Iannnone tops British GP practice times

SILVERSTONE, United Kingdom — 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. Italy's Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) and Vinales' teammate Aleix Espargaro (Ecstar Suzuki) were seventh and eighth respectively, while Dani Pedrosa – who had been running as high as second in the session – finished ninth quickest on the Repsol Honda. Britain's Scott Redding completed the top 10 on the Octo Pramac Ducati ahead of Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Avintia Racing's Hector Barbera. Ireland's Eugene Laverty was 14th on the Aspar Ducati, one place behind Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Ducati), with Loris Baz in 15th on the Avintia Ducati. Aussie Jack Miller, back in action at Silverstone after missing the last two rounds through injury, finished 17th on the Marc VDS Honda ahead of Aprilia's Stefan Bradl, while Alex Lowes – standing in for the injured Bradley Smith – was 19th on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha. 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 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 tire 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." — AFP