Fabio Di Giannantonio set a new track record in Friday's practice at the German MotoGP to prise the spotlight away from runaway championship leader Marc Marquez.
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Di Giannantonio, who rides for Valentino Rossi's Ducati satellite VR46 team, scorched around the Sachsenring with a fastest time of 1 minute 19.071 seconds.
Alex Marquez, back in action despite the left-hand fracture he suffered last time out at the Dutch MotoGP, got closest, three tenths of a second away, with brother Marc in third.
Marc Marquez is dominating the 2025 season, completing his sixth sprint/main race double in Assen a fortnight ago.
The Ducati factory star leads his younger brother by 68 points in the riders' standings, with Francesco Bagnaia, on the other Ducati factory bike, 126 points adrift in third.
Marc Marquez has enjoyed his weekends at the Sachsenring over the years, the 32-year-old Spaniard seeking his ninth elite win at the track on Sunday.
Di Giannantonio, meanwhile, was lowering the track record set last year by Jorge Martin.
The defending world champion, who has not finished a race this season after a series of heavy crashes, is due to return next weekend in Czechia.