What went on in MotoGP’s first session after summer break

VR46 MotoGP rider Marco Bezzecchi led a Ducati 1-2-3-4 in the series’ first practice session since its mid-2023 summer break at Silverstone.

---

Key moments:

> VR46 1-2

> Crash for Morbidelli

> Espargaro makes his return

---

The 45-minute practice session marked the first Friday practice this season that doesn’t count towards automatic passage into the second qualifying segment on Saturday.

This is after riders lobbied to have 10 out of 12 Q2 spots determined by second Friday practice alone instead of a combination of the two – and though the change initially looked like it would have to wait until 2024, it was rubber-stamped as a mid-season tweak during the summer break.

The intended consequence that indeed materialised at Silverstone is that riders and teams were largely disincentivised from using up a fresh soft rear in a late-session time attack – but first place still ended up changing hands a lot in the final minutes.

Bezzecchi had led the vast majority of the session, but was usurped by half a tenth by VR46 Ducati team-mate Luca Marini with around six minutes left on the clock.

They were briefly shuffled down the order in the next few minutes but improved to sit 1-2 again come the chequered flag, with Bezzecchi jumping out narrowly ahead.

Pramac pair Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco completed an all-Ducati top four split by just 0.172s, while KTM’s Jack Miller was the best of the rest in fifth, two tenths off Zarco.

Aleix Espargaro led Aprilia’s contingent in sixth. Franco Morbidelli – freshly announced as being replaced by Alex Rins at Yamaha in 2024 – shrugged off a high-side crash in the change of direction between Brooklands and Luffield to place seventh.

An unlucky out-lap for @FrankyMorbido12! 😮

The cool conditions catch him out at Turn 7 ⚠️#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/au0lzYKu1L

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 4, 2023

Marc Marquez was the best of the Honda riders but was only 15th, 1.3s off the pace and one place behind championship leader Pecco Bagnaia, the Ducati man having another one of his traditional muted starts to a weekend.

Iker Lecuona, standing in for the injured Rins at LCR Honda with a view to potentially taking the ride full-time in 2024, was 21st but not too far off the non-Marquez Hondas.

Pol Espargaro, returning from his long injury absence, was an initial 3.5s off the pace on his Tech3 Gas Gas.

The post-session practice starts were eventful – as Maverick Vinales and Lecuona had issues with their Aprilia and Honda respectively, and then Ducati’s Enea Bastianini high-sided on his way back to the pits.

Well, that wasn't part of the plan! 💥

Thankfully @Bestia23 looks like he's all OK! 👍#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/qOnVYNKZMg

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 4, 2023

Practice 1 Results