Mugello MotoGP, Le Mans test, Detroit IndyCar, Lausitz DTM
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MotoGP - Mugello: Marquez is right on Lorenzo's tail already as they drop the Ducatis.
MotoGP - Mugello: Karel Abraham has a jump-start but no sign of a penalty for Iannone yet.
Crash
MotoGP - Mugello: Aleix Espargaro has crashed the Suzuki and is in pain. He's up on his feet but that hasn't done his injured hand much good.
FR3.5 - Spa: Up front, Rowland has opened up a 3.5s lead over de Vries.
Rowland's Fortec team-mate Jazeman Jaafar has worked his way past Orudzhev for sixth.
Rowland's Fortec team-mate Jazeman Jaafar has worked his way past Orudzhev for sixth.
MotoGP - Mugello: Rossi makes up a place to run ninth behind Crutchlow.
Marquez is going down the inside of Dovizioso and he's second as lap three begins.
It's Lorenzo versus Marquez again...
Marquez is going down the inside of Dovizioso and he's second as lap three begins.
It's Lorenzo versus Marquez again...
MotoGP - Mugello: Marquez outbrakes Iannone into San Donato and is third from 13th on the grid after just a lap and one corner.
MotoGP - Mugello: Rossi is only 10th, poor first lap for the crowd hero.
Lorenzo completes lap one with a slight lead over a battling Dovizioso, Iannone and Marquez.
Lorenzo completes lap one with a slight lead over a battling Dovizioso, Iannone and Marquez.
MotoGP - Mugello: Smith is fourth and now Marquez shoves Pol Espargaro aside for fifth.
Lorenzo takes the lead from Dovizioso, who catches a big wobble - and Marquez is past Smith into FOURTH!
Lorenzo takes the lead from Dovizioso, who catches a big wobble - and Marquez is past Smith into FOURTH!
FR3.5 - Spa: On the opening of the pit window on lap five, van Buuren, Merhi and both Tech 1 drivers stop for tyres.
Roy Nissany encountered a problem and has been wheeled back into the Tech 1 garage.
Latifi, who was involved in an incident with Dillmann on the opening lap, has made his third stop of the afternoon.
Roy Nissany encountered a problem and has been wheeled back into the Tech 1 garage.
Latifi, who was involved in an incident with Dillmann on the opening lap, has made his third stop of the afternoon.
Lights out
MotoGP - Mugello: Looks like Iannone jumped the start!
Dovizioso makes it into the lead, Lorenzo is second, Iannone down to third and Marquez sliced down the inside into sixth.
Dovizioso makes it into the lead, Lorenzo is second, Iannone down to third and Marquez sliced down the inside into sixth.
MotoGP - Mugello: By the way, Ducati last won nearly five years ago. It really, really wants to end that drought here, today, now.
MotoGP - Mugello: Pirro is only one of the frontrunners who's allowed to use soft tyres in the race who IS going to. Most of the lead pack are going for mediums at both ends, except Crutchlow, Bradley Smith, Hernandez and Marquez - they've gone for hard fronts.
Engines are firing and the grid is clearing for the warm-up lap. This could be extraordinary, it could be emotional... it could be a runaway Lorenzo win, and that would break a few local hearts but tighten the championship up again.
Engines are firing and the grid is clearing for the warm-up lap. This could be extraordinary, it could be emotional... it could be a runaway Lorenzo win, and that would break a few local hearts but tighten the championship up again.
Yellow flag
British GT - Silverstone: Now the safety car is out after the stricken #17 Aston Martin of Derek Johnston was collected by Gary Eastwood in the #18 Ferrrai after Johnston spun on the exit of Stowe.
FR3.5 - Spa: Sensational progress from Jaafar who is already up to seventh on lap two, from the back of the grid.
British GT - Silverstone: Gilles Vannelet leads the race #12 Von Ryan Racing McLaren by 9.2s over Ahmad Al-Harthy in the #2 Oman Racing Aston Martin with the #63 Barwell Motorsport BMW of John Minshaw 12s further adrift in P3.
