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 do𒐪wn the leaderboard as he nearly suffered a big crash at turn seven.

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

Ma🌠rquez then returned to the front of the field, 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 Spaniard Aleix Espargar🦩o became the first faller of the weekend after going𝓀 down at turn one. 

What was 🌌a dry start to Practice 1 came under threat as spots of rain began to fall after ju𒊎st 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 rider’s ♒machine.

Miller had to slow mid-corner which led t🐼o the Australian waving his arm in frustration at the man who replaced him at Ducati. 

Attempting to get a feel for the conditions, factory April𒐪ia 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 🅠very slowly, received a message on his dash to do the same. 

But Vinales, w൲ho was on slick tyres, decided to stay out as Miller also joined the Spaniard 🐷in choosing dry tyres despite the track being damp.

As conditions improved heading into the final 15 minutes, Bagnaia,🙈 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 very good one as he went second behind Martin, however, th🍌at soon became third as Espargaro went quickest aboard his RS-GP23 machine. 

Bagnai🌺a responded two laps later to go quickest from the Aprilia rider, before a sub 1m 21s lap was set by Espargaro in order to quickest yet again. 

Quartararo was n༒ext to challenge Espargaro as he slotted into P2, before Marquez set two stunning sectors at the beginning of his latest lap in o🔴rder to go top.  

Trying to push on, Franc𒁏o Morbidelli suffered a fast crash before teammate Quartararo did the same at t🍌urn one. 

Quartararo’s fall came after Zarco 𝕴went quickest, and with yellow flags impacting lap times, the Pramac rider remained fastest.

Read More