Andrea Iannone fastest in practice for MotoGP British Grand Prix

AUSTRIAN GP winner Andrea Iannone of Italy topped the timesheets in Friday practice ahead of Sunday’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Ducati Team's Italian rider Andrea Iannone.

AUSTRIAN GP winner Andrea Iannone of Italy topped the timesheets in Friday practice ahead of Sunday’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

In cool and cloudy conditions, MotoGP world championship leader Marc Marquez of Spain could manage only fifth, one place behind his world champion compatriot Jorge Lorenzo.

Maverick Vinales was second quickest around the 5.9km track with Briton Cal Crutchlow, winner of the last race in the Czech Republic, third.

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi of Italy took sixth on a track where he has traditionally struggled, while Australia’s Jack Miller was down in 17th.

Marquez actually came off his bike in the morning session but was unhurt. “The important thing is that I’m feeling good and I have a good pace. I’m happy with how everything went,” said the Honda Repsol rider.

Although rain could fall on Saturday, when qualifying will reach its climax, Rossi said he was hoping for better weather to improve his performance.

“At the end, everybody was very fast and with the soft tyre at the end my lap time was not so bad,” he said.

“I was there and now we wait for tomorrow and hope for better conditions.”

FREE PRACTICE 2 TIMES FOR BRITISH GRAND PRIX

1 Andrea IANNONE Ducati 2’01.421

2 Maverick VIÑALESS Suzuki 2’01.721

3 Cal CRUTCHLOW Honda 2’01.917

4 Jorge LORENZO Yamaha 2’02.032

5 Marc MARQUEZ Honda 2’02.240

6 Valentino ROSSI Yamaha 2’02.262

7 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati 2’02.267

8 Aleix ESPARGARO Suzuki 2’02.364

9 Dani PEDROSA Honda 2’02.372

10 Scott REDDING Ducati 2’02.533

11 Pol ESPARGARO Yamaha 2’02.573

12 Hector BARBERA Ducati 2’02.608

13 Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati 2’02.985

14 Eugene LAVERTY Ducati 2’03.118

15 Loris BAZ Ducati 2’03.370

16 Yonny HERNANDEZ Ducati 2’03.380

17 Jack MILLER Honda 2’03.631

18 Stefan BRADL Aprilia 2’03.642

19 Alex LOWES Yamaha 2’03.855

20 Alvaro BAUTISTA Aprilia 2’04.400

21 Tito RABAT Honda 2’05.196

Originally published as Andrea Iannone fastest in practice for MotoGP British Grand Prix