We're BACK! The Qatar Airways British GP is off to a flying start as MotoGP roared out the blocks in Silverstone, with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) setting a new lap record with an outstanding 1’56.280 to top the day’s running. Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) complete the top three as no less than eight riders beat the previous lap record.
AS IT HAPPENED: the calm before the time attack storm
After a rather quiet and uneventful opening half an hour, it was SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team 1-2 at the front with Ogura leading Raul Fernandez at the head of the field. However, there were plenty of personal-best sector times, including a lap by Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). With 20 minutes to go, he leapt up the order from 15th to fourth, meaning that the provisional top ten were all split by just 0.813s as we approached the final quarter of an hour. There was drama at Luffield though as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), whilst chasing teammate Pedro Acosta, tucked the front and slid out, bringing the yellow flags out. He walked away unharmed but now had to rush back to the pits to keep his Q2 hopes alive.
RECORDS: into the 1’56s for the first time ever
Into the final flurry of action and it was Acosta who was flying; initially moving up into second before ‘The Shark’ moved up into P1 with a 1’57.535. That was soon bettered by Alex Marquez however whilst behind, Di Giannantonio split them to go second. Red sectors were everywhere as Marc Marquez moved into P1 to set a new lap record of a 1’57.035, only for a mighty lap time from Ogura to see him be the first rider ever to get into the 1’56s.
CRUNCH TIME: a final flurry of action on Friday
Late drama was in the offing for Bagnaia and Acosta as both crashed in the closing stages of the session, hampering their hopes to move into Q1. Both were OK and thankfully, in the end, there was no need to panic for the #37 who held onto P10 whilst Pecco was 13th. Elsewhere, an astonishing last flying lap from Bezzecchi saw the Italian return with a bang and a new lap record. A stonking 1’56.280 saw him nearly half a second under the previous lap record and more than a third of a second ahead of the opposition.
YOUR FRIDAY TOP 10: Bezzecchi mighty on return
Very much back in BEZness, the Italian had 0.335 over Raul Fernandez, who likewise improved on his final flying lap but had to settle for second – although still made it an Aprilia 1-2. Di Giannantonio clinched third ahead of a late-improving Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) and Ogura. Marc Marquez was sixth ahead of brother Alex whereas Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) was eighth and the final rider under the old lap record. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) was a strong P9 to lead Yamaha’s charge ahead of Acosta.
MotoGP Practice results from Silverstone!