Assen MotoGP, British GP supports
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Checkered flag
Assen Moto3 qualifying results:
1 Oliveira; 2 Marquez; 3 M Vinales; 4 Salom; 5 Rins; 6 Folger; 7 Ajo; 8 I Vinales; 9 Sissis; 10 Antonelli.
1 Oliveira; 2 Marquez; 3 M Vinales; 4 Salom; 5 Rins; 6 Folger; 7 Ajo; 8 I Vinales; 9 Sissis; 10 Antonelli.
Checkered flag
MotoGP - Assen: That was an incredible Moto3 session. Oliveira and Marquez equal on a 1m43.588s pole time, then Vinales, Salom and Rins complete a top five covered by just 0.085s.
And the home crowd will be pleased as local hero Jasper Iwema gets up to 11th.
And the home crowd will be pleased as local hero Jasper Iwema gets up to 11th.
GP2 - Silverstone: Carlin duo Felipe Nasr and Jolyon Palmer leap up to second and third respectively. Nasr's time is 0.457s slower than Leimer.
GP2 - Silverstone: James Calado pops up in second position, still over three-quarters of a second off the impressive Fabio Leimer. Quite a few cars head pit-wards, and although the track is drying it looks like we're not going to get onto slicks in the remaining 12 minutes.
Stopwatch
Moto3 - Assen: Maverick Vinales falls 0.061s short of beating Oliveira... and then Alex Marquez (Marc's brother) equals the pole time!
Olveira will keep pole as his second-best lap is faster.
Olveira will keep pole as his second-best lap is faster.
MotoGP - Assen: Oliveira upstages the Moto3 title rivals and sticks the Mahindra on pole by 0.083s with seconds remaining.
GP2 - Silverstone: Points leader Stefano Coletti has a rather clumsy spin. He recovers without further drama.
Crash
MotoGP - Assen: Trouble for Moto3 points leader Luis Salom. He slides into the gravel and cannot get the bike restarted. He's also not impressed with a marshal who's suggesting it's a lost cause...
Salom is still hanging on to pole, but a tiny 0.006s cover him, Rins and Vinales.
Salom is still hanging on to pole, but a tiny 0.006s cover him, Rins and Vinales.
GP2 - Silverstone: The first lap in the 1m59s is by Fabio Leimer, the man who should've won the feature race here last year. It's a 1m59.149s, with Nasr up to second but eight-tenths off his pace.
MotoGP - Assen: Salom is hunting for a third straight Moto3 win in the Netherlands, and his Mugello and Barcelona successes have edged him clear of early leader Vinales in the title fight.
Alex Rins is right in there too, but having to sit out the Catalunya Grand Prix with his injury has hurt Folger.
Championship standings after seven of 17 rounds:
1 Luis Salom 127
2 Maverick Vinales 122
3 Alex Rins 101
4 Jonas Folger 63
5 Alex Marquez 48
6 Miguel Oliveira 43
(25 points for a win)
Full season statistics on FORIX
Alex Rins is right in there too, but having to sit out the Catalunya Grand Prix with his injury has hurt Folger.
Championship standings after seven of 17 rounds:
1 Luis Salom 127
2 Maverick Vinales 122
3 Alex Rins 101
4 Jonas Folger 63
5 Alex Marquez 48
6 Miguel Oliveira 43
(25 points for a win)
Full season statistics on FORIX
GP2 - Silverstone: Fastest time is constantly changing hands between James Calado, Marcus Ericsson, Felipe Nasr and Robin Frijns. The 2-minute barrier is close to being breached.
MotoGP - Assen: The Moto3 pole battle is now hotting up. Oliveira has been demoted to fourth as Luis Salom, Jonas Folger and Maverick Vinales take their fight into the top three.
GP2 - Silverstone: The cars hit the track, lots of standing water in evidence - especially on the 'new' section of circuit, and along the old pits straight. It's quite treacherous out there, but expect it to dry out as the session progresses.
Munich
X Games - Munich: The rallycross course is coming together ready for this weekend's action.
Looks really neat, well prepared and should give great racing, reckons AUTOSPORT's Toby Moody.
The entry list for X Games' first visit to Germany includes ex-Formula 1 man Scott Speed, double DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom, American stars Ken Block, Tanner Foust and Brian Deegan, European Rallycross champion Timur Timerzyanov, World Rally man Patrik Sandell and IndyCar racer Townsend Bell.
Heats take place on Saturday and the final on Sunday.
As heavy rain forced the cancellation of the Barcelona round, this is the contest's European debut.
Roof
GP2 - Silverstone: As the pitlane fills with the 26 competitors, the puddles on the roof of the Caterham trucks in the F1 paddock indicates that it is no longer raining. So expect a lot more track action than the previous FP1 session.
