A late surge from Maverick Vinales left the Yamaha rider top of the timesheets in the opening MotoGP practice session for the British Grand Prix.
The Spaniard returns to the scene of his maiden premier class victory, which he took aboard a Suzuki 12 months ago, outside of the top two in the championship for the first time this season in third, 24 points down on standings leader Marc Marquez.
Honda rider Marquez was the early pacesetter in first practice with a 2m03.571s, the Spaniard opting to run the softer tyre.
Last year’s Silverstone pole man Cal Crutchlow briefly deposed the Spaniard, though Marquez soon retaliated with three quick laps, culminating in a 2m03.023s.
Ducati’s Jorge Lorenzo took over top spot with six minutes remaining, the Spaniard using the softer tyre to post a 2m02.649s.
Compatriot Vinales followed suit in fitting the soft slick, and reaped the rewards, the Yamaha rider edging 0.519 seconds clear of Lorenzo with a 2m02.130s. Crutchlow completed the top three.
Marquez slid to fourth on the timesheets at the chequered flag ahead of the second factory Yamaha of Valentino Rossi and Aspar Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista.
Johann Zarco, along with Tech3 team-mate Jonas Folger, trialled the first generation Yamaha aerodynamic fairing in first practice. The Frenchman ended the session seventh, with Folger down in 16th.
Aleix Espargaro completed the top eight on his Aprilia, with future team-mate Scott Redding just 0.052s back in ninth. Austria race winner Andrea Dovizioso rounded out the top 10.
Jack Miller edged Alex Rins in 11th, while Pol Espargaro enjoyed a positive start to his British Grand Prix weekend on the KTM in 13th and 1.4s off the pace.
Dani Pedrosa made a low-key start to proceedings down in 14th and 1.5s off the pace, with Avintia’s Loris Baz 15th.
Pramac’s Danilo Petrucci was left stranded on circuit at the Vale chicane with just three minutes left on the clock thanks to a technical issue. The Italian, who took his maiden MotoGP podium at Silverstone in 2015, was 19th in first practice as a result.
Sam Lowes was the only faller this morning, the Briton coming off at the fast Farm Curve halfway through the session. He soon returned to circuit on his second bike and completed the 23-rider field.
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