Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) topped the timesheets on day one of the British grand prix, two tenths ahead of the first of the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP duo – with nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi heading teammate Maverick Viñales.

Fourth fastest on combined timesheets was an impressive showing from Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) riding through the pain barrier, ahead of reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).

Marquez had two crashes in the afternoon, but got back on track. Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) was the fastest Borgo Panigale machine on day one in P6 overall.

The Majorcan is also the man with the most premier class victories at the track – and got back to pitlane at the end of FP2 with a little help from Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

FP2 was also marked on Friday by a trial run of a new flag-to-flag bike swap procedure at the end of the session, with teams given a new angle for the bikes and a lollipop man in place to ensure safe releases.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Pol Espargaro put in a rockstar performance on Friday, running third for some time in FP2 before ending the day in seventh. He headed rookie Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), who was eighth fastest as he attempts to keep his momentum from Austria after getting back in the battle at the front.

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was P9 at the end of action on Day 1, but the championship challenger was only 0.008s off eighth in the incredibly tight top 10, which was completed by Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Racing) on home turf.

Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) were P11 and P12 respectively at the track where the GSX-RR won last year, with the fastest 15 on Friday completed by Alvaro Bautista (Pull&Bear Aspar Team), teammate Karel Abraham and Loris Baz (Reale Avintia Racing).

A big name further down the timesheets was Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) in P17, as Australia’s Jack Miller (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) was one position behind in 18th.

In Moto2, Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) went fastest overall, staking an early claim on a third win of the year at a favoured venue for the rider from Cervera.

Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took P2 as he seeks to bounce back from a crash out of contention in Austria, with Mattia Pasini (Italrans Racing Team) rounding out the top three as he improved and moved up in FP2.

Dominique Aegerter (Kiefer Racing) had taken control of FP1 towards the end of the session with a serious benchmark, but had to settle for P4 by the end of action – nevertheless fastest Suter and with an improvement in the afternoon.

Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) got the weekend off to a good start as he locked out the top five, pushing hard for a result after the recent announcement of his graduation to the premier class next season. Aussie Remy Gardener (Tech 3 Racing) was 16th fastest at the conclusion of the session.

Aron Canet (EG 0,0) was fastest under sunny skies in Moto3, and repeated the feat in the afternoon to go fastest on day one by a tenth – heading key rival Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers). 2016 rookie podium finisher Bo Bendseyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was third on combined times.

Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3), who took a podium last time out despite still suffering the after effects of his crash at the German GP, was fourth quickest on the opening day in the UK – half a tenth quicker than his teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio.

Bikes are back on track tomorrow for qualifying, with racing scheduled in to take place on Sunday.