ERC - Ypres: With rain forecast for this afternoon, qualifying pacesetter Freddy Loix is set to pick first on the road when he selects his staring position at 13.00 local time.
And with mud and debris getting dragged onto the road through corner 'cutting' a constant problem for drivers running further down the order in Ypres, the seven-time winner already has a big advantage over his rivals.
And with mud and debris getting dragged onto the road through corner 'cutting' a constant problem for drivers running further down the order in Ypres, the seven-time winner already has a big advantage over his rivals.
MotoGP - Assen: It's a dry track for Moto3 right now, with a hint of rain in the air.
Miguel Oliveira is fastest ahead of Jonas Folger, back this weekend after fracturing his wrist at Barcelona earlier this month.
Miguel Oliveira is fastest ahead of Jonas Folger, back this weekend after fracturing his wrist at Barcelona earlier this month.
MotoGP - Assen: It's still looking like it could rain again at Assen, where Marc Marquez escaped a huge crash with minor injuries earlier.
It won't be long before the MotoGP field returns to the track for final practice and then the qualifying sessions, but for now it's the Moto3 field on track now for their pole fight.
It won't be long before the MotoGP field returns to the track for final practice and then the qualifying sessions, but for now it's the Moto3 field on track now for their pole fight.
Stefano Coletti
GP2 - Silverstone: As a very wet Formula 1 practice session ends after coming alive with just 13 minutes to go, it's GP2's turn to head out at the British Grand Prix next.
With three wins from eight races so far, Stefano Coletti is the early championship leader, yet all his victories have come from the reversed-grid sprint races.
The consistent Felipe Nasr lies second despite still hunting for a maiden win, while third is a remarkable early position for Sam Bird with the new Russian Time team.
Championship standings after eight of 22 rounds:
1 Stefano Coletti 120
2 Felipe Nasr 93
3 Sam Bird 58
4 Fabio Leimer 54
5 James Calado 40
6 Robin Frijns 37
(25 points for a feature race win, 15 for a sprint race win)
Full season statistics on FORIX
Breaking news
MotoGP - Assen: Marquez update. His injury list is now upgraded to: fractured little finger, fractured left big toe, bruised shoulder, bruised hip.
That's still a fortunate escape from that crash.
That's still a fortunate escape from that crash.
Coming up later on AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live today...
All the action as it happens from qualifying for MotoGP and its feeder categories on a day of changeable weather at Assen.
F1 feeders GP2 and GP3 commence their Silverstone weekends.
Plus several varieties of rallying/rallycross, as Belgian classic Ypres commences and the build-up to Sebastien Loeb's Pikes Peak mission and X Games in Munich continues.
All the action as it happens from qualifying for MotoGP and its feeder categories on a day of changeable weather at Assen.
F1 feeders GP2 and GP3 commence their Silverstone weekends.
Plus several varieties of rallying/rallycross, as Belgian classic Ypres commences and the build-up to Sebastien Loeb's Pikes Peak mission and X Games in Munich continues.
Breaking news
Alvaro Bautista
MotoGP - Assen: So a second massive bone-fracturing crash for a Spanish superstar in as many sessions, and a Bautista versus de Puniet battle for the top spot. Eventful morning in the Netherlands.
MotoGP Assen practice three report
Breaking news
MotoGP - Assen: News update from Honda is that Marquez has a small fracture in the little finger of his right hand.
An operation will not be required and it should not threaten his participation in the weekend.
An operation will not be required and it should not threaten his participation in the weekend.
Checkered flag
MotoGP - Assen - free practice three results:
1 Bautista; 2 de Puniet; 3 Pirro; 4 Silva; 5 Marquez; 6 Crutchlow; 7 Dovizioso; 8 Hayden; 9 Pedrosa; 10 Abraham.
1 Bautista; 2 de Puniet; 3 Pirro; 4 Silva; 5 Marquez; 6 Crutchlow; 7 Dovizioso; 8 Hayden; 9 Pedrosa; 10 Abraham.
Stopwatch
MotoGP - Assen: Bautista pinches the top spot from de Puniet right at the end.
Stopwatch
MotoGP - Assen: Marquez's violent crash hasn't put everyone off trying slicks. Randy de Puniet and Bautista are out on the dry rubber and are now first and second.
MotoGP - Assen: Honda confirms that Marquez is shaken but unhurt as he returns to the garage.
The Spaniard carefully removes his helmet and ear plugs but says little to the team members who immediately surround him.
That was a big scare.
The Spaniard carefully removes his helmet and ear plugs but says little to the team members who immediately surround him.
That was a big scare.
