Fast start for Pedrosa

Dani Pedrosa: Quickest rider on Friday at the Sachsenring

Dani Pedrosa made the perfect start to the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring by topping both of Friday's practice sessions.

The Repsol Honda rider, who is still looking for his first win of the 2012 MotoGP season, edged out team-mate Casey Stoner late in the first session before again striking late again in the second.

Unhelpful track conditions of rain and strong winds in the afternoon meant the times from the morning session were the quickest of Friday's running.

Stoner, fresh from his victory in the Dutch TT last weekend, had looked set to lead the way but Pedrosa's final flying lap saw him record a time of 1 minute 22.357 seconds to edge the Australian by just 0.087secs.

Yamaha rider Lorenzo, who saw his championship erased thanks to his first corner fall in Assen, was never quite on the pace of the Hondas but ended the day third quickest, less than three tenths of a second behind Pedrosa.

The Tech 3 Yamaha squad's early season form showed no signs of abating as Andrea Dovizioso sealed fourth place, with British team-mate Cal Crutchlow fifth despite still riding with the fractured ankle he suffered at Silverstone.

Hector Barbera was the top Ducati in sixth, beating the factory bikes of Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi, who could only manage seventh and 11th places respectively.

Alvaro Bautista, who will start from the back of the grid due to his involvement in Lorenzo's Assen crash, was eighth, with home favourite Stefan Bradl and Ben Spies rounding out the top 10.

Speed Master Aprilia rider Mattia Pasini went to hospital for checks after suffering a bizarre fall in the morning session when a mechanic walked out in front of him in the pitlane, but the Italian was fit enough to ride towards the end of the afternoon's running.