third with a 1m21.789s ahead of Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro and Aspar’s Alvaro Bautista, who crashed at the fast Turn 11 at the end of the session.

Marquez’s 1m21.898s was only good enough for sixth in the end, with Tech3’s Johann Zarco 0.075s behind in seventh. Assen podium finisher Danilo Petrucci headed Jack Miller and the sister Pramac bike of Scott Redding, who also suffered a tumble late on at Turn 11, to complete the top 10.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/06/800145962.jpg)

Jonas Folger missed out on a place inside the top 10 by just a tenth of a second in front of his home crowd, while Jorge Lorenzo fell from fifth to 12th in the closing stages ahead of Cal Crutchlow and Hector Barbera.

Sam Lowes jumped up to an encouraging 15th as he seeks to prove his worth to Aprilia, the British rider 0.070s ahead of Rossi, who did get back out on his second bike following his earlier technical drama.

Suzuki’s Andrea Iannone was the third victim to be claimed by Turn 11, the Italian unable to improve on 24th as a result. KTM test rider Mika Kallio, making the first of two wildcard appearances this weekend, kept his powder dry in 23rd spot.

![](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/06/2017-06-30-1.png)