With the rain threatening, the MotoGP grid had no choice but to set off into the cold (13°) of the Sachsenring track.
Here are the references to keep in mind:
| Sachsenring | 2015 | 2016 |
| FP1 | 1'21.766 Marc Marquez | |
| FP2 | 1'21.621 Marc Marquez | |
| FP3 | 1'21.083 Marc Marquez | |
| FP4 | 1'21.334 Marc Marquez | |
| Q | 1'20.336 Marc Marquez | |
| Course | Marquez/Pedrosa/Rossi | |
| Track record | 1'20.336 Marc Marquez |
As usual, Jorge Lorenzo is the first to set off. While Pol Espargaro leads the ranking after a few minutes, Scott Redding, author of a podium at Assen, is the first to make a mistake at turn #11, the most delicate curve on the German track. Unharmed, the Briton went to his box to return to the track aboard his second Ducati GP15.
A few moments before the rain arrived, it was Jorge Lorenzo's turn to do the irreparable. The Marjorquin also fell at turn #11. Hit in the left hand, he immediately went to the Mobile Clinic to have a check-up X-ray, after which no fracture was diagnosed. His fall is followed within a few seconds by that of Stefan Bradl. Note that in 2015, turn 12 caused the greatest number of falls (11) and not turn 11 (7).
At mid-session, Andrea Iannone was in first place ahead of Marc Marquez, Danilo Petrucci et Valentino Rossi. Andrea Dovizioso completes the Top 4. Lorenzo occupies 12th place behind the Honda of Dani Pedrosa.
The track is not dry enough to use slicks, but not wet enough to use rain tires. As for the intermediaries, no one seems to want to use them and everyone stays in their box for very long minutes.
You have to wait until the last moments of the session to observe Cal Crutchlow and the Aprilia duo venture onto the track for just one lap before stopping. Loris Baz, who marks his return this weekend, completed three laps during this session.
The weather is not expected to improve much between now and the second free practice session this afternoon. We will probably have to wait until tomorrow and FP3 to find the sun again...
| Pos | number | Pile | Country | Team | Motorcycle | HIGHLIGHTS | deviations | |
| 1 | 29 | Andrea Iannone | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 1'23.702 | ||
| 2 | 93 | Marc Márquez | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 1'24.116 | 0.414 | |
| 3 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | ITA | OCTO Yakhnich bow | Ducati | 1'24.157 | 0.455 | |
| 4 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | ITA | Yamaha Motor Racing | Yamaha | 1'24.279 | 0.577 | |
| 5 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 1'24.352 | 0.650 | |
| 6 | 44 | Pol Espargaró | SPA | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 1'24.487 | 0.785 | |
| 7 | 25 | Maverick VIÑALES | SPA | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | 1'24.592 | 0.890 | |
| 8 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | Honda LCR | Honda | 1'25.141 | 1.439 | |
| 9 | 41 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | 1'25.224 | 1.522 | |
| 10 | 68 | Yonny HERNANDEZ | COL | Pull & Bear Aspar Ducati Team | Ducati | 1'25.282 | 1.580 | |
| 11 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 1'25.313 | 1.611 | |
| 12 | 99 | Jorge Lorenzo | SPA | Yamaha Motor Racing | Yamaha | 1'25.353 | 1.651 | |
| 13 | 8 | Hector BARBERA | SPA | Avintia Racing | Ducati | 1'25.384 | 1.682 | |
| 14 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | SPA | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | 1'25.388 | 1.686 | |
| 15 | 6 | Stefan BRADL | GER | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | 1'25.418 | 1.716 | |
| 16 | 43 | Jack Miller | AUS | Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS | Honda | 1'26.369 | 2.667 | |
| 17 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | GBR | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 1'26.623 | 2.921 | |
| 18 | 50 | Eugene LAVERTY | IRL | Pull & Bear Aspar Ducati Team | Ducati | 1'26.822 | 3.120 | |
| 19 | 53 | Tito RABAT | SPA | Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS | Honda | 1'27.168 | 3.466 | |
| 20 | 45 | Scott REDDING | GBR | OCTO Yakhnich bow | Ducati | 1'27.521 | 3.819 | |
| 76 | Loris BAZ | FRA | Avintia Racing | Ducati | 1'29.786 | 6.084 |
