MotoGP Qatar, NASCAR Fontana
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NASCAR - Fontana: Gonzo gives the command, engines roar and the fifth round of the Sprint Cup season is about to get underway!
MotoGP - Qatar: Replays show Lorenzo lost his Yamaha under braking for Turn 15.
His 2013 campaign wasn't exactly devoid of issues, but falling at Assen and missing the Sachsenring ultimately derailed his title hopes. How significant could this fall be?
His 2013 campaign wasn't exactly devoid of issues, but falling at Assen and missing the Sachsenring ultimately derailed his title hopes. How significant could this fall be?
MotoGP - Qatar: Bautista picks off Rossi and moves into fourth. Bradl, Marquez and Smith have a gap of around half a second.
Crash
MotoGP - Qatar: Iannone falls from fourth. Dramatic stuff in the early laps.
MotoGP - Qatar: Smith has his own moment, allowing Bradl to sneak into the lead. Marquez also nips by into second.
Behind that trio we have Iannone, Rossi, Dovizioso.
After a terrible start, Bautista is seventh.
Behind that trio we have Iannone, Rossi, Dovizioso.
After a terrible start, Bautista is seventh.
MotoGP - Qatar: Disaster for Yamaha. We said he was pushing. Lorenzo, winner of the last two races here, is out.
Crash
MotoGP - Qatar: Wow. Lorenzo has crashed out of the lead at Turn 15. We're not even one lap in.
NASCAR - Fontana: Well, that was an 'interesting' rendition of the Star Spangled banner…
MotoGP - Qatar: Lorenzo doing what he does best - attacking from the offset. He's pulled a slight gap over Smith already.
Lights out
MotoGP - Qatar: The lights go green, and Lorenzo makes a blinding start to move into the lead.
Smith is second, from Bradl, Marquez, Dovizioso and Pedrosa.
Smith is second, from Bradl, Marquez, Dovizioso and Pedrosa.
NASCAR - Fontana: National anthem time, and this week it is being sung by former American Idol contestant Pia Toscano. More importantly, it means racing isn’t far away.
MotoGP - Qatar: Here we go then, the long wait is (nearly) over as the riders hit the warm up lap.
MotoGP - Qatar: Five minutes to go until the 2014 season-opener.
Want to brush up quickly on what is new for this season - and what the key issues will be across the 18 races?
The top themes set to dominate MotoGP in 2014
Want to brush up quickly on what is new for this season - and what the key issues will be across the 18 races?
The top themes set to dominate MotoGP in 2014
Quote
MotoGP - Qatar: Don't bet against a Bradley Smith podium today.
The Briton qualified on the front row for the first time yesterday, and was also blistering quick during a practice race simulation.
"We've put ourselves in a great position for today, but there's still a long way to go," he says on the grid.
"Lap times are looking very competitive for everybody, so I believe the first five laps could split the race."
The Briton qualified on the front row for the first time yesterday, and was also blistering quick during a practice race simulation.
"We've put ourselves in a great position for today, but there's still a long way to go," he says on the grid.
"Lap times are looking very competitive for everybody, so I believe the first five laps could split the race."
Gonzo
NASCAR - Fontana: With Hollywood just down the road, it’s a familiar sight to see the odd movie star or two milling about and this year is no exception. In fact, one of the biggest stars ever is in attendance this weekend - The Great Gonzo.
Best known for his long nose and an affinity for chickens and daredevil antics, Gonzo is serving as the grand marshal today and will be giving the “drivers, start your engines” command in 20 minutes or so.
Breaking news
NASCAR - Fontana: Speaking of Hamlin, he will miss today's race due to severe sinus infection. Sam Hornish Jr will be taking his place in the Joe Gibbs Toyota today.
MotoGP - Qatar: All the signs are that today's race could be extremely close.
Less than seven tenths of a second covered the top 12 riders in qualifying, while in this morning's warm up the top eight were all covered by less than four tenths.
There's another element to throw into the mix too: a reduced fuel allowance, just 20 litres, for the Factory bikes. Will the handicap allow the Open entries to spring an upset?
Less than seven tenths of a second covered the top 12 riders in qualifying, while in this morning's warm up the top eight were all covered by less than four tenths.
There's another element to throw into the mix too: a reduced fuel allowance, just 20 litres, for the Factory bikes. Will the handicap allow the Open entries to spring an upset?
NASCAR - Fontana: Logano ran well in 2013’s race before he tangled with Denny Hamlin on a last-lap push to the chequered flag that resulted in a massive wreck, so it’s easy to forget he was one of the best drivers last year.
NASCAR - Fontana: Another driver we suggest you look out for today is Joey Logano, who tends to fare well on low-grip race tracks like the 2.0-mile one at Fontana.
MotoGP - Qatar: Meanwhile at Losail, the riders are all on the grid.
After a winter of discontent, the opening round of the 2014 season is just 15 minutes away.
After a winter of discontent, the opening round of the 2014 season is just 15 minutes away.
NASCAR - Fontana: Looking at the stats, the defending series champion dwarfs all other drivers at Fontana, with five wins, 12 top-five finishes and an average finish of 5.1 in 19 career starts. He also achieved his maiden Sprint Cup win here, so we reckon he is the clear favourite to win.
NASCAR - Fontana: Could Kenseth become the fifth different winner of the season? Possibly. Although our money is on Jimmie Johnson taking the chequered flag today. Not that we condone betting of course...
