MotoGP Silverstone: McPhee fastest on Friday in Moto3

Sterilgarda Husqvarna’s John McPhee dominated proceedings at Silverstone on Friday with easily the fastest Moto3 time of free practice.

The Scot sat just over half a second clear of his nearest rival, Gaviota GasGas’ Izan Guevara, at the close of day one after securing a 2’10.939 lap in FP2. CFMoto PruestelGP’s Xavi Artigas the biggest mover in the final minutes to take third with his last effort after a previously understated start to the weekend.

McPhee led the way in the first half of the morning session as preparation for his home Grand Prix kicked into gear. The Max Racing team sitting first and second at the top of the lightweight times with the Scot setting the 2’13.304 pace.

Aspar’s Guevara circulated in third, three places ahead of his championship leading teammate Sergio Garcia with Leopard’s Tatsuki Suzuki and rookie standout David Munoz splitting the pair. VisionTrack Scott Ogden began his first world championship showing in front of the home fans from 14th in the FP1 times, just over a second adrift of his countryman with Josh Whatley learning the vast track on the Honda from 25th.

Sic58’s Lorenzo Fellon hit the top as the final ten minutes of the morning began, The Frenchman running almost four-tenths faster with the first 2’12.9 of the day as Garcia and Daniel Holgado on the KTM advanced to round out the top four.

The standings continued to shuffle as the session counted down. Garcia outpacing Fellon with a 2’12.868 to take command, MT Helmets’ Ryusei Yamanaka and Guevara demoting McPhee to fifth next time around with Ricardo Rossi completing the top six 0.036s behind.

Ogden looked to impress in the penultimate minute before traffic in the final sector derailed his front running effort. McPhee likewise