Álex Márquez takes Sprint victory in changeable conditions

Unrelenting rainfall throughout the morning would come to define all of Saturday’s on-track action, impacting track conditions for every session until the end of the MotoGP Sprint. After the chequered flag had been waved for the 10-lap race, the heavens opened once more to bookend the day with yet more adverse weather. 

MotoGP

Q1Fresh off the back of the quickest time in the morning’s sodden Free Practice 2 session, Fabio Di Giannantonio followed that up by going fastest early in Q1. Moments after setting that lap, he crashed out at Abbey ending his hopes of a Q2 slot. Eventually, it would be Franco Morbidelli and Augusto Fernández who’d take the top two slots whilst Enea Bastianini, Marc Márquez and Fabio Quartararo were the shock exits from Q1, the Monster Energy Yamaha rider surprisingly ending the session last. 

Q2With the first runs of Q2 completed, Jack Miller raised eyebrows in the pitlane going almost half a second quicker than anyone else. Shortly after, Francesco Bagnaia set the second-fastest time before hitting the deck at Brooklands. The Italian rider attempted a return to the pits for another run on the spare bike, but couldn’t make it in time and finished the session in fourth. The top three spots, meanwhile, were contested by Jack Miller, Álex Márquez and Marco Bezzecchi, all of whom took their turn to set blistering lap times and headed for the gravel trap in quick succession. In the final reckoning, Bezzecchi sat on top of the pile for the second qualifying in a row followed by Miller and A Márquez. 

SprintAs the start lights went out, it was Miller who seized the early advantage and despite a valiant defence from Bezzecchi, it was the Australian who held the lead down the Wellington Straight. Sachsenring winner Jorge Martín had his turn at the front on Lap 1, but one lap later it was A Márquez who hit the front after a move at Stowe, whilst Martín was shuffled back to fourth. Johann Zarco was on the march, scything past teammate Martín and Miller en route to fourth at the flag. With one lap to go, Bezzecchi began to make inroads into the one-second buffer to A Márquez and although he’d reduced it to three-tenths by the flag, Márquez wouldn’t be denied his first premier class victory. Maverick Viñales claimed a well-earned third place on the Aprilia and championship leader Bagnaia languished down in P14.

Moto2 
QualifyingWith the weather continuing to deteriorate, even the British riders – notoriously well-versed in such conditions – were caught out during Moto2’s qualifying sessions. Home favourite Jake Dixon was on a lap that would have elevated him towards the top of the order, but the GasGas Aspar Team rider was flung from his bike on the exit of Club, drawing his session to a close. He will line up P11 for Sunday’s race whilst Sam Lowes will start ninth. Pedro Acosta mastered the conditions when it mattered most, going fastest in what could prove to be a pivotal moment for the championship battle. Fermín Aldeguer was second fastest and Zonta van den Goorbergh third. 

Moto3
QualifyingScott Ogden gave the home crowd something to cheer about in Moto3, setting the fastest lap time of the session at the last. Unfortunately, a yellow flag infringement robbed Ogden and the trackside fans of a home pole, but his second-best attempt was still good enough for second on the grid. Jaume Masià took the top spot and championship leader Daniel Holgado completed the front row in third. 

MotoE
Race 1The ninth race of the MotoE season saw polesitter Eric Granado beaten to the holeshot by Randy Krummenacher, and despite a seven-rider battle for the lead for much of the race, it was Krummenacher who would take the win in the first-ever electric race at Silverstone. 

Race 2After some early afternoon respite from the weather, rain began to fall once again prior to the start of Race 2. Despite a mid-race challenge from Granado, Mattia Casadei held his nerve in the tricky conditions to win whilst Nicolas Spinelli narrowly came out on top in a five-bike battle to claim third. 

British Talent Cup

Race 1Arguably the most entertaining on-track battle of the day went the way of Sullivan Mounsey and championship leader Evan Belford, who continuously swapped positions for several laps in succession. Eventually, Belford crashed out of first place leaving Mounsey with a 22-second lead to the riders behind. Mounsey claimed the top spot ahead of Harley McCabe and Lucas Brown.