WATCH: Marc Marquez slides into the British MotoGP weekend at 170mph

Marc Marquez set the fastest time in first free practice for the British MotoGP but while he ended the session on top, he also ended it down and out after a frighteningly fast crash at Silverstone.

The Spaniard - despite his extraordinary success that has brought him a mammoth six MotoGP world titles - has become rather used to licking asphalt during his time in the premier class, and his return to action in 2021 has been no exception.

Indeed, after the serious accident that ruled him out of action for nearly an entire year during the Spanish MotoGP at Jerez, Marquez has been rather lucky not to injure himself again after a catalogue of incidents since his return.

After two huge crashes in Jerez and another remarkable smash in Assen, Marquez was also down in the rain during the Austrian MotoGP, a race he could have won but for the late tumble.

Now he has added a crash at Silverstone to his collection and this time it was a terrifyingly fast one with the Repsol Honda folding beneath him at 170mph coming into the flat Maggotts left-hand kink that leads into the famed Becketts/Chapel complex.

Fortunately sliding away from the bike, Marquez slides across the Tarmac before being thrown into as many as seven barrel rolls before coming to rest. He was able to walk away, mercifully, but he will need new leathers.

The accident will validate the notion the Honda RC213V is a handful to ride on the limit, with Pol Espargaro, Marquez and his brother Alex Marquez - on the LCR Honda - leading the table for crashes in 2021.