MotoGP Silverstone SPRINT LIVE: Marquez continues to win with Alex, Bezzecchi closes in the championship, Zarco fourth, Quartararo penultimate

Marco Bezzecchi has taken pole position for the British Grand Prix in the MotoGP category, the ninth round of the 2023 World Championship scheduled to take place at Silverstone. Qualifying took place in difficult conditions given the heavy rain that fell on the British circuit and saw the Mooney VR46 Racing Team driver excel with a time of 2'15.359, taking his third pole in the category queen.

This is the seventh pole of the season for Ducati, the 78th in the Top Class. This is the fifth consecutive pole for a machine from Borgo Panigale. In the final stages of the session, the 'Bez' crashed, with no consequences for him, but the bike had to be rebuilt for use in the Sprint race. At the forefront with Bezzecchi We will find Jack Miller with the KTM and Alex Marquez with the Ducati from the Gresini team.

Fourth beat and fall for Pecco Bagnaia, who was unable to complete the exercise until the checkered flag. It is followed by an excellent Augusto Fernandez on the KTM of Team GASGAS out of Q1 and Luca Marini, with the second Ducati Desmosedici of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team.

Third line for George Martin on Ducati Pramac, Maverick Vinales on Aprilia Factory and Johann zarco, with the second Ducati Pramac. Difficult qualifications for Brad Binder who finished tenth with the KTM, ahead Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha) and Aleix Espargaró, the latter in great difficulty after Friday's performance.

Qualification to forget for Enea Bastianini who will start 13th with the Ducati Factory, Marc Marquez (Honda Factory) who will start 14th and above all for fabio quartararo which will start from the last box. 'El Diablo' appears to have had a problem with the bike, although Yamaha's Massimo Meregalli doesn't seem to agree... It's the Frenchman's worst result in 80 MotoGP qualifying sessions. The previous negative record was a 16th place at Jerez this year. While Morbidely posted a very fast time in Q1, with the same bike, fabio quartararo was relegated to last position and 7 seconds behind his teammate.

Overall, we have an unprecedented front row since these three drivers had never shared the front row in a premier category. The 4th position is quite unusual for bagnaia : The last time he was 4th on the grid was at Jerez in 2021. Last year he won here from 5th on the grid. The same bagnaia missing the front row after 4 GPs in which he recorded 3 poles and a 2nd place. Finally, best result for Augusto Fernandez (5th): for the first time in the top 10 on the starting grid of the premier category.

What will this first Sprint race of the last part of this season have in store for us at Silverstone? Before you know it, here is the table that 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)	2'15.359 Marco Bezzecchi (See here)
Sprint	XXXXXXXXXXX	Alex Marquez Bezzecchi Vinales (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 live images...

The track is still wet, but as it hasn't rained for a long time, the Sprint can take place. The conditions are much better than in MotoGP qualifying. Rain tires will be required on a drying track. The cool temperatures of 17 degrees in the air and 22 degrees on the asphalt.

The race director declares the race wet. It would therefore be possible at any time to make a “flag to flag” change on the second motorcycle., although other tires (i.e. slicks) must be fitted. The bikes are ready in the stands...

The start at Silverstone could be tricky. Instead of in front of Copse, where the peloton will spread out in the future, the start will be on the Hamilton straight from 2023. A combination of several curves follows. There is a risk of collision. The training round is underway. With low temperatures, it becomes important to warm the tires.

Let's go ! Bezzecchi takes the lead at the first turn but Thousandr then takes orders. George Martin is third then takes the lead. Augusto Fernandez is fighting well he is fifth. zarco is tenth. bagnaia only twelfth. Miller regains control beforeAlex Marquez don't take orders.

Martin 4rd on Vinales et Aleix Espargarò, the Aprilias are going strong! Vinales attacks Martin, Maverick has great rhythm. bagnaia eleventh but in difficulty: he is trying to find his rhythm. He is 1s7 from Marini which precedes it. Author of the fastest lap, Alex Marquez immediately takes a small lead. The new second is Bezzecchi, who smelled like roast. Miller is third followed by Martin, Vinales, Aleix Espargaro et Augusto Fernandez. This is the first group of seven.

The classification at the fifth crossing of the finish line with Alex Marquez trying to create a gap on Bezzecchi and Miller. Vinales is behind the KTM rider, Aleix Espargarò fights with Martin for 5th position. The two exchange positions several times.

Vinales is there, he has third place now occupied by Miller in his viewfinder. He surpasses him. Marc Marquez slips to the back of the group. There are 5 rounds left. Alex Marquez ahead Bezzecchi of a second. Maverick now has a second to catch up with the leading pair. Aleix Espargaro also aims Miller. During this time, Marc Marquez is only 18th after losing a few positions. Morbidely precedes him in 17th position, Quarterly now 21st. zarco is sixth.

This track is ready for slicks, but now it's not practical for anyone to change: 4 laps to the end of the Sprint Races at Silverstone. European brands are found in the first 16 places. The Japanese occupy the last six places on the board. Vinales is unable to close the gap on Bezzecchi for now, whileAleix Espargarò exceeds Miller and placed in 4th position. In the meantime, zarco exceeded Martìn and is now 6th behind Miller. Augusto Fernandez is 8th in front Binder et Luca marini which closes the top ten. bagnaia is now 12th behind Olive tree. The Doga are in a dire situation, the best in the ranking is that of Marc Marquez which is 18th.

Alex Marquez moves away from Bezzecchi, he is now 1,3 seconds ahead! Vinales always third, while zarco exceeds Miller for 5th place. Joan mir exceeds Marc Marquez for 18th position, a disastrous race for Marc. Duel now between Miller et Martin. I bathedhas fallen to 13th position in the meantime ahead Bastianini.

zarco walks hard, he can even reach Aleix Espargaró. Behind him, Miller wants to regain sixth place against Martin. 1 round at the end of the Sprint Race at Silverstone. Bezzecchi gets closer toAlex Marquez, leader. Zarco gets closer toI will espargaro, there will be an attack in the last round.

Under the checkered flag, Alex Marquez snatches his first victory on a MotoGP, but not yet in a Grand Prix, ahead Bezzecchi et Vinales. Zarco is fourth, bagnaia 14th, Quarterly before last. Bezzecchi gets closer to 27 points in the championship of bagnaia. (Bagnaia 194, Bezzecchi 167, Martin 163).

• Alex Marquez is the 5th winner in 9 Sprints organized. The others: Bagnaia 3, Martin and Binder 2, Bezzecchi 1.
• 4th medal for Bezzecchi in Sprints. More than him only Bagnaia (7) and Martin (5).
• Vinales is the first Aprilia rider to win a medal in the Sprints.
• Sprint victories: Ducati 7; KTM 2.
•  It's only the 2nd time in 9 Sprints without bagnaia in the top 3. The other is 6th place in Rio Hondo.
• No Japanese motorcycles in the top 14 at the finish. Conversely, Japanese motorcycles occupy 5 of the last 6 places in the ranking.

Franco Morbidelli was able to exceed Pol Espargaro for 15th place. His Yamaha teammate fabio quartararo loses an incredible 30 seconds in 10 laps and he is 21st.

MotoGP British Grand Prix SPRINT results at Silverstone:

Credit Ranking: MotoGP.com