Replacement riders, confirmed signings and lap records smashed at British GP
By Graham Holt
No less than eight riders smashed the previous lap record for a MotoGP machine around the Silverstone circuit, with Marco Bezzechi topping the list with a time of 1:56;.28.
The Italian is most in need of a 'bounce back' weekend after scoring only 13 points in the last 5 races and losing his lead in the Championship.
Another Aprilia rider, Raul Fernandez, who was celebrating a new two year contract with the Superfine Trackhouse team, finished the day in second place. The Aprilias had four riders in the tp five with Jorge Martin in 4th and Ai Ogura 5th.
Fabio Digiannantonio was the only Ducati rider to break the Aprilia dominance as he put his VR46 Ducati in 3rd place. Marc and Alex Marquez, the only other Ducati's in the top ten, were 6th and 7th respectively followed by Jan Mir's Honda, Jack Miller's Yamaha and Pedro Acosta's KTM ensuring all the manufacturers have at least one bike in qualifying 2 on Saturday.
Once again, the luckless Pecco Bagnaia finished in 13th place and will have to go in qualifying 1 along with fellow Ducati mounted Ikea Lecuona, once again proving himself as an impressive at Gresini Racing for the injured Fermin Aldeguer.
Although next years grid is almost complete, HRC confirmed they have signed Moto2 rider David Alonso, although still to confirm whether the rookie or current LCR rider Diogo Moriera will ride the factory machine.
KTM test rider Pol Espargaro replaces injured Maverick Vinales at Tech3 and Cal Crutchlow continues to stand in for Johann Zarco who is also targeting for a return, before the circus leaves Europe for the fly away races, since his crash in Catalunya.
Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez also joins the factory squad as a wild-card, mainly to gather more data for the struggling Japanese factory.
