Team riders played a big part in proceedings.

In the morning session, leader of the overall standings Marc Marquez again sprung a surprise, setting the fastest time of the run with a 2:03.816 lap. This was his first ever ride of the track with a MotoGP bike, but he was just over two tenths of a second faster than Lorenzo and Crutchlow. His Repsol Honda teammate, Dani Pedrosa, finished fourth –six tenths slower than Marquez.

In the afternoon, times were lowered by more than a second. Jorge Lorenzo was quickest this time out, whilst Marquez followed 0.224s. Pedrosa was 0.458s off the top spot. Lorenzo and Marquez were the only riders to breach the 2:03 mark today.

The second day of the Grand Prix of Great Britain will be held tomorrow and decides the starting grid for Sunday with an afternoon qualifying session.