MotoGP Germany: Johann Zarco fastest from Marc Marquez as Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli crash in Practice 1

Johann Zarco claimed top spot after a chaotic final few minutes saw Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli both crash their factory Yamahas in Practice 1 for the German MotoGP.
Johann Zarco, Pramac Ducati MotoGP Sachsenring 2023
Johann Zarco, Pramac Ducati MotoGP Sachsenring 2023

Quickest after two flying laps, Marc Marquez then rapidly dropped down the leaderboard as he nearly suffered a biꦏg crash at turn seven.

Marquez lost control of his RC213V momentarily at turn seven which led to the rear attempting t﷽o come around on the eight-time world champion. In typical Marquez style, the Honda rider managed to save it.

Marquez then returned to the front of the field𒈔, however, Takaaki Nakagami was the man leading the way as he made it a Honda 1-2. 

Jorge Martin then went quickest for Pramac Ducati, before fellow ꦐSpaniard Aleix Espargaro became the first faller of the weekend after going down at turn𒅌 one. 

What was a dry ﷺstart to Practice 1 came under threat as spots 🗹of rain began to fall after just 15 minutes. 

There was a close call between Enea Bastianini and Jack Miller at turn six as the latter carried more corner speed before nearly running into the rear of the Italian rideღr’s machine.

Miller had to slow mid-corner which led to the Australian waving his arm in frustration at the man who꧋ repla🧸ced him at Ducati. 

Attempting to get a feౠel for the co﷽nditions, factory Aprilia riders Espargaro and Maverick Vinales headed out of pit lane together, but they were the only two riders to do so. 

Espargaro pitted after just one lap, while Vinales, who was touring the circuit ve﷽ry slowly, received a message on his dash to 🃏do the same. 

But Vinales, who w😼as on slick tyres, decided to stay out as Miller also j🌠oined the Spaniard in choosing dry tyres despite the track being damp.

As conditions improved heading into the final 15 minutes, Bagnai🉐a, who was outside the top ten, managed to improve although it wasn’t enough to crack the top ten. 

Bagnaia’s next lap around was a ve🐼ry good one as he went second behind Martin, however, that soon became third as Espargaro went quickest aboard his RS-GP23 machine. 

Bagnaia responded two laps later to✤ go quickest from the Aprilia rider, before a sub 1m 21s lap was set by Espargaro in orde🌜r to quickest yet again. 

Quartararo was next to challenge Espargar🔜o as he slotted into P2, before Marquez set two stunning sectors a💧t the beginning of his latest lap in order to go top.  

Trying👍 to push on, Franco Morbidelli suffered ♉a fast crash before teammate Quartararo did the same at turn one. 

Quartararo’s fall came after Zarco went quickest, and with yellow flags imp♈acting lap times, the Pramac rider remai♛ned fastest.

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