Polesitter Andrew Howard in the #007 Beechdean Aston Martin spun as the pack charged through Becketts on the opening lap.
Will Moore in the #61 Academy Motorsport Aston Martin leads in GT4 but is under investigation for an earlier clash with the #407 car of Jamie Chadwick.
Polesitter Andrew Howard in the #007 Beechdean Aston Martin spun as the pack charged through Becketts on the opening lap.
Will Moore in the #61 Academy Motorsport Aston Martin leads in GT4 but is under investigation for an earlier clash with the #407 car of Jamie Chadwick.
FR3.5 - Spa: Dillmann and Nicholas Latifi pit for attention at the conclusion of lap one.
MotoGP - Mugello: This race is one of MotoGP's celebrity draws, and among the guests at Ducati is double World Rally champion Sebastien Ogier.
Worth mentioning that Ogier has three works Ducatis to cheer too - test rider Michele Pirro has been allowed out in a grand prix again and has qualified an eye-catching sixth. He starts with a soft rear tyre... that's bold/experimental.
Also on row two: Cal Crutchlow, who is in pain from a big warm-up crash, and Aleix Espargaro, who is in pain from a big Le Mans practice crash but did well to get the not-so-powerful Suzuki up to fifth.
Sebastien Ogier at MotoGP
Worth mentioning that Ogier has three works Ducatis to cheer too - test rider Michele Pirro has been allowed out in a grand prix again and has qualified an eye-catching sixth. He starts with a soft rear tyre... that's bold/experimental.
Also on row two: Cal Crutchlow, who is in pain from a big warm-up crash, and Aleix Espargaro, who is in pain from a big Le Mans practice crash but did well to get the not-so-powerful Suzuki up to fifth.
Green flag
FR3.5 - Spa: Rowland leads DAMS team-mates De Vries and Stoneman on lap one.
Second qualifier Ellinas made a poor getaway and is fending off race one victor Vaxiviere in fourth.
Tom Dillmann appeared to suffer damage on the Kemmel straight.
Second qualifier Ellinas made a poor getaway and is fending off race one victor Vaxiviere in fourth.
Tom Dillmann appeared to suffer damage on the Kemmel straight.
FR3.5 - Spa: Due to technical issues, DRS use will be free for race two.
MotoGP - Mugello: So it seems to be Ducati versus Jorge Lorenzo for the win.
Andrea Iannone dislocated his shoulder - and, it turned out, fractured his funny bone too - here in a test crash earlier this month. But that didn't stop him having a ferocious battle for fourth with Marquez at Le Mans, nor taking his maiden MotoGP pole yesterday.
Andrea Dovizioso was slightly upstaged and starts third, behind the rampant Lorenzo.
Lorenzo has dominated the last two grands prix, finished first or second at Mugello every year since 2009, and in this race last year he came agonisingly close to stopping Marquez's winning run.
But while Lorenzo is probably the fastest man around this track overall, he doesn't think the Yamaha is a match for the Ducatis on the straights - and while this place is full of glorious sweeping Yamaha-friendly corners, it's got a monster of a straight too.
Andrea Iannone dislocated his shoulder - and, it turned out, fractured his funny bone too - here in a test crash earlier this month. But that didn't stop him having a ferocious battle for fourth with Marquez at Le Mans, nor taking his maiden MotoGP pole yesterday.
Andrea Dovizioso was slightly upstaged and starts third, behind the rampant Lorenzo.
Lorenzo has dominated the last two grands prix, finished first or second at Mugello every year since 2009, and in this race last year he came agonisingly close to stopping Marquez's winning run.
But while Lorenzo is probably the fastest man around this track overall, he doesn't think the Yamaha is a match for the Ducatis on the straights - and while this place is full of glorious sweeping Yamaha-friendly corners, it's got a monster of a straight too.
FR3.5 - Spa: Some weather forecasts have predicted light showers in Spa 15 minutes into this afternoon's race at 2pm.
But as the field sets off for the warm-up lap, rain does not look imminent.
But as the field sets off for the warm-up lap, rain does not look imminent.
