Alex Marquez topped the times in first practice for MotoGP’s British Grand Prix, leading the way from returning Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi.

The Gresini Ducati rider went quickest with a 1m58.692s 10 minutes into the session, and it remained the fastest time throughout.

Bezzecchi, who was ruled fit on Thursday after crashing during qualifying for the German Grand Prix, was second-fastest, 0.173s behind.

Third-fastest was KTM’s Pedro Acosta, who had a crash around the halfway mark, sliding off at Turn 15 into the gravel - so subsequently had his position boosted by coming out on fresh tyres.

Bezzecchi had set the fastest time early on, and was the first to set a sub-two-minute lap soon after before it was cancelled after he exceeded track limits.

Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez was next to top the times, setting a 1m59.867s, before Acosta replicated the time.

Alex Marquez set his quickest time soon after, with Bezzecchi running second for the remainder of the session.

Fernandez finished fourth, ahead of VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio. Marc Marquez was sixth-quickest, ahead of Ai Ogura.

Championship leader Jorge Martin was eighth, narrowly avoiding a crash with Yamaha wildcard Augusto Fernandez in the later stages of the session.

The top 10 was rounded off by Franco Morbidelli and Pecco Bagnaia, returning from arm pump surgery over the summer break.

Stand-in appearances this weekend come courtesy of Iker Lecuona, who finished 16th and is racing for Gresini in place of Fermin Aldeguer, KTM’s Pol Espargaro replacing Maverick Vinales, and Cal Crutchlow - who continues his LCR Honda stint in place of Johann Zarco.

Session results

1 Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) 1m58.692s
2 Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) +0.173s
3 Pedro Acosta (KTM) +0.282s
4 Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia) +0.310s
5 Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati) +0.364s
6 Marc Marquez (Ducati) +0.488s
7 Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia) +0.573s
8 Jorge Martin (Aprilia) +0.680s
9 Franco Morbidelli (VR46 Ducati) +0.876s
10 Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati) +0.954s
11 Joan Mir (Honda) +1.016s
12 Brad Binder (KTM) +1.105s
13 Luca Marini (Honda) +1.231s
14 Enea Bastianini (Tech3 KTM) +1.260s
15 Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) +1.306s
16 Iker Lecuona (Gresini Ducati) +1.316s
17 Jack Miller (Pramac Yamaha) +1.529s
18 Alex Rins (Yamaha) +1.601s
19 Diogo Moreira (LCR Honda) +1.603s
20 Augusto Fernandez (Yamaha) +1.877s
21 Pol Espargaro (Tech3 KTM) +2.060s
22 Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) +2.323s
23 Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pramac Yamaha) +2.351s