Marco Bezzecchi annihilated the Silverstone lap record with a stunning 1m56.280 on his first competitive outing since collarbone surgery and knee treatment.
The Aprilia rider, cleared to race just one day earlier, delivered an extraordinary Friday practice performance that underlined the Romagna factory’s mid-season firepower. Bezzecchi’s time obliterated Fabio Quartararo’s previous Silverstone benchmark by 0.953 seconds — a colossal margin that reflected not only his own brilliance but also a step change in bike performance heading into Round 12.
Aprilia’s Friday Rout
Bezzecchi led an Aprilia procession into the top five. Raúl Fernández finished second, just 0.335s adrift, while Fabio Di Giannantonio took third and stablemate Jorge Martin, the championship leader, completed the manufacturer’s show of force in fourth. Eight riders beat the old lap record across the session, a sign that teams have unlocked a new level of pace for the resurgent Silverstone track — and a sign of what’s to come on Saturday.
The timing is crucial. With Jorge Martin holding just a 14-point lead over Trackhouse’s Ai Ogura and Marc Márquez within 18, Aprilia’s Friday dominance frames a championship that remains wide open heading into the second half of the season.
