Britain’s Sam Lowes put in a fast last lap to bag top spot in the opening MotoGP Moto2 free practice session at the Sachsenring to edge out Takaaki Nakagami by just 0.040s with series leader Johann Zarco third.

Lowes is due to run a new, less-stiff chassis in this afternoon’s second free practice which he hopes will give him the accuracy of turn-in he needs to stay ahead of Zarco and reigning champion Tito Rabat but he is already a second a lap faster than his best from last year.

Marc VDS’s Rabat proved his broken collarbone is not going to be an issue for him as he set the fourth quickest time and put in his quickest lap of 1’25.195 - just 0.168s slower than Lowes - on his 25th circulation which means he should be physically ok over a race distance.

Simone Corsi bagged fifth place with Jonas Folger down in sixth but only three-tenths off the pace. Thomas Luthi, Dominique Aegerter, Axel Pons and Anthony West completed the top ten.

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