The first free practice at Sachsenring started on a wet track, where Nicky Hayden and Marco Melandri were the fastest and when the track started drying out and riders began putting on slicks and laps times began to tumble.
It was Casey Stoner who set the fastest time with a 1.
22”779.
Dani Pedrosa, using a new engine brought in by Honda nipped Valentino Rossi by 0.
054 to finish second, while Rossi was third, with all the Yamaha’s struggling when the track was wet.
Fourth went to Randy de Puniet, the top satellite rider ahead of Alex DeAngelis, Colin Edwards and Toni Elias.
Nicky Hayden had to settle for 8th place, despite leading much of the session during the damp conditions, ninth to Andrea Dovizioso followed by Marco Melandri.
Jorge Lorenzo riding with shoulder and foot injuries was eleventh, 0.
717 sec from Stoner.
Loris Capirossi was 12th, and with four minutes left in the session, Chris Vermeulen highsided after his Suzuki hit one of the few remaining wet patches and limped away from the crash, nearingly getting hit by oncoming riders, was 16th.
Pramac’s Mika Kallio returned to Sachsenring after missing the Laguna Seca round due to a finger injury was 13th.
James Toseland was 14th, despite receiving a new electronics package, Canepa and Talmacsi closed the grid.
Sachsenring Free Practice Results:1 Casey STONER DUCATI 1′22.
7792 Dani PEDROSA HONDA 0.
2553 Valentino ROSSI YAMAHA 0.
3094 Randy DE PUNIET HONDA 0.
3545 Alex DE ANGELIS HONDA 0.
5036 Colin EDWARDS YAMAHA 0.
5167 Toni ELIAS HONDA 0.
5728 Nicky HAYDEN DUCATI 0.
5889 Andrea DOVIZIOSO HONDA 0.
59110 Marco MELANDRI KAWASAKI 0.
68711 Jorge LORENZO YAMAHA 0.
71712 Loris CAPIROSSI SUZUKI 0.
92613 Mika KALLIO DUCATI 1.
31114 James TOSELAND YAMAHA 1.
53815 Niccolo CANEPA DUCATI 2.
12916 Chris VERMEULEN SUZUKI 2.
38217 Gabor TALMACSI HONDA 2.
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