MotoGP - Mugello: Until yesterday, Marc Marquez has qualified inside the top six for every MotoGP race in his career.
But he found himself languishing in Q1 (for only the second time) after misjudging when to run new tyres in practice three and being edged into the bottom part of the field. If Honda hadn't been struggling for rear grip anyway, those tyre tactics wouldn't have been a problem.
Then in Q1 things got even worse. Marquez's best lap was scrappy and only second to Aleix Espargaro, but he thought it would be enough and pitted... then Yonny Hernandez put in a blinder and Marquez was out in Q1 and only 13th on the grid.
The last time Marquez started so low in any series was when a penalty put him 33rd and last on the grid for his Moto2 swansong at Valencia in 2012. He famously won that race but it's hard to see a miracle today, Marquez just hasn't been quick enough at Mugello
But he found himself languishing in Q1 (for only the second time) after misjudging when to run new tyres in practice three and being edged into the bottom part of the field. If Honda hadn't been struggling for rear grip anyway, those tyre tactics wouldn't have been a problem.
Then in Q1 things got even worse. Marquez's best lap was scrappy and only second to Aleix Espargaro, but he thought it would be enough and pitted... then Yonny Hernandez put in a blinder and Marquez was out in Q1 and only 13th on the grid.
The last time Marquez started so low in any series was when a penalty put him 33rd and last on the grid for his Moto2 swansong at Valencia in 2012. He famously won that race but it's hard to see a miracle today, Marquez just hasn't been quick enough at Mugello
Marc Marquez
FR3.5 - Spa: Oliver Rowland has pulled up to his pole position grid slot, but Fortec team-mate Jazeman Jaafar has been relegated to the back of the grid.
The championship leader had provisionally qualified fourth, but a discrepancy with the attachment of the wooden part of his floor was found after qualifying.
The championship leader had provisionally qualified fourth, but a discrepancy with the attachment of the wooden part of his floor was found after qualifying.
MotoGP - Mugello: The biggest cheers here are for Valentino Rossi. He won the Italian GP every year from 2002 to '08 (pictured), but hasn't been on the top step at Mugello since then.
This is the first time since 2007 that he's arrived here leading the standings, but so far this weekend he's been overshadowed by Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo and the Ducatis.
Rossi starts only eighth and had no real explanation for being so far back beyond his now-usual lack of qualifying edge. He cited the bikes with dispensation ahead using softer tyres... but Lorenzo, Crutchlow and Pedrosa all outqualified him without that advantage.
This is the first time since 2007 that he's arrived here leading the standings, but so far this weekend he's been overshadowed by Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo and the Ducatis.
Rossi starts only eighth and had no real explanation for being so far back beyond his now-usual lack of qualifying edge. He cited the bikes with dispensation ahead using softer tyres... but Lorenzo, Crutchlow and Pedrosa all outqualified him without that advantage.
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, Mugello MotoGP 2008
FR3.5 - Spa: Aurelien Panis will take a three-place grid penalty from his 12th place qualifying position for this afternoon's race.
The Tech 1 driver was judged to have caused a collision with Roberto Merhi at Les Combes on the opening lap of Saturday's race one.
The Tech 1 driver was judged to have caused a collision with Roberto Merhi at Les Combes on the opening lap of Saturday's race one.
MotoGP - Mugello: Right! Just over half an hour to go until we see if Rossi or Ducati will make Italy explode, whether Lorenzo will spoil the party, and whether Marquez can turn the worst weekend of his MotoGP career so far around...
Moto2 - Mugello: He's still not over-happy with the handling of this year's bike, but reigning Moto2 champion Tito Rabat is at least a winner again - and he's jumped from sixth to second in the points too:
1 Johann Zarco 109
2 Tito Rabat 78
3 Tom Luthi 68
4 Sam Lowes 67
5 Jonas Folger 57
6 Alex Rins 54
1 Johann Zarco 109
2 Tito Rabat 78
3 Tom Luthi 68
4 Sam Lowes 67
5 Jonas Folger 57
6 Alex Rins 54
Le Mans test day: It's been a wet start to the pre-race test day at Le Mans, but a familiar story for 2015 so far as Porsche was quickest.
