MotoGP Silverstone Q1 LIVE: Franco Morbidelli first and Fabio Quartararo last

Aleix Espargaró surprised everyone in the final moments of the test session, having to single-handedly determine the qualified drivers directly into Q2. After an anthology lap, the Aprilia official obtained the best time of the exercise at Silverstone, scene of the MotoGP class British Grand Prix, ninth round of the 2023 World Championship.

The pilot Aprilia achieved the best lap in 1'58.183, ahead of the Ducati Pramac of Jorge Martin by almost seven tenths (0.671s). A great performance for the Venetian firm which also places Maverick Vinales in fourth position, behind the KTM from South African Brad Binder and in front of the Ducati de Johann zarco.

The champion in title Pecco Bagnaia finished sixth after a difficult morning session, ahead of Marco Bezzecchi, the latter falling after a high-side in the final phase of the session, fortunately without physical consequences. Jack Miller with the KTM, Luca Marini with the second Ducati of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team and Alex Marquez, on the Ducati Gresini, will also go directly to Q2.

Both Yamaha came out, with Fabio Quartararo who finished 11th immediately ahead of his teammate Franco Morbidelli. They will also have to go through the “trap” of Q1 the so-called Marc Marquez, 13th with the Honda Repsol, Miguel Oliveira with the Aprilia of Team RNF and the Ducati ofEnea Bastianini (Team Factory) and Fabio DiGiannantonio (Team Gresini). Iker Lecuona which replaces alex rins, injured, on the Honda of Team LCR finished 22nd, just behind the one who is making his comeback, Pol Espargaro (GASGAS).

MotoGP British Grand Prix P (Practice) results at Silverstone:

What will this wet Q1 in MotoGP have in store for us, from where the two best riders will emerge to make a final in Q2? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

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)	1'58.183 Aleix Espargaro (See here)
FP2	1'58.254 Aleix Espargaro (See here)	2'18.076 Fabio Di Giannantonio (See here)
FP4	1'59.005 Johann Zarco (See here)	XXXXXXXXXXX
Q1	1'58.609 Enea Bastianini (See here)	2'15.884 Franco Morbidelli (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)

Here are the track conditions…

And on a track at 15° it can look like this...

It is raining hard, even factory drivers Ducati highlighted the dangerousness of the track. The session which has just ended revealed a Fabio di Giannantonio leader in front Francesco Bagnaia et Miguel Oliveira, who holds his place despite a fall. The other places in the top 10 are held by Bezzecchi, Alex Marquez, Marini, Aleix Espargaro, Zarco et Binder. Even in the rain, there is no Japanese motorcycle in the top 10. Mir et Marc Marquez are respectively 14 and 15th, Quarterly 16. This trio is just over three seconds behind.

Getting the tires up to temperature will not be easy. The air temperature is 12 degrees, the asphalt is only slightly warmer at 15 degrees. It's still raining constantly, but the road seems passable.

Q1 starts regularly at Silverstone, the riders immediately on track despite the protests of some of them and in particular ofAleix Espargaró.

All the drivers are outside on soft rain tires, adapted to the cold. Tire choice will likely not change throughout qualifying as conditions are consistent. Probably the best tactic is to drive the full 15 minutes, as the rider's feel will ultimately make the difference. Qualifying starts on time. We haven't experienced such difficult conditions for a very long time.

Fabio DiGiannantonio on his momentum from the last exercise achieved the reference in 2'20.045 but then fell. bastianini follows in the ranking.

Quarterly, eighth, almost falls and shoots straight. It seems to have stalled. At the same time, Morbidelhe took the lead in 2'18.645. Marc Marquez follows. There are five minutes left.

Morbidely improves and runs in 2'17'214, Augusto Fernandez goes back to second position, then Marc Marquez. bastianini push hard, he could put himself in second position. Morbidely runs in 2'16'7, he is very fast. Fernandez takes second position, Pol Espargaro is 5th.

Under the checkered flag, Morbidely et Augusto Fernandez continue the adventure. The first to be eliminated is bastianini who finishes in front Marc Marquez, Pol Espargaro, Lecuona, Di Giannantonio, Mir, Raul Fernandez, Nakagami et Quarterly good last.

Results of Qualifying-1 of the MotoGP British Grand Prix at Silverstone:

Credit Ranking: MotoGP.com