Ducati pair crash then go quickest at Silverstone MotoGP

Ducati’s Johann Zarco and Pecco Bagnaia led MotoGP’s first British Grand Prix practice session at Silverstone, despite both riders crashing.

Factory rider Bagnaia’s early fall happened in the middle of the fast Becketts complex.

Early drama for two of the big names! 😮@PeccoBagnaia is down at Turn 4 and @FabioQ20 has a technical problem! 👀#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/r67OejveAD

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 5, 2022

He was soon back in the pits and out on his spare bike, but languished in the midfield initially.

Then in the final minutes Bagnaia got up to speed and was swapping the top spot with long-time pacesetter and 2019 Silverstone winner Alex Rins of Suzuki.

A strange crash into Stowe for @JohannZarco1! 💥

Thankfully the Frenchman is all OK! 👍#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/XKPRe78znl

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 5, 2022

But both were usurped by Pramac rider Zarco, who had fallen on turn-in at Stowe before doing a 1m59.893s on his spare bike right at the end to beat Bagnaia by 0.027s.

Rins in third was the only rider in the top four that didn’t have any problem during the session, as there was also a scare for championship leader Fabio Quartararo.

His Yamaha cut out going onto the Wellington straight early on.

He initially tried to half-scoot, half-push it back to the pits, then got some help from Jack Miller, whose Ducati he was able to lean on as it gently assisted the Yamaha into the pitlane.

When there's a #MotoGP rider in need, @jackmilleraus will be there! 😅

First taxi fare of the second half of the season ✅#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/khWcVjhaYn

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 5, 2022

Quartararo rejoined and went fourth-fastest.

He also spent much of the session practicing the long lap penalty section at The Loop, which he will have to visit during the race as a punishment for his collision with title rival Aleix Espargaro at Assen before the summer break.

Practice attempt number 1 of the long lap penalty loop for @FabioQ20 👀#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/mpJrshy1Ve

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 5, 2022

Espargaro was sixth in the session, behind fastest Honda rider Taka Nakagami of LCR, and just ahead of Aprilia team-mate Maverick Vinales – who had been fastest in the early running.

Joan Mir, Jorge Martin and Brad Binder completed the top 10.

The session provided more evidence of why Andrea Dovizioso isn’t hanging around until the end of his RNF season, as he was only 20th fastest. That still made him second-best Yamaha, with Franco Morbidelli and Darryn Binder 21st and 24th respectively.

Practice 1 Results