Franco Morbidelli crashed in Turn 3 during the MotoGP Germany Friday practice. He lost control of his bike after rattling over the kerb.
What happened?
The crash occurred on the exit of Turn 3, with Morbidelli's bike becoming unsettled after hitting the kerb.
Why it matters for Franco Morbidelli
This incident could affect Morbidelli's performance in the upcoming races. Marc Marquez also crashed early in the session.
What comes next?
Raul Fernandez ended the session fastest with a time of 1m20.829s, followed by Marc Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio.
The Sachsenring circuit is known for its unique layout and challenging turns. Morbidelli's crash was not the only incident, as Maverick Vinales also crashed at Turn 11.
The session saw several riders improving their times, with Joan Mir jumping up to third on fresh medium rubber. Di Giannantonio, who holds the lap record at Sachsenring, posed a threat to Marquez's hopes of victory.
Marquez's crash did not seem to affect his confidence, as he improved his time to 1m20.880s. The Ducati bikes had a strong start, with three bikes in the top three early on.
The standings after 10 minutes showed Marquez in 13th place, but he quickly improved to second with a time of 1m21.144s.
The crash at Turn 3 seemed to be caused by a bump or dip in the asphalt, as Bagnaia also had a moment at the same place. Morbidelli was able to get back on his feet after the crash and continued with the session.
The session ended with Raul Fernandez on top, followed closely by Marc Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio. The competition is expected to heat up in the upcoming sessions.