Silverstone MotoGP: Lorenzo remains on top, four tenths clear of Marquez

The Yamaha rider spent most of the session in second, but posted a late lap to ensure a sizable margin out front at the chequered flag.

Lorenzo's benchmark lap from Friday was surpassed almost right away as Marquez went half a second clear, posting a 2m01.888s.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo himself dipped below his Friday time on multiple laps during his first run, his new best effort 0.084s adrift of the session lead. His teammate and joint championship leader Valentino Rossi also improved after a difficult Friday showing, but was a further nine tenths off.

Any improvements were few and far between as the session approached and passed halfway point, with Briton Bradley Smith's FP2 time keeping him in third place on the combined leaderboards.

Finally, as qualifying simulations began, other local man Cal Crutchlow stormed from outside of the top ten to third, albeit Smith responded, retaking the spot by 0.009s.

Rossi and Dani Pedrosa then took turns as best of the rest behind Marquez and Lorenzo before Andrea Dovizioso broke up the domination of the two Spaniards, briefly slotting into P2.

But it wouldn't last as Lorenzo posted a brutal time of 2m01.429s, going four tenths clear and wrapping up the top spot, with Marquez unable to respond.

Dovizioso settled for third, ahead of Pedrosa and a late-improving Scott Redding, who finished as the top British rider.

Other Brits Smith and Crutchlow also made the Q2 cut in sixth and eighth respectively, split by Rossi, while Pol Espargaro and Andrea Iannone completed the top ten.

The Suzuki duo of Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro were the two big names to miss out on an automatic Q2 berth, the latter also enduring a mid-session tumble at Turn 12.