First thing, who ever organized the WSBK and MotoGP calendar for this weekend should be strung up, because trying to follow both championships which just happen to overlap, requires more eyes and multitasking talents than we possess.
Rant over and back to what happened in FP1 at the British circuit.
What has become a constant in almost every Friday first free practice session, Casey Stoner annihilated the field again, with a best lap of 2′03.
748 leaving all the other riders to play catch-up in the rest of the sessions.
Marco Simoncelli was second and he was 0.
659s adrift from the Repsol Honda rider.
If Simoncelli was adrift in a big way, the others were massively off pace, with Jorge Lorenzo coming in third and slightly a second slower.
Nicky Hayden went for the do or die last lap lunge that pushed him into fourth, as did Andrea Dovizioso who took the fifth spot.
Cal Crutchlow, who took a double win at Silverstone last year in Superbikes was sixth ahead of Yamaha factory rider Ben Spies in seventh.
The American took his first MotoGP podium last year at the British track.
Hector Barbera brought in another Ducati into the top ten with his 8th spot, while Alvaro Bautista was ninth followed by injured Randy de Puniet in 10th.
Valentino Rossi was only 12th and 3.
3 seconds from Stoner.
Rossi is still learning the new track despite having done 30 laps on a street Ducati when the Silver Wing was inaugurated.
Colin Edwards has returned to action this weekend after breaking his collarbone last Friday and he was last, while Loris Capirossi lost the front of his Ducati and crashed out half way during the session, but was able to return to action.
MotoGP Silverstone FP1 results:01- Casey Stoner – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 2’03.
74802- Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 0.
65903- Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.
00804- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 1.
03005- Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 1.
16206- Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.
25907- Ben Spies – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.
38208- Hector Barbera – Mapfre Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 2.
41009- Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – + 2.
52610- Randy De Puniet – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 2.
82511- Karel Abraham – Cardion AB Motoracing – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 3.
02612- Valentino Rossi – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 3.
32713- Hiroshi Aoyama – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 3.
71114- Toni Elias – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – + 3.
86815- Loris Capirossi – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 4.
47716- Colin Edwards – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 5.
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