FP1 at the Grand Prix Deutschland saw Fabio Quartararo beat nine-time Sachsenring winner Marc Marquez to take the lead after the Frenchman set a 1:21.390 to head the Championship leader by 0.074, with Valentino Rossi 0.574 back in third.

Is the King of the Ring’s reign under threat? It’s way too early to draw conclusions but it was a great start to the weekend for Quartararo as he got his first taste of the Sachsenring on a MotoGP bike.

Marquez was the early pacesetter as the number 93 – unexpectedly – looked right at home from the get-go while sporting an updated carbon reinforced chassis, but a late charge from the rookie sensation meant Quartararo drew first blood to take Friday morning honours.

There seems to be no Dutch GP hangover for both Rossi and Alex Rins. The duo both crashed out of contention on Sunday in Assen but they made solid starts to their weekend in Germany, both riders set a 1:21.9 to finish third and fourth.

Assen winner Maverick Vinales completed a top five split by 0.861 on a cloudy morning, with sixth pace Andrea Dovizioso and seventh fastest Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) the only other riders to get within a second of Quartararo’s time. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Andrea Iannone led the two injured LCR Honda riders of Takaaki Nakagami and Cal Crutchlow to complete the top ten.

Francesco Bagnaia crashed at Turn 8 and he was unhurt.

Full FP1 Result: