That's it, the MotoGP world championship is coming out of its summer torpor due to the cancellation of the Finnish Grand Prix to make us gasp once again in front of the best riders in the world in search of the supreme title!
And what could be better than a confrontation with an uncertain outcome, fabio quartararo leading by only 21 points ahead of a Aleix Espargaró in full positive spiral on his Aprilia RS–GP?
The icing on the cake is that it happens at Silverstone, the site of the Noale firm's first podium in MotoGP, and to make it even more interesting the competent authorities have judged thatThe Devil had behaved badly in delaying his main adversary Assen, and therefore inflicted a Long Lap penalty at Silverstone which is controversial to say the least. However, we know the French rider's winning tactic, namely to take the lead as quickly as possible and escape so as not to be blocked behind an opponent who is difficult to overtake with the power that the Yamaha YZR-M1 has...
There, with the Long Lap which must be carried out at the very start of the race at turn #14, it seems certain that the reigning Silverstone winner, Fabio Quartararo, will not be able to apply its winning strategy and, therefore, opens the door to a possible significant rise inAleix Espargaró in the general classification! To see if the 3 turns rule receives an adjustment…
There is no shortage of other topics of interest, starting with
Johann zarco, third in the championship and still the best Ducati rider, although this time not invited to an official press conference. For what ? Even the Pramac communications service could not provide us with an answer…
Perhaps because we give more potential to
Francis Bagnaia, 4th in the general classification despite 4 blank results and thanks to 3 victories, in the genre " hit or miss ", facing the French Diesel which is currently on the second step of the podium and does not have lasting memories of Silverstone in MotoGP (fall in 2019, 11th in 2021). Last year, the summer break was not beneficial to the French driver: will it be the opposite in 2022? We wish him!
This morning in an eventful FP1, the Pramac driver also achieved the best time, after falling in the session. Finally, Johann Zarco, Francesco Bagnaia, Alex Rins, Fabio Quartararo, Takaaki Nakagami, Aleix Espargaró, Maverick Vinales, Joan Mir, Jorge Martin et Brad Binder are currently pre-qualified for Qualification 2, but all the Moto3 riders have just improved their times in FP2….
The news, in addition Marc Márquez still convalescing and replaced by Stefan bradl, is marked by the planned renunciation byAndrea Dovizioso and, consequently, the return of Cal Cructhlow after Misano.
The rest, we will find out now, during this second 45-minute free practice session which will take place with mild skies and temperatures of 19° in the air and 35° on the asphalt. Let's enjoy these few live moments thanks to the official website MotoGP.com :
Here are the past references:
Silverstone MotoGP™ |
2021 |
2022 |
FP1 |
2'00.941 Marc Marquez (See here) |
1'59.893 Johann Zarco (See here) |
FP2 |
1'59.317 Fabio Quartararo (See here) |
1'58.946 Fabio Quartararo (See here) |
FP3 |
1'59.288 Jack Miller (See here) |
|
FP4 |
2'00.002 Fabio Quartararo (See here) |
|
Q1 |
1'59.288 Johann Zarco (See here) |
|
Q2 |
1'58.889 Pol Espargaró (See here) |
|
Warm up |
2'00.325 Aleix Espargaró (See here) |
|
Course |
Quartararo, Rins, Aleix Espargaró (See here) |
|
All time lap record |
1'58.168 Marc Márquez (2019) (See here) |
When the red lights go out... Franco Morbidelli continues the tradition of launching first, just like fabio quartararo who takes the track last.
Time to get busy! 👊#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/XLAIVnmDMO
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 5, 2022
In terms of tires, the rear medium continues to be favored by all pilots with the exception of Brad Binder, Alex Rins and Jack Miller who prefer the hard stuff this afternoon. At the front, everyone chose the medium except Stefan bradl which rolls with a tender.
fabio quartararo seems embarrassed in his left arm and makes movements several times during the warm-up lap.
At the end of the first flying round, it is Miguel Oliveira who puts his name at the top of the ranking in 2'00.863 ahead Johann zarco, and as a result provisionally pre-qualifies, while Darryn Binder minor fall at turn #6.
Not the first rider to crash at Stowe today! 👀@ DarrynBinder40 suffers a similar fall to @JohannZarco1 this morning 💥#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/H3U9Yfsaz2
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 5, 2022
On the next pass, the two Aprilias of Maverick Vinales et Aleix Espargaró take command in 2'00.484 ahead Fabio Quartararo.
These Aprilia boys…
Always working together and always fast! 😎#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/F9NB1KrgYx
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 5, 2022
The track is visibly faster than this morning, and Aleix Espargaró recorded 1'59.681, best time of the day at that moment, in his third flying lap. He precedes his teammate by 56/1000.
fabio quartararo continues to borrow the Long Lap, as much to familiarize yourself as to clean it…
Mark that up as the 5th practice attempt! 🔄
At this rate, @FabioQ20's going to set a lap record on the same lap he takes the long lap penalty 😅#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/5j6C7oE61n
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 5, 2022
At the end of the first run, the morning hierarchy is already shaken up and now presents Aleix Espargaró, Maverick Viñales, Fabio Quartararo, Álex Rins, Takaaki Nakagami, Jorge Martín, Brad Binder, Johann Zarco and Marco Bezzecchi, all pre-qualified for Q2, as are Francis Bagnaia who however did not improve his morning time.
Combined, this gives Aleix Espargaró, Maverick Viñales, Johann Zarco, Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo, Álex Rins, Takaaki Nakagami, Jorge Martín, Brad Binder and Marco Bezzecchi.
On resumption, Joan mir enters the top 10 then his teammate ÁLex Rins establishes a new reference for the day in 1'59.351 thanks to a soft/soft ride!
The 2019 winner drives home the point in 1'59.246 on the next pass, when Jack Miller minor fall at turn #7.
fabio quartararo in turn tests the soft front tire.
Before the final rush, the top10 combined presents Álex Rins, Aleix Espargaró, Jack Miller, Maverick Viñales, Miguel Oliveira, Johann Zarco, Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo, Takaaki Nakagami and Jorge MartínMore John Zarco et Francis Bagnaia have still not improved their morning times.
Godzilla is among us! Luigi Dall'Igna's imagination has no limits...
At the start of the last run, Joan mir comes to position himself in second place, just behind his teammate.
Aleix Espargaró comes between the two Suzukis but Joan mir achieves the best time in 1'59.100.
One minute before the flag drops, Fabio Quartararo takes the lead in 1'58.946 before Johann zarco is inserted between the two Aprilias.
The first to crack the 59s! 👏@FabioQ20 is on course to top the first day here at Silverstone! 💪#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/VcljKxD6zB
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 5, 2022
For the time being, Fabio Quartararo, Joan Mir, Maverick Viñales, Johann Zarco, Aleix Espargaró, Miguel Oliveira, Álex Rins, Enea Bastianini, Jack Miller and Marco Bezzecchi are pre-qualified for Q2.
See you tomorrow at 10:55 a.m. for FP3!
MotoGP British Grand Prix FP2 results:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com