MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez topped the timesheets in the opening practice session for the 2025 German Grand Prix, showing strong pace on his factory Ducati. The session took place on Friday morning at the Sachsenring circuit, where Marquez is historically dominant, having won every year between 2013 and 2021. Riding with confidence and determination, Marquez set the fastest lap to maintain his lead ahead of teammate Jack Miller of Pramac Yamaha.
Session Developments Highlight Marquez’s Commanding Performance
Marquez quickly took control of the 45-minute practice session, posting a best time of 1m20.372s that no other rider could surpass despite late attempts on fresh tires. Miller pushed hard on medium rubber towards the end, closing the gap to just 0.109 seconds, finishing a close second with a 1m20.481s lap. Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi impressed as well, securing third place on fresh tires, while Alex Marquez, who recently recovered from a fractured left hand sustained at Assen, returned to the track in 14th position.
Early Leaders and Notable Performances
At the outset, Johann Zarco of LCR Honda briefly led with a 1m21.697s, but Marquez soon displaced him with consecutive improvements, eventually setting the session’s fastest lap on his Ducati GP25. While Marquez opted for a longer run on used medium tires covering 24 laps—nearly the distance of a race—other riders chose short bursts on fresh tires to challenge his time. Miller, Bezzecchi, and Zarco were among those attempting late time attacks, with Zarco experiencing a crash at Turn 1 midway through the session.
Other Riders’ Positions and Recovery Updates
Maverick Vinales showed strong form as the fastest KTM rider, finishing fifth, followed by VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio on used rubber. Honda’s Joan Mir and Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo landed in seventh and eighth places respectively, with Mir on new tires and Quartararo staying on older rubber. Pecco Bagnaia, Marquez’s Ducati teammate, and Miguel Oliveira from Pramac Yamaha completed the top ten. Meanwhile, Luca Marini made his return at 17th place after missing three rounds due to a crash at Suzuka during 8 Hour testing.
Implications for the German Grand Prix Weekend
Marc Marquez’s strong showing in Friday’s FP1 continues to reinforce his position at the front of the championship and at the Sachsenring, a track where he has repeatedly excelled. His ability to maintain a consistent pace over long runs and deliver quick laps on demand makes him a clear favorite heading into qualifying and the race. Jack Miller’s close pursuit indicates that Pramac Yamaha remains a serious threat, while riders like Bezzecchi and Zarco will likely push hard to break into the top ranks. Fans can expect an intense battle throughout the weekend as the championship leader aims to extend his advantage.
