MotoGP FP1 Results: Marco Bezzecchi resumes title challenge at Silverstone
Bezzecchi resumed his title challenge in Silverstone, but not without pain (Photo: Monster Energy)
Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Marco Bezzecchi gave an early hint that there’s life in him yet by finishing second in his practice return at the British Grand Prix.
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.
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Championship leader Jorge Martin was down in eighth, while new title favourite Marc Marquez sat sixth.
| Position | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | A. Marquez | BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP | 01:58.692 |
| 2 | M. Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | 01:58.865 |
| 3 | P. Acosta | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 01:58.974 |
| 4 | R. Fernandez | SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team | 01:59.002 |
| 5 | F. Di Giannantonio | Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team | 01:59.056 |
| 6 | M. Marquez | Ducati Lenovo Team | 01:59.180 |
| 7 | A. Ogura | SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team | 01:59.265 |
| 8 | J. Martin | Aprilia Racing | 01:59.372 |
| 9 | F. Morbidelli | Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team | 01:59.568 |
| 10 | F. Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo Team | 01:59.646 |
| 11 | J. Mir | Honda HRC Castrol | 01:59.708 |
| 12 | B. Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 01:59.797 |
| 13 | L. Marini | Honda HRC Castrol | 01:59.923 |
| 14 | E. Bastianini | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | 01:59.952 |
| 15 | F. Quartararo | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team | 01:59.998 |
| 16 | I. Lecuona | BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP | 02:00.008 |
| 17 | J. Miller | Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP | 02:00.221 |
| 18 | A. Rins | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team | 02:00.293 |
| 19 | D. Moreira | Pro Honda LCR | 02:00.295 |
| 20 | A. Fernandez | Yamaha Factory Racing | 02:00.569 |
| 21 | P. Espargaro | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | 02:00.752 |
| 22 | C. Crutchlow | Castrol Honda LCR | 02:01.015 |
| 23 | T. Razgatlioglu | Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP | 02:01.043 |
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.
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“At the moment it's true that we are already halfway through the championship, but halfway means that it's still very long. So let's try to make a decent comeback here in Silverstone, and then we will have a bit more time to fix the last details on my body. And then from Aragon, for sure, it will be a war.”
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