Bagnaia sets a stunning lap record and resists Morbidelli and Martin

It was a show-stopping end to MotoGP™ Practice with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) ending Friday on top of the timesheets after a sensational new lap record. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) shadowed teammate Jorge Martin as the duo ended the opening day in P2 and P3 respectively, but the deficit was 0.2s to Bagnaia's 1:28.508 stunner. 

There were many stories that formed throughout the session including some drama for Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team’s Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio, as the Italians both crashed in the opening stages of the session. That crash saw Di Giannantonio dislocate his left shoulder, ruling him out of the weekend. 

Meanwhile, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) crashed for a third time after the rookie sensation lost the front at Turn 9. The #31 was unhurt and was back out in no time, but the issues for the Pierer Mobility Group didn't halt there as wildcard Pol Espargaro was forced to pull off circuit with a bike problem just before the time attacks began. And unfortunately for the #44, that was session over.

Once the time attacks had come and gone, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) - who led P1 briefly - bagged P4 to safely earn a Q2 spot, as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) left it late to jump into the top 10 on KTM's home turf - a lap that shoved Acosta out and into Q1. 

Binder was ahead of Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), as Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) recovered to seventh at the end of play following a forgetful FP1 that saw the #41 crash twice.

Espargaro's teammate Maverick Viñales secured eighth as both factory Aprilias grabbed Q2 places, as Bezzecchi and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) - despite a late crash for the Silverstone double hero - pinch P9 and P10. 

Q1 on Saturday now awaits with Acosta aiming for redemption after three crashes on Friday and missing out on a Q2 place by just 0.027s. 

Don’t miss a sensational Saturday, with Free Practice 2 getting underway at 10:10 local time (UTC +2) before an unpredictable qualifying begins at 10:50 local time, so make sure you tune in to the battle for pole on motogp.com!

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