MotoGP Silverstone FP1 LIVE: Double for the VR46 ahead of Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco!

After more than five weeks of rest, the MotoGP machines will finally regain their voice and their riders will return to their handlebars to relaunch an exciting last part season which will begin with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend.

Before remembering the specificities of this one, the update on the current state of the championship shows us a Francis Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) in a comfortable position with 194 points, 35 and 36 ahead of two other Ducati riders, George Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team).

Behind, quite far behind, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Johann zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) and Luca marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) maintain a small lead over a peloton in which we find fabio quartararo in 9th place with 64 points, Marc Marquez in 19th position with 15 points.

There are 444 points left to score (12 times 37), reminding us that most of the championship remains to be written after the summer break, and that we will have to combine competitiveness with endurance, with an eastern tour including no less than 8 GP in 10 weeks. In summary, everything remains completely open, but you will have to be very strong and not get hurt...

This second part of the title race still sees it set up a new weekend format, with a Friday consisting of a free session (FP1) of 45 minutes without stakes, and a session of one hour (P) directly determining the passage to Q2 or not.

Another new feature, to the great dismay of most Ducati riders, is the checking minimum tire pressure (1.88 front, 1.68 rear), effective from the start at Michelin, will bring sanctions from this GP.
For the tests, in theory this will cancel the time, while seconds will be added for the races (if the pressures are not respected during 30% of the Sprint and 50% of the GP), with a temporary scale during this testing period.
1st offence: warning
2nd offense: 3 second penalty
3nd offense: 6 second penalty
4nd offense: 12 second penalty

Finally, last novelty, the official website MotoGP.com was completely overhauled during the summer but, unfortunately, at the time of writing these lines it has not yet been finalized, starting with a recurring disconnection problem that cannot be solved despite the deletion of cookies, unless you switch to a private connection...

It is in this context that we approach Silverstone and its expected very British weather…

Johan zarco holds the record for the 5900 meter circuit in 1'57.767, and, after starting from pole last year, led the four first laps before falling.

A revenge to take, at a time when his future at Ducati is at stake?

Note that MotoGP now uses different boxes from last year, those of F1, which changes the start/finish line and the numbering of the turns.

While waiting to discover more, at the moment when the 22 pilots (including Iker Lecuona which replaces alex rins at LCR) are preparing for this first 45-minute free practice session, under a heavy sky since this morning but a track still dry accompanied by cool temperatures of 17° in the air and 26° on the ground, let's take advantage of these some live moments thanks to the official website MotoGP.com :

Silverstone MotoGP™	2022	2023
FP1	1'59.893 Johann Zarco (See here)	2'00.295 Marco Bezzecchi (See here)
P	1'58.946 Fabio Quartararo (See here)	(See here)
FP2	1'58.254 Aleix Espargaro (See here)	(See here)
FP4	1'59.005 Johann Zarco (See here)	XXXXXXXXXXX
Q1	1'58.609 Enea Bastianini (See here)	(See here)
Q2	1'57.767 Johann Zarco (See here)	(See here)
Sprint	XXXXXXXXXXX	(See here)
Warm Up	1'59.227 Maverick Vinales (See here)	(See here)
Course	Bagnaia, Viñales, Miller (See here)	(See here)
All time lap record	1'57.767 Johann Zarco 2022 (See here)

When the red lights go out... Jack Miller rushes first, fabio quartararo the last.

Everyone is on soft tires at the front and medium at the rear, except Augusto Fernandez, Jack Miller and Pol Espargaro which use a tender at the rear.

At the end of the first round, George Martin recorded a first cautious reference in 2'04.506 before leaving the lead to Jack Miller in 2'02.808 on the next pass.

Marco Bezzecchi then improves to 2'01.583 then 2'00.885.

Takaaki Nakagami has Ducati-style fins.

fabio quartararo new fins never before seen on one of its motorcycles, with ground effect scoops…

After this first run, the hierarchy is made up of Marco Bezzecchi, 36/1000 of a second ahead Alex Espargarothen Luca Marini, Alex Márquez, Brad Binder, Jack Miller, Fabio Quartararo, Maverick Vinales, Johann Zarco, Franco Morbidelli, Jorge Martin, Miguel Oliveira, Raul Fernandez, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Marc Márquez, Enea Bastianini, Augusto Fernandez, Francesco Bagnaia, Joan Mir, Pol Espargaro, Iker Lecuona and Takaaki Nakagami who has still not recorded any time.

Nice counter-steering Jack Miller...

On resumption, George Martin first progresses to 4th position then obtains provisional third place.

Meanwhile, Franco Morbidelli minor fall at turn #7.

We are now approaching the last 10 minutes, and the times are no longer progressing. Normally, with the new format which removes all the stakes from this FP1, we should not see a final rush. Let's see…

Luca marini et Alex Espargaro still lit sectors in red, the Italian first registering 2'00.831 and thus snatching the leadership from his teammate.

On the next pass, it was the Aprilia rider's turn to take the lead, in 2'00.677.

Johann zarco, former pole sitter, registered 2'00.467 but the matter was not resolved because the two VR 46 drivers continued their effort and regained their possession, Luca Marini in 2'00.331, 53 thousandths ahead of his teammate Marco Bezzecchi.

We therefore find four Ducatis in the lead ahead of an Aprilia and a Yamaha led by a Franco Morbidelli in search of recognition to ensure its 2024 season…

After the session, the drivers leave for starting practice.

Enea Bastianini gets trapped and falls quite violently, without apparent gravity, whileIker Lecuona pushes his Honda, perhaps out of gas...

See you at 16 p.m. for Practice (P) which will determine the passage to Q2!

MotoGP British Grand Prix FP1 results at Silverstone:

Credit Ranking: MotoGP.com