Alex Marquez kicked off the British Grand Prix fastest of all in FP1<\/p>\n
Gresini Ducati MotoGP rider Alex Marquez was fastest of all by 0.173s in opening practice for the MotoGP British Grand Prix ahead of the returning Marco Bezzecchi.<\/p>\n
The first round after the summer break takes place at Silverstone, which has seen 11 different winners in the last 11 editions of the British Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
Alex Marquez will be looking to add his name to that list this weekend, having taken a sprint victory previously at the former RAF airbase.<\/p>\n
He got his weekend off to the best start on the Gresini Ducati, posting a 1m58.692s to lead the field by 0.173s.<\/p>\n
The younger Marquez brother headed the leading Aprilia of Marco Bezzecchi, who is making his comeback following a collarbone injury in Germany ahead of the summer break.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s British Grand Prix winner completed 13 laps on his RS-GP and was faster than KTM\u2019s Pedro Acosta, who was the only crasher in FP1.<\/p>\n
Bezzecchi set the early pace at the start of the 45-minute FP1 at 2m01.807s, before Aprilia counterpart Raul Fernandez – fresh from signing a new two-year deal with Trackhouse – took over with a 1m59.807s.<\/p>\n
Alex Marquez hit the front for the first time with just under 10 minutes of the session gone with a 1m59.436s, before Jorge Martin edged ahead on the sister factory team Aprilia with a 1m59.372s.<\/p>\n
Gresini\u2019s Marquez would post his session-topping 1m58.692s lap with around 30 minutes to go, and would not be challenged through to the chequered flag.<\/p>\n
Bezzecchi moved up to second, while Acosta fitted some fresh rubber to move up to third with a 1m58.974s after a crash at Stowe with 20 minutes remaining.<\/p>\n
Fernandez was fourth on the Trackhouse Aprilia, while Fabio Di Giannantonio was fifth on the VR46 Ducati.<\/p>\n
Marc Marquez was sixth on the factory team Ducati, while Ai Ogura was only seventh on the Trackhouse Aprilia despite a switch to fresh medium rubber late on.<\/p>\n
Championship leader Martin was eighth on a 1m59.372s, while Franco Morbidelli was ninth on the second of the VR46 Ducatis.<\/p>\n
Pecco Bagnaia completed the top 10 on the second of the factory team Ducatis.<\/p>\n