MotoGP FP1 Results: Marco Bezzecchi resumes title challenge at Silverstone

The early-season MotoGP title favourite has dropped from first to fourth in the standings and not recorded a point in the last four races.

In fact, after injury took him out of the German Grand Prix last time out, he underwent double surgery that put his Silverstone participation in jeopardy.

However, the Aprilia rider passed a late fitness test on Thursday evening and hit the track to record the second-fastest time in free practice one of 1:58:865.

The only man ahead of him was Gresini’s Alex Marquez, who recorded a time of 1:58:692.

Championship leader Jorge Martin was down in eighth, while new title favourite Marc Marquez sat sixth.

The results follow last season’s pattern at Silverstone, where Alex Marquez won the sprint before Bezzecchi took the Grand Prix victory.

Bezzecchi had earlier played down his British Grand Prix hopes, having undergone shoulder surgery and knee clean-up during the summer break.

Ahead of the event, he said: “It's true that it will not be easy, especially right now. But, for sure, I will try my best to at least be able to fight until the end, and then we will see if, close to the final round of the championship, I will still be in the fight.