MotoGP - Assen: That was a lucky escape. Marquez lost control just after the point where Lorenzo had his crash, and was thrown into the air in a very fast high-side.
He landed on his head and shoulder area, was struck by his sliding bike, then rolled through the gravel.
Marquez paused kneeling down for a second before walking away, turning down help from the marshals and a stretcher.
He landed on his head and shoulder area, was struck by his sliding bike, then rolled through the gravel.
Marquez paused kneeling down for a second before walking away, turning down help from the marshals and a stretcher.
Crash
MotoGP - Assen: And now it goes wrong for Marquez as he hits water and crashes!
It's a rough tumble through the gravel but he's walking away with only a slight limp.
It's a rough tumble through the gravel but he's walking away with only a slight limp.
MotoGP - Assen: Looking good for slicks, Marquez goes fastest so far in sector one.
Alvaro Bautista is trying slicks to. He just had set a new benchmark time on wets.
Alvaro Bautista is trying slicks to. He just had set a new benchmark time on wets.
MotoGP - Assen: Marc Marquez is heading out on slicks. He doesn't need to do anything risky with a Q2 place guaranteed. But he's Marc Marquez.
MotoGP - Assen: Yet again, Aleix Espargaro was sensational in practice, and he didn't need a wet track to star.
The Aspar Aprilia CRT rider was quicker than everyone bar the works Yamahas, works Honda and Cal Crutchlow. So if Espargaro can beat the Ducatis, Bradley Smith and the satellite Hondas again in qualifying, with Lorenzo potentially sidelined, that could be a CRT bike in the top five on raw pace.
The Aspar Aprilia CRT rider was quicker than everyone bar the works Yamahas, works Honda and Cal Crutchlow. So if Espargaro can beat the Ducatis, Bradley Smith and the satellite Hondas again in qualifying, with Lorenzo potentially sidelined, that could be a CRT bike in the top five on raw pace.
Nicky Hayden
MotoGP - Assen: At the moment there are three prototype riders who face having to go through Q1, and they're all on Ducatis: works men Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso plus Pramac's Andrea Iannone. All were outside the top 10 yesterday morning.
MotoGP - Assen: Anyway, free practice three...
Halfway through the wet-but-drying session, everyone bar Stefan Bradl (and obviously, Lorenzo) has now been out.
Cal Crutchlow is fastest on a 1m46.981s, with the Ducatis of Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden next up.
Lorenzo's benchmark in the dry yesterday was 1m35.263s.
At the foot of the top 10, Bradley Smith did a 1m37.002s, which is the mark those outside the current Q2 list need to beat.
Halfway through the wet-but-drying session, everyone bar Stefan Bradl (and obviously, Lorenzo) has now been out.
Cal Crutchlow is fastest on a 1m46.981s, with the Ducatis of Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden next up.
Lorenzo's benchmark in the dry yesterday was 1m35.263s.
At the foot of the top 10, Bradley Smith did a 1m37.002s, which is the mark those outside the current Q2 list need to beat.
MotoGP - Assen: This is still very speculative, and Yamaha personnel are now tweeting pictures of Lorenzo still in hospital to underline that he's not shooting to the Netherlands on a private jet, but IF he does try to race, he is likely to be 12th on the grid as his Thursday morning time is likely to stand as the fastest from practice and therefore guarantee a Q2 place.
MotoGP - Assen: The precedent for a swift return from collarbone injury is Colin Edwards in 2011.
He broke his collarbone in practice at the Catalunya Grand Prix, and tried to return for the race on Sunday but did not get medical clearance.
But he was passed fit for the following race at Silverstone just seven days later and took a remarkable podium finish.
He broke his collarbone in practice at the Catalunya Grand Prix, and tried to return for the race on Sunday but did not get medical clearance.
But he was passed fit for the following race at Silverstone just seven days later and took a remarkable podium finish.
Quote
MotoGP - Assen: Yamaha's tone was very coy when discussing when Lorenzo might be back, with team manager Wilco Zeelenberg saying only: "We have to wait till he wakes up before making any further evaluation of Jorge’s physical conditions and how long his recovery will take."
Breaking news
MotoGP - Assen: Despite initial indications that he would wait to see if any further injuries became apparent before having surgery, Lorenzo flew to Barcelona last night and immediately had his collarbone reset in an operation that finished at 4am.
Jorge Lorenzo
MotoGP - Assen: The big news yesterday was that world champion Jorge Lorenzo suffered a fractured collarbone.
Now the hot rumour is that he will still try to race this weekend!
MotoGP - Assen: It's wet in the Netherlands again, and that could mean the Q1 and Q2 split is already decided.
By: Matt Beer, Sam Tremayne, Charles Bradley, Scott Mitchell, Andrew van de Burgt
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