Marquez Fastest In Cold FP1

Aug 28, 2015
3 min read

Conditions were bright but cold for the opening MotoGP session of the weekend from Silverstone.

Marc Marquez topped the session with a fastest lap of 2:03.111, some three seconds slower than the qualifying record set by the Spaniard in 2013. Interestingly, whilst most opted to run the extra-soft front tyre to combat the 12C track temperature, the Hondas ran the soft instead. Though taking a few laps to get up to temperature Marquez was able to push very early on.

Three tenths back was the Yamaha of Jorge Lorenzo. A three-time victor at the Silverstone circuit, the Spaniard will be hoping to making that number four as he bids to edge away from his team-mate Valentino Rossi in the championship. Lorenzo ended the morning with a fastest time of 2:04.111. Rossi was a further half-second back in 3rd, but did look a lot more confident and settled this morning than he has done in recent weeks.

Rossi lies top with Lorenzo in the standings but needs to start winning to try and get the momentum back in his favour. He has predicted a tough weekend for himself at a circuit he has enjoyed little success at, but early indications suggest that more than just a damage limitation weekend is on the cards for the Italian.

Both Ducatis completed the top five, with Iannone edging Dovizioso by a few hundredths. Dovi ran the bike with the new fairing and engine back-to-back with the older specification one again this morning.

Scott Redding was an impressive 6th place after a late lap of 2:04.170 shot him up the order. The satellite Hondas are expecting to struggle this weekend, so we can't take this time at face value.

Bradley Smith comes into this weekend with a new Tech 3 Yamaha contract for 2016 under his belt and will be wanting to repay the team with a great result at his home round. He was 7th fastest at the end of FP1 on a 2:04.313.

Dani Pedrosa was 8th, whilst Pol Espargaro and Ca Crutchlow completed the top ten.

Eugene Laverty was a very impressive 15th on the Apsar Honda and just two seconds behind Marquez, which is respectable at such a power dependant circuit.

FP1 Result:

1st Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team, 2:03.111

2nd Jorge Lorenzo, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, 2:03.499

3rd Valentino Rossi, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, 2:03.967

4th Andrea Iannone, Ducati Team, 2:04.072

5th Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team, 2:04.115

6th Scott Redding, EG Marc VDS Honda, 2:04.115

7th Bradley Smith, Monster Yamaha Tech 3, 2:04.313

8th Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda Team, 2:04.347

9th Pol Espargaro, Monster Yamaha Tech 3, 2:04.364

10th Cal Crutchlow, Givi LCR Honda, 2:04.413

11th Danilo Petrucci, Octo Pramac Racing Ducati, 2:04.699