Silverstone MotoGP qualifying
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The clouds are gathering again. As well as a storm, an epic pole shootout is brewing.
So Smith and Rins will join Dovizioso, Marquez, Crutchlow, Vinales, Rossi, Petrucci, Miller, Iannone, Zarco and Lorenzo.
Smith will qualify at least 12th in Q2, making that his best Saturday result of the season - his previous best a 13th last time out in Austria.
Luthi goes fifth. Smith and Rins progress into Q2, Morbidelli will head home rider Redding, Luthi, Pedrosa, EsA, Baz, Abraham, Bautista, Simeon, Syahrin.
Rins goes second now, Morbidelli is out.
Morbidelli jumps up to second, Pedrosa is out of qualifying. Redding is on a quick lap now, as is Luthi.
Baz takes the flag and is fifth. Not bad for his first qualifying since last year.
Checkered flag
Smith retakes top spot with 2m13340s, with Pedrosa in second.
Pedrosa dethrones Smith with a 2m14.866s.
Luthi goes second again with a 2m16.052s - good laptime from the Swiss rider. Simeon Morbidelli, Bautista, EsA, Baz, Rins, Nakagami, Pedrosa, Abraham, Syahrin Redding slot in behind. Just over three minutes left.
Both KTMs have pitted. Simeon meanwhile goes second, 2.4s behind Smith.
Luthi goes second, soon to be replaced by Marc VDS teammate Morbidelli. Smith's advantage still a comfortable 2.7s.
Espargaro jumps up to second, though some three seconds down on Smith.
Smith ups his pace to 2m14.939s.
Smith is 2.7s clear of the field, with Baz in second.
First times in, Smith sets the benchmark at 2m16.7s.
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Rabat is being treated for "various traumas".
With the track completely soaked, the usual form guide for Q1 graduates has gone out the window. But keep an eye on Tech3's Hafizh Syahrin - his nickname is 'the fish', and for very good reason.
Green flag
After a 25-minute delay, qualifying at Silverstone is underway with Q1.
Wet Silverstone qualifying sessions have proven very good for British riders. Cal Crutchlow took pole in 2016 in torrential rain, while Sam Lowes put his Gresini machine at the head of the pack for the Moto2 race that year too.
The marshals are frantically working at Vale to sweep the standing water away. Maybe TeamGB should add them to the curling squad for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
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The trouble areas seem to be Stowe - where the mass crash occurred - and a corner later into Vale. Session is now set to start at 14:35.
The official line on why the start has been delayed is "safety conditions".
Start delayed again.
Q1 will get underway at 1430, around eight minutes from now.
Rabat is now being put in an ambulance and will be taken to the medical centre. As we mentioned a moment ago, he is conscious, which is incredibly positive news.
This weekend sees the return of a familiar face. With Pol Espargaro still injured, KTM has called up Loris Baz to replace him this weekend. 23rd after FP3, Baz has made steady progress on his first weekend with the RC16.
The sun has broken through the gloom, though the track is still soaked. No news yet on when Q1 will start. Suzuki has received Rins' stricken GSX-RR, though whether he will be able to have it fixed in time remains to be seen.
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While we await a start time for Q1, here is the group competing for a place in the pole shootout session:
Morbidelli
Nakagami
Rins
Pedrosa
Abraham
A.Espargaro
Luthi
Syahrin
Redding
Bautista
Baz
Simeon
Rabat was set to contest Q1, but will of course miss this session following his FP4 crash.
Morbidelli
Nakagami
Rins
Pedrosa
Abraham
A.Espargaro
Luthi
Syahrin
Redding
Bautista
Baz
Simeon
Rabat was set to contest Q1, but will of course miss this session following his FP4 crash.
FP4 was topped by Yamaha's Maverick Vinales with a 2m01.571s lap, which came just before the rain arrived. Conditions have improved somewhat, but Q1 has been delayed. Rabat has been taken to the medical centre for checks, and is reported as conscious.
Autosport
It has been a busy weekend news-wise. Most notably, the SIC Petronas Yamaha team was officially launched. Yamaha has confirmed what machinery it will field for Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo 
A replay of the crash showed Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro also ran off at Stowe and touched the barrier, but was able to ride back to pitlane.
Autosport
If you missed it earlier, home hero Cal Crutchlow topped a dry FP3 this morning by 0.027s from Danilo Petrucci 
At present, medical staff are on track tending to Tito Rabat, who was one of the riders to crash at Stowe. Alex Rins and Franco Morbidelli were the other two, while it appeared Jorge Lorenzo ran into the gravel but stayed mounted.
We will obviously keep you updated on the situation.
We will obviously keep you updated on the situation.
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Green flag
Good afternoon from a wet Silverstone. Qualifying for the MotoGP race is set to get underway in 10 minutes, but a red flag at the end of FP4 for a number of crashers at Stowe in the heavy rain could well delay the session.
By: Matt Beer
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