GARY WATKINS has the full story:
Le Mans test morning report
GARY WATKINS has the full story:
Le Mans test morning report
British GT – Silverstone: The Silverstone 500 is just about to get underway. Jonny Adam and Andrew Howard start on pole position in the #007 Beechdean Aston Martin Vantage ahead of Giles Vannelet and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs in the #12 Von Ryan Racing McLaren 650S in second, with championship leaders Marco Attard and Alexander Sims in the #1 Ecurie Eccose BMW Z4 starting third. The race has officially been declared wet and rain is falling steadily – that should spice things up nicely.
Breaking news
European F3 - Monza: Extraordinary events at Monza this weekend. MARCUS SIMMONS has been getting the full story from the European F3 organisers and can reveal what led up to race three being abandoned and how FIA Single-Seater Commission chief Stefano Domenicali was involved:
F3 race abandoned due to poor driving standards
F3 race abandoned due to poor driving standards
Checkered flag
Moto2 - Mugello: But Rabat keeps it tidy and wins by just enough over Zarco to revitalise his so far quiet title defence season.
Aegerter keeps Lowes off the podium, Salom is fifth and Rins wins the battle with Marquez for 11th.
Aegerter keeps Lowes off the podium, Salom is fifth and Rins wins the battle with Marquez for 11th.
Moto2 - Mugello: Forget that arm, Zarco is all over Rabat into the final corner...
Moto2 - Mugello: Rabat is still keeping Zarco safely at arm's length as they go onto the last lap, with Aegerter doing likewise with Lowes for third.
Moto2 - Mugello: Rins and Marquez are definitely pretending to be in Moto3 again - everyone else running around half a second or more apart from Moto2 riders while the two Spaniards, who weren't best of friends last year, just swapped places three times.
Moto2 - Mugello: It's coming alive a little - Zarco has got Rabat's lead down to four tenths of a second.
Points leader Zarco has had a really quiet weekend so far but his race set-up is working nicely.
Aegerter has fallen away from Zarco but is still hanging on to third ahead of Lowes, who's not going to be impressed if he can't even get a podium out of this after starting from pole. Six laps left.
Points leader Zarco has had a really quiet weekend so far but his race set-up is working nicely.
Aegerter has fallen away from Zarco but is still hanging on to third ahead of Lowes, who's not going to be impressed if he can't even get a podium out of this after starting from pole. Six laps left.
Moto2 - Mugello: Rabat's lead is 0.8s over Zarco, 1.6s over Aegerter and 2.6s over Lowes with eight laps left.
It's a fairly Moto2-ish race really, pretty close but right now not a lot to go wild over. Moto3 was still going six-abreast at this point in its race.
It's a fairly Moto2-ish race really, pretty close but right now not a lot to go wild over. Moto3 was still going six-abreast at this point in its race.
Moto2 - Mugello: There's an old-school Moto3 battle going on for 11th - Alex Marquez vs Alex Rins. And that's about the first time Moto3 champion Marquez has been ahead of the man he beat last year since they moved up a class.
Moto2 - Mugello: Zarco is through on Aegerter but hasn't shaken him off. They're both inching a little closer to our leader Rabat, while Lowes is creeping up behind both of them.
Breaking news
European F3 - Monza: Here's MARCUS SIMMONS's full report from the final leg of a controversial Monza weekend:
Monza European F3 race three abandoned early
Monza European F3 race three abandoned early
Moto2 - Mugello: Lowes dives through on Salom, bringing him up to fourth.
Rabat has a one-second lead over Aegerter with 12 laps left, as Aegerter is getting a fair bit of hassle from Zarco.
Rabat has a one-second lead over Aegerter with 12 laps left, as Aegerter is getting a fair bit of hassle from Zarco.
By: Matt Beer, Mitchell Adam, Marcus Simmons, Peter Mills, Alex Kalinauckas, AUTOSPORT staff, Mark Glendenning, Gary Watkins
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