The Repsol Honda team rider will have to go through Q1 on Saturday after failing to place in the Top 10. Joan Mir, who was eighteenth, will also take part in the first qualifying session for the British Grand Prix.
The first day of practice at Silverstone was held under grey skies that threatened rain all day, and with low temperatures that forced the premier class riders to manage their tyres carefully.
In FP1, Marc Márquez was the fifteenth fastest rider, but in the afternoon the Repsol Honda Team rider took a step forward and was among the Top 10.
At the end of the second session – the first time that a one-hour free practice session was held on Friday and a runout which decides participation in Q2 – Márquez managed to register a best time of 1:59.455, putting him 13th.
Joan Mir was also able to improve throughout the day and finished the day 18th. He returns to competition at Silverstone after missing the last three Grands Prix through injury, clocked a 2:00.357.
Both riders will have to go through Q1 on Saturday and place in the Top 2 if they want to compete in Q2. Saturday also sees the British GP sprint race take place.
MARC MÁRQUEZ – 13th 1’59.455
“We spent today going in a steady way to get the confidence back, I started a little stiff but I improved towards the end. Of course we would like to be closer to the top of the time sheets, but at the moment we need to focus on improving what we have. Physically, I have some pain in my right leg, around the abductor muscles, but it is what it is and we keep working. The focus this weekend is inside my team and myself, building a base and getting stronger.”
JOAN MIR – 18th 2’00.357
“I have had to be patient to get to this point but it was great to be back on the bike again and with the team. We started with the base that we were using in Le Mans because I felt the most competitive with it in the first part of the season. After the time away, I needed a couple of laps to understand everything but overall it was quite natural. Today was about working with what we have, the electronics are an area we are working on. Of course, we need to keep improving, but it is important to keep being patient and take it step by step.”
