Raul Fernandez Leads German MotoGP FP1 as Marc Marquez Crashes

Raul Fernandez topped German MotoGP FP1 at the Sachsenring, edging Marc Marquez in a tight opening session before the summer break.

The Trackhouse Aprilia rider produced a best lap of 1m20.829s after fitting a fresh medium rear tyre in the closing stages. That was enough to put him fastest by 0.051s at the end of the 45-minute session.

Marc Marquez finished second despite crashing at Turn 3 on only his third lap. The Ducati rider returned to the track and later led the session with a 1m20.880s before Fernandez moved ahead in the final moments.

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It was still a competitive start for Marquez, who arrives at Sachsenring as a nine-time German Grand Prix winner. He also did not switch to fresh rubber late in the session, unlike Fernandez, whose improvement came on new tyres.

Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the top three for VR46 Ducati. He also stayed on used tyres at the end of the session, while Joan Mir and Jack Miller moved into fourth and fifth after using fresh rubber.

Marco Bezzecchi set the early pace with a 1m21.798s as he returned to action following his heavy Dutch Grand Prix crash. The top spot then changed hands between Di Giannantonio, Alex Marquez and Marc Marquez before Fernandez secured the fastest time.

Alex Marquez finished sixth after completing FP1 on a single set of tyres. Alex Rins used fresh rubber to take seventh for Yamaha, ahead of Bezzecchi, Franco Morbidelli and championship leader Jorge Martin, who completed the top 10.

The session also featured a fast crash for Maverick Vinales at Turn 11, although the Tech3 KTM rider walked away unhurt. Morbidelli also crashed late at Turn 3, while Cal Crutchlow ended at the rear after a technical issue at the start of the session.

German MotoGP FP1 offered an early sign that Trackhouse Aprilia has carried its Assen momentum into Sachsenring, while Marquez immediately showed competitive speed despite opening his weekend with a crash.