Conditions were much better than day one, just as riders wished, as they took to the track for Free Practice 3 ahead of the ninth round of the MotoGP at the GoPro Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland.
The sun was out which meant that temperatures were higher at the Sachsenring.
Crutchlow crashes out of FP3
British rider Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) added to the work load of his team as he crashed ten minutes into the session; this session is used to determine the top ten riders who automatically qualify for Qualifying 2. Crutchlow came off at turn one whilst he was on sixth position. He was able to pick the bike up and get going again with the help of the marshals where he rode his bike back to the pits.
Rossi first to beat previous time set by Vinales
With 12 minutes remaining, nine times world champion Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) made his way out on track, within a few minutes he had completed his out lap and it was not long before he eventually took the lead as he set the fastest lap of the session so far of 1:22.081.
This time was the first time during the session that anyone was able to match or top the previous time set by Team Suzuki Ecstar rider Maverick Vinales; however Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) was out and moments after Rossi took the lead, Marquez slaughtered his time and set the new fastest time of the session with a 1.21.679 which was 0.4 seconds quicker than that of Rossi.
As everyone made their way out on track and continued to improve their personal best times, Marquez was able to chip away at his time.
Rossi had briefly made his way to the pits to make a final change before returning to the track where he was quickly back on the pace.
Marquez fastest during FP3
After a flurry of quick laps in the final stages it was Marquez who finished fastest with a time of 1:21.552.
Ducati Team rider Andrea Iannone was just 0.107 seconds slower in second place and Vinales was pushed down to third as he was able to improve on his own time from FP2.
Rossi’s final lap claimed him fourth position.
The fastest independent rider was Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider Pol Espargaro as his time was the 0.358 seconds slower than the fastest time set by Marquez.
The Spaniard's Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa was the only other rider to lap below 1:22 minutes as he finished in sixth position.
Seventh was Aleix Espargaro (Team Suzuki Ecstar) who finished ahead of Hector Barbera (Avintia Ducati) who was the second fastest Ducati after setting the eighth quickest time. Factory Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was just 0.003 seconds slower in ninth and Yonny Hernandez (Pull & Bear Aspar Ducati Team) completed the list of the top ten riders who automatically progress through to Qualifying 2.
Crutchlow just misses out on top ten finish
Unfortunately for Crutchlow, after his crash earlier on, he just missed out on automatically qualifying as he finished 11th fastest as his time was just 0.063 seconds short of the time set by Hernandez meaning he will have to use Qualifying 1 for a chance to place in the top twelve on the grid.
Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Yakhnich) finished 12th quickest ahead of Jack Miller (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) who after winning the very wet Assen GP was 13th during FP3.
Shock result for current MotoGP Champion Lorenzo
Miller finished ahead of Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha) who was the shock result from the session down in 15th.
The current MotoGP champion is struggling, especially compared to his teammate Rossi and his time of 1:22.453 was 0.901 seconds off the time set by leader Marquez; his work his definitely cut out in front of him.
Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was 16th ahead of British rider Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Yakhnich Ducati), local lad Stefan Bradl (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), Tito Rabat (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS), Loris Baz (Avintia Ducati) who is returning this round from injury, and Eugene Laverty (Pull & Bear Aspar Ducati Team) who completes the field.
The top ten riders automatically progress through to Qualifying 2; the remaining riders have the opportunity to join them as the top two from Qualifying 1 will be able to join them for the chance to start from the front four rows on the grid.