Sandro Cortese – Photo Credit: MotoGP.com
Sandro Cortese set the pace in blustery, but thankfully dry, conditions in second practice for Sunday’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The championship leader set a 2:19.063 to outpace Efren Vazquez and Romano Fenati with the Moto3 field looking as close as ever despite racing on one of the longest laps of the year.
The factory KTM squad therefore topped both free practice sessions with Danny Kent flying the flag for the Brits in the morning. The 18 year old was fastest in the wet session ahead of teammate Arthur Sissis and will be among those with a keen eye on the weather forecast for the rest of the weekend.
Cortese was dominant in the afternoon and hit the front with twelve minutes gone. With the exception of a twenty second period when Vazquez had usurped him, the German was untouchable at the top of the leaderboard with his advantage nearly four tenths of a second over Vazquez on the JHK Laglisse FTR Honda.
Silverstone rookies Romano Fenati and Alex Rins put in outstanding performances to finish third and fourth with Catalunya winner Maverick Vinales behind them. The Avintia Blusens rider claimed his maiden Grand Prix pole position here twelve months ago but looks to have his work cut out if he’s to produce a repeat performance this time.
After his morning heroics, Danny Kent took sixth in the afternoon ahead of Louis Rossi and Luis Salom with Alberto Moncayo ninth and Alexis Masbou tenth fresh from his career best result in Catalunya.
Danny Webb put in a stunning display on the recalcitrant Mahindra to finish twelfth overall while wildcard riders John McPhee and Fraser Rogers, making his GP debut, were 23rd and 32nd for Racing Steps Foundation KRP.
Moto3 Hertz British Grand Prix: Combined Friday Practice Times
| Pos | Rider | Motorcycle | Team | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Sandro Cortese |
KTM | Red Bull KTM Ajo | 2:19.063 |
| 2 |  Efren Vazquez |
FTR Honda | JHK Laglisse | +0.382 |
| 3 |  Romano Fenati |
FTR Honda | Team Italia FMI | +0.465 |
| 4 | Alex Rins |
Suter Honda | Estrella Galicia 0,0 | +0.544 |
| 5 | Maverick Viñales |
FTR Honda | Blusens Avintia | +0.547 |
| 6 |  Danny Kent |
KTM | Red Bull KTM Ajo | +0.668 |
| 7 |  Louis Rossi |
FTR Honda | Racing Team Germany | +0.761 |
| 8 | Luis Salom |
Kalex KTM | RW Racing GP | +0.800 |
| 9 | Alberto Moncayo |
Kalex KTM | Bankia Aspar Team | +0.914 |
| 10 | Alexis Masbou |
Honda | Caretta Technology | +1.435 |
| 11 | Alan Techer |
TSR Honda | Technomag-CIP-TSR | +1.668 |
| 12 | Danny Webb |
Mahindra | Mahindra Racing | +1.681 |
| 13 |  Jakub Kornfeil |
FTR Honda | Redox-Ongetta-Centro Seta | +1.745 |
| 14 |  Miguel Oliveira |
Suter Honda | Estrella Galicia 0,0 | +1.938 |
| 15 | Hector Faubel |
Kalex KTM | Bankia Aspar Team | +1.983 |
| 16 | Adrian Martin |
FTR Honda | JHK Laglisse | +2.000 |
| 17 |  Zulfahmi Khairuddin |
KTM | AirAsia-Sic-Ajo | +2.275 |
| 18 | Jonas Folger |
Ioda | IodaRacing Project | +2.334 |
| 19 |  Jasper Iwema |
FGR Honda | Moto FGR | +2.535 |
| 20 |  Jack Miller |
Honda | Caretta Technology | +2.787 |
| 21 | Niccolo Antonelli |
FTR Honda | San Carlo Gresini Moto3 | +2.850 |
| 22 |  Niklas Ajo |
KTM | TT Motion Events Racing | +2.863 |
| 23 | John McPhee (WC) |
KRP Honda | Racing Steps Foundation KRP | +3.136 |
| 24 | Simone Grotzkyj |
Suter Honda | Ambrogio Next Racing | +3.153 |
| 25 |  Brad Binder |
Kalex KTM | RW Racing GP | +3.310 |
| 26 | Arthur Sissis |
KTM | Red Bull KTM Ajo | +3.465 |
| 27 | Alessandro Tonucci |
FTR Honda | Team Italia FMI | +3.492 |
| 28 | Ivan Moreno |
FTR Honda | AndalucÃa JHK Laglisse | +3.963 |
| 29 | Isaac Viñales |
FTR Honda | Ongetta-Centro Seta | +3.989 |
| 30 |  Kenta Fujii |
TSR Honda | Technomag-CIP-TSR | +4.278 |
| 31 | Toni Finsterbusch |
MZ-RE FTR | Cresto Guide MZ Racing | +4.357 |
| 32 | Fraser Rogers (WC) |
KRP Honda | Racing Steps Foundation KRP | +4.362 |
| 33 |  Giulian Pedone |
Suter Honda | Ambrogio Next Racing | +5.050 |
| 34 | Marcel Schrotter |
Mahindra | Mahindra Racing | +6.362 |
| 35 | Luigi Morciano |
Ioda | Ioda Team Italia | +6.653 |
