World Championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) set a 1 minute 59.276 seconds lap on the first day of competitive action in Germany, but Spanish rider David Salom (ParkinGO BE1 Triumph) was only 1/1000th of a second behind.

Silverstone podium finisher Gino Rea (Intermoto Czech) went third on his Honda, and Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki Motocard.com) fourth on the official Ninja ZX-6R.

Championship challenger Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) was fifth. One more qualifying session remains to determine final grid positions.

Privateer Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) slammed in a brilliant new track best lap of 1 minute 55.232 seconds in the opening qualifying session of race weekend to lead Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport).

On his German-built machine, Corser headed a trio of Ducati riders at the Nurburgring track; Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), Shane Byrne (Althea Racing Ducati) and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox).

Championship leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) was sixth, with his closest title challenger Leon Haslam only down in 11th.