Espargaro, second in the championship behind Quartararo before the 12th round of the MotoGP season on Sunday, puts pressure on the Frenchman by taking the best mark before qualifying from 3:10 p.m. (French time).

The Spaniard, covering the 5.9 km in 1'58:254, was ahead of his compatriot Jorge Martin by only 28/1000th.

Australian Jack Miller and Frenchman Johann Zarco, 3rd in the championship, follow less than a tenth of a second behind the Aprilia rider.

Zarco could have done even better, but he crashed on a very fast lap.

The Quartararo championship leader is 365/1000th behind Espargaro.

But by finishing 6th, he ensured the essential: to easily stay in the top ten to avoid the repechages of the qualifications.

Eleventh Friday, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) avoided the trap by moving back to 7th place.

He is also qualified in Q2, second part of the qualifications (from 3:35 p.m.).

The Italian excels in this exercise against the clock, with four pole positions this season, including the last two in Germany and the Netherlands.

With two opposite outcomes: an abandonment in Saxony then a victory in Assen, at the end of June.

He still points to 66 points from Quartararo, for whom the opponent N.1 remains Espargaro, 2nd at 21 points.

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Combined classification of the first three MotoGP free practice sessions of the British Grand Prix at the Silverstone circuit (5.9 km):

1. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 1'58.254

2. Jorge Martin (ESP / Ducati-Pramac) at 0.028

3. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati) 0.078

4. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) 0.090

5. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Aprilia) 0.321

6. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 0.365

7. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 0.371

8. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 0.403

9. Luca Marini (ITA/Ducati-VR46) 0.409

10. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 0.475

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Editor's note: The drivers who have achieved the ten best times in the first three free practice sessions take part directly in the second qualifying session (Q2), which determines the first 12 places on the starting grid.

The others must participate in a preliminary qualifying session (Q1) of which the two fastest are drafted for Q2.

© 2022 AFP