Kenseth
NASCAR - Fontana: Matt Kenseth claimed pole position on Friday and shares the front row with Keselowski - his fourth consecutive front row start - ahead of Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick.
Red arrow
NASCAR - Fontana: We're pleased to report that weather conditions are nowhere near as bad today, with only a handful of clouds in an otherwise clear sky. So we should - fingers firmly crossed - get an uninterrupted race this afternoon.
NASCAR - Fontana: The race at Bristol last weekend was the second to be red-flagged this season due to rain, although thankfully we did not have to endure an epic six-hour delay like we did at Daytona at the start of the year.
NASCAR - Fontana: The current championship standings after 4 of 36 rounds:
1 Brad Keselowski 163
2 Dale Earnhardt Jr 153
3 Carl Edwards 152
4 Jeff Gordon 152
5 Jimmie Johnson 143
6 Joey Logano 141
7 Denny Hamlin 140
8 Matt Kenseth 138
9 Ryan Newman 125
10 Ricky Stenhouse Jr 122
(43 points for a win)
Full season statistics on FORIX
1 Brad Keselowski 163
2 Dale Earnhardt Jr 153
3 Carl Edwards 152
4 Jeff Gordon 152
5 Jimmie Johnson 143
6 Joey Logano 141
7 Denny Hamlin 140
8 Matt Kenseth 138
9 Ryan Newman 125
10 Ricky Stenhouse Jr 122
(43 points for a win)
Full season statistics on FORIX
Edwards
NASCAR - Fontana: Brad Keselowski currently has a slender eight-point lead in the drivers' championship and is ahead of fan favourite Dale Earnhardt Jr and Carl Edwards, who is the most recent driver to join the 2014 winners' club after triumphing at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend.
NASCAR - Fontana: Time for us to double the circular components as we head west to Fontana for round five of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
And don't forget, we will also be bringing you live coverage of today's NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Fontana, California in just under an hours' time.
Marquez
We have a brief lull now until the main event begins at 19:00 GMT. Reigning champion Marc Marquez will lead the grid, with Alvaro Bautista and Bradley Smith also starting on the front row.
Where does everyone else start? Find out in our comprehensive qualifying report:
Red arrow
Some impressive rides outside the top three there.
Maverick Vinales, who steps into Moto2 this year after clinching the 2013 Moto3 crown, finishes fifth (from 14th on the grid) on his first race.
Sam Lowes backs up his second row in qualifying by coming home seventh on his grand prix debut.
And an injury-hit Sandro Cortese stages a late fightback to capture eighth, fractions ahead of Jordi Torres and Anthony West.
Maverick Vinales, who steps into Moto2 this year after clinching the 2013 Moto3 crown, finishes fifth (from 14th on the grid) on his first race.
Sam Lowes backs up his second row in qualifying by coming home seventh on his grand prix debut.
And an injury-hit Sandro Cortese stages a late fightback to capture eighth, fractions ahead of Jordi Torres and Anthony West.
Trophy
Moto2 - Qatar Grand Prix:
1 Rabat; 2 Nakagami; 3 Kallio; 4 Luthi; 5 Vinales; 6 Corsi; 7 Lowes; 8 Cortese; 9 Torres; 10 West
1 Rabat; 2 Nakagami; 3 Kallio; 4 Luthi; 5 Vinales; 6 Corsi; 7 Lowes; 8 Cortese; 9 Torres; 10 West
The wait continues for Nakagami then, who takes his sixth Moto2 podium but once again misses out on the win.
Kallio meanwhile takes third, comfortably ahead of Luthi.
Kallio meanwhile takes third, comfortably ahead of Luthi.
Checkered flag
Nakagami is all over Rabat through Turns 15 and 16, but the Spaniard keeps his lines tight and comes onto the straight ahead. Nakagami is tucked in, but doesn't have the speed to pull out and has to settle for second.
It couldn't have been much closer though - just 0.040s split the pair at the flag.
It couldn't have been much closer though - just 0.040s split the pair at the flag.
Into the last lap, and our top three are covered by one second. Will we have fireworks?
Again Nakagami attacks, again Rabat fends him off. Severe pressure from the Japanese rider now.
Behind, Kallio lurks in third, Luthi looks safe in fourth, and Vinales has just picked off Corsi to claim fifth.
Oh, and we have lapped traffic coming up. We're into the final two laps.
Behind, Kallio lurks in third, Luthi looks safe in fourth, and Vinales has just picked off Corsi to claim fifth.
Oh, and we have lapped traffic coming up. We're into the final two laps.
Into the final five laps, and it has closed right back in at the front.
Nakagami has reeled in Rabat now, dragging Kallio with him. Nakagami attacks at Turn 1 and Rabat runs wide, but just hangs onto the lead.
Nakagami has reeled in Rabat now, dragging Kallio with him. Nakagami attacks at Turn 1 and Rabat runs wide, but just hangs onto the lead.
His retirement is Lowes's gain, with the Briton now seventh on his grand prix debut.
Looks like Aegerter's race is done. Thirty-three consecutive finishes is about to come to an end as his engine gives up the ghost, belching thick white smoke across the track. Those following won't thank him if he's laid down oil.
Cortese, incidentally, has just been handed one penalty point for causing that accident by 'riding at a slower than racing speed on the racing line,' governing body the FIM has announced.
By: Dan Cross, Sam Tremayne
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