Despite two years away from the Sachsenring, Nicolas Terol took no time familiarising himself with the 3.671km circuit as he set the pace on Friday morning. The Bankia Aspar rider missed the German Grand Prix last year through injury but has no such worries this time around, and led the way with a 1:28.858.
The Sachsenring provides the shortest lap of the year and is sure to provide some close racing. That was evident in FP1 as Efren Vazquez got to within 0.243s of the pace in second with Hector Faubel all but matching his time in third place.
At one point, Sergio Gadea held an identical time to Terol before the championship leader improved late on, but the Blusens by Paris Hilton rider still claimed fourth ahead of Johann Zarco and teenage teammate Maverick Vinales.
Luis Salom enters this Grand Prix as one of the men in form after backing up his maiden podium at Assen with a top-six finish at Mugello. The RW Racing rider finished the opening session in seventh while the home crowd had to look all the way down to eighth to find their best placed rider, Sandro Cortese.
Danny Webb assured everyone that he wouldn't be hampered by his injured shoulder sustained at Mugello, and his FP1 performance would back up that claim as the Briton got the Mahindra into ninth place. Completing the top ten was Alberto Moncayo for AndalucÃa Banca Civica.
Danny Kent was the next British rider in 14th, just one place behind his teammate, and another of the home favourites, Jonas Folger. Harry Stafford made a bright start to finish the first session in 19th with Taylor Mackenzie in 32nd position.
