Raul Fernandez fired Trackhouse Aprilia to the top of the MotoGP timesheets in opening practice for the German Grand Prix, denying Marc Marquez by just 0.051 seconds at the Sachsenring.
According to Friday timing reported by Crash.net and Motorsport.com, Fernandez bolted on fresh tyres in the closing minutes to clock 1m20.829s and depose the reigning world champion, who had controlled most of the session. The Spaniard arrives in Germany on the back of Trackhouse’s stunning Assen weekend, where he and team-mate Ai Ogura finished one-two in both Dutch races.
Fabio Di Giannantonio placed his Pertamina VR46 Ducati third, 0.107s adrift, ahead of Honda HRC’s Joan Mir, Pramac Yamaha’s Jack Miller and Gresini’s Alex Marquez — a top six covered by only 0.173s.
Marc Marquez Shrugs Off Early Crash In MotoGP Title Chase
Marquez’s morning began with a fall at Turn 3 on his first run, but the Ducati Lenovo rider recovered to set his 1m20.880s best on a single set of tyres — an ominous marker at the circuit where he has dominated in the premier class.
Championship leader Jorge Martin could only manage tenth on the factory Aprilia, two places behind team-mate Marco Bezzecchi, while Francesco Bagnaia’s difficult spell continued down in 19th. Maverick Vinales and Franco Morbidelli both crashed, the Tech3 KTM rider walking away from the fearsome Turn 11 Waterfall corner.
Martin holds a seven-point lead over Bezzecchi in the MotoGP title race at the halfway stage, with Marquez, as Crash.net notes, 40 points adrift and eyeing a statement weekend in his Sachsenring title push. The second session, which decides direct entry to Q2, follows on Friday afternoon.
