British MotoGP, Free Practice Results | Quartararo quickest despite vicious fall

Fabio Quartararo set the quickest time in Friday free practice for the British MotoGP despite a gnarly crash that was lucky to leave him unscathed.

The championship leading Frenchman was in fine form over a single lap as ever but was fortunate not to suffer bigger injuries when he high-sided at Turn 8. However in the process of the fall as the Yamaha flicked round, it gave Quartararo a good kick on the way down.

Though he was able to walk away from the incident, it was with a limp rather than a stroll.

Nonetheless, his 1m 59.317secs lap was comfortably quicker than the opposition, headed up by Ducati’s Jack Miller and Red Bull Ring standout Jorge Martin.

Honda enjoyed a positive start to proceedings with Pol Espargaro up in fourth place, just ahead of FP1 pace setter Marc Marquez, who was soon back up to speed despite a gargantuan 170mph get off at Maggotts towards the end of the morning session. 

Pecco Bagnaia turned in the sixth best time on the second of the factory Ducatis from Aleix Espargaro and Austrian MotoGP race winner Brad Binder. Alex Rins and Valentino Rossi rounded out the top ten.

Elsewhere, title contender and reigning champion Joan Mir enjoyed a modest start to proceedings as he got his head around Silverstone on a MotoGP bike for the first time. The Spaniard didn’t compete in 2019 - a race won by his team-mate Rins - after an injury in testing, but showed solidly for 13th best in FP2.

With two Brits on the grid this weekend, Cal Crutchlow marked his Yamaha Factory debut - in place of the disgraced Maverick Vinales - with 16th best, while Jake Dixon was 21st, 3.3secs off the top spot as he got to grips with the Petronas SRT Yamaha M1 for the first time.