Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha MotoGP Silverstone
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha MotoGP Silverstone

As it happened: Fabio Quartararo tops the opening day of British MotoGP

Round 12 of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship sees the historic Silverstone circuit play host to this weekend’s first Grand Prix since June. 

Update: After Ducati led the way in FP1, reigning MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo fought back to secure top spot on combined times. 

Winner last time out, Francesco Bagnaia comes into the British Grand Prix looking for his first victory at Silverstone.

That’s not the case for Fabio Quartararo as the series leader won last year’s British MotoGP in dominant style. 

A back-to-back winner prior to Assen where he made an uncharacteristic mistake, Quartararo will have to overcome a Long Lap penalty in Sunday’s race if he is to take a second consecutive Silverstone win. 

Looking to take advantage will no doubt be Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro. The Spaniard has been in sensational form throughout the 2022 season, and if his result at Silverstone last year is any indication - claimed his first podium for Aprilia after finishing third - then another very strong showing should be on the cards. 

Bringing his MotoGP career to an end in only three races time, all eyes will be on three-time MotoGP runner-up Andrea Dovizioso this weekend.

In Moto2, Pedro Acosta has been ruled out following a medical check this morning, while Sam Lowes suffered a dislocated left shoulder during a fast crash in FP1. The British rider has also been ruled out of the remainder of his home round. 

05 Aug 2022
14:58

Quartararo ends the opening day quickest at Silverstone, with Mir, Vinales, Zarco and A. Espargaro rounding out the top five. 

14:56

The checkered flag is out as Zarco moves up to fifth. 

14:54
Quartararo with a stunner!

Wow! Quartararo sets the first sub 1m 59s lap to go top.

14:54

Big lap coming from Quartararo...

14:52
Mir goes second

Leaving the dinosaur references to one side, Joan Mir has gone second, making it a 1-2 for Suzuki with under five minutes to go.

14:51

Always the first to introduce new innovation, Bastianini's Ducati is debuting wings on the rear of the bike that look like a Stegosaurus - yes you heard that right we're referencing dinosaurs and MotoGP in the same sentence. 

14:46

It should be said that Quartararo has been practising his Long Lap penalty at length in FP2, and has been very impressive doing it.

14:44

Quartararo, who is dropping down the top ten, enters pit lane as a soft tyre run is expected to follow. 

14:42

Alex Rins in action at Silverstone! 

Alex Rins, British MotoGP, 5 August
Alex Rins, British MotoGP, 5 August

14:38
Miller is down!

Jack Miller has crashed at turn seven, the same corner as Binder.

14:37
Rins to the top of the leaderboard

Rins, who has made the switch to soft tyres front and rear, goes quickest by over four tenths. 

14:36

Rins is on for a storming effort...

14:35

Oliveira jumps up to fourth, while Nakagami goes sixth for Honda. 

14:30

The top 15 are all within a second of one-another - Enea Bastianini is currently in P15. 

14:26
Raul Fernandez blocks Jack Miller, Maverick Vinales

Miller shows frustration towards Fernandez after the Tech 3 KTM rider gets in the way of the Australian and Vinales. 

14:22
Vinales goes second to make it an Aprilia 1-2

Maverick Vinales has also gone underneath Zarco's time from this morning.

14:21

We have a new fastest lap of the day as Aleix Espargaro sets a time of 1:59.681s.

14:19

Very impressive laps coming in from Marco Bezzecchi and Miguel Oliveira as they move into the top ten on combined times. 

14:16
Crash for Darryn Binder

Darryn Binder has crashed at turn seven.

14:15

Quartararo appears quite uncomfortable at the start of FP2 - the Yamaha rider has been seen working his left shoulder, whether it's due to wearing new leathers or pain being an issue.

14:10

And we're underway for FP2.

14:09

Alex Rins will be a name to watch out for again in FP2 - the 2019 Silverstone winner was third quickest in FP1, one place ahead of Fabio Quartararo. 

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