WRC Italy, Barcelona MotoGP
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WRC - Italy: Could Ogier have a problem? A potential clutch issue for the Frenchman, more on that when we get it.
WRC - Italy: Evans is 8.5s down on Ogier as he comes through.
Quote
WRC - Italy: Ostberg is certainly in a better mood this afternoon:
"I'd like to do that stage again, shame it's only once. I'm happy now."
"I'd like to do that stage again, shame it's only once. I'm happy now."
WRC - Italy: Latvala goes slower than Ogier by 0.7s, the gap was just over 4s between the two overall at the beginning of the stage with the pair second and third respectively.
WRC - Italy: Ostberg is also through now, 2.3s down on Ogier's time.
The Norwegian was eighth overall coming into this stage and over a minute behind the leader after an awful morning.
The Norwegian was eighth overall coming into this stage and over a minute behind the leader after an awful morning.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: It doesn't look like we are going to get any split times, so we're going to be left to wait until the final stage times come in.
Indeed, Ogier's final stage time comes in, a 7m51.3s.
Indeed, Ogier's final stage time comes in, a 7m51.3s.
Breaking news
WRC - Italy: Hayden Paddon leads the rally, and DAVID EVANS caught up with him at the service area.
The Kiwi credited the paddle shift gearbox - which he has for the first time this year - for helping improve his pace.
"The roads are really twisty and technical and with the paddle I’m using the engine more," said Paddon.
"There are a couple of places where I wouldn’t have changed gear using the old shift because you’d need to keep the hands on the wheel, but when you can just flick it to get another gear, it’s perfect."
The Kiwi credited the paddle shift gearbox - which he has for the first time this year - for helping improve his pace.
"The roads are really twisty and technical and with the paddle I’m using the engine more," said Paddon.
"There are a couple of places where I wouldn’t have changed gear using the old shift because you’d need to keep the hands on the wheel, but when you can just flick it to get another gear, it’s perfect."
WRC - Italy: We also have a tyre update for the afternoon, courtesy of, you guessed it, DAVID EVANS:
Tyres for this afternoon: rally leader Hayden Paddon takes six hards, while his team-mate Dani Sordo has four hards and one soft. The rest of the manufacturer drivers are running with four hards and two softs.
Tyres for this afternoon: rally leader Hayden Paddon takes six hards, while his team-mate Dani Sordo has four hards and one soft. The rest of the manufacturer drivers are running with four hards and two softs.
WRC - Italy: Ogier is indeed into the stage now, only two splits in this stage.
WRC - Italy: More news to follow. Meanwhile Sebastien Ogier is just about to enter the stage.
He's 4.2s behind Latvala and lies third.
He's 4.2s behind Latvala and lies third.
Breaking news
WRC - Italy: While in the service area, DAVID EVANS had the chance to catch up with Kris Meeke, who explained his crash:
"I was caught out by a right hander which tightened over a crest. The rear of the car hit the bank and I thought it might flick us back to the road. Instead it sent us into a roll. The first impact was quite big, but then we lost a rear wheel, which meant we couldn’t carry on.
"I’ll be honest, I couldn’t find a rhythm at all with this stage. We’d had a bit of a moment near the start and I said to myself 'Settle down, find the rhythm' but the more you try to force these things, the harder it can get."
EVANS added: "The DS 3 WRC is expected to return to the stages tomorrow, but the Dungannon driver’s hopes of taking points will be hit by the 56-minute penalty he’ll start with for failing to complete SS2."
A day to forget for Meeke...
"I was caught out by a right hander which tightened over a crest. The rear of the car hit the bank and I thought it might flick us back to the road. Instead it sent us into a roll. The first impact was quite big, but then we lost a rear wheel, which meant we couldn’t carry on.
"I’ll be honest, I couldn’t find a rhythm at all with this stage. We’d had a bit of a moment near the start and I said to myself 'Settle down, find the rhythm' but the more you try to force these things, the harder it can get."
EVANS added: "The DS 3 WRC is expected to return to the stages tomorrow, but the Dungannon driver’s hopes of taking points will be hit by the 56-minute penalty he’ll start with for failing to complete SS2."
A day to forget for Meeke...
MeekeCrashAgain/Rally Sardinia/2015
WRC - Italy: We're only 10 minutes away from the next stage now, SS7.
The Sinis-Mont’ E Prama test (8.13 miles) runs close to a cliff and has a watersplash. Add a Mk II Escort to that and you may have the perfect rally stage...
Here's Jari-Matti Latvala to describe the stage:
"This stage was shortened by seven kilometres because of it running so close to the edge of the cliff, but still we can see some sea.
"There are a lot of rock walls in this place, but they are low – so as you look across and down the road it looks like you have a lot of room to play with the car and move it around, but you don’t.
"There’s a watersplash in this stage and after that the sea is coming on our right – it’s a beautiful part of the road here, great scenery!"
Let's hope Jari focuses on extending that lead over Ogier in third, and not too much on the "great scenery."
The Sinis-Mont’ E Prama test (8.13 miles) runs close to a cliff and has a watersplash. Add a Mk II Escort to that and you may have the perfect rally stage...
Here's Jari-Matti Latvala to describe the stage:
"This stage was shortened by seven kilometres because of it running so close to the edge of the cliff, but still we can see some sea.
"There are a lot of rock walls in this place, but they are low – so as you look across and down the road it looks like you have a lot of room to play with the car and move it around, but you don’t.
"There’s a watersplash in this stage and after that the sea is coming on our right – it’s a beautiful part of the road here, great scenery!"
Let's hope Jari focuses on extending that lead over Ogier in third, and not too much on the "great scenery."
A must-read before Le Mans tomorrow is our Le Mans 2015 runners and riders feature, courtesy of our resident sportscar expert Gary Watkins.
And of course, we have all the latest MotoGP action - which you can follow all weekend in this window - with Suzuki topping FP2 a short time ago.
Espargaro fastest for Suzuki
Espargaro fastest for Suzuki
Of course, it is the Le Mans 24 Hours this weekend, which we will bring you live coverage of on Race Centre Live.
With the event starting tomorrow, here's a recap of qualifying which Porsche topped.
Porsche on pole for 2015 Le Mans 24H
With the event starting tomorrow, here's a recap of qualifying which Porsche topped.
Porsche on pole for 2015 Le Mans 24H
Jani, Porsche, Le Mans
As always we have breaking news on AUTOSPORT.com.
Ford is set to take on Le Mans once more in 2016, with Chip Ganassi running a factory effort. Read the full story below:
Ford announces 2016 Le Mans return
Ford is set to take on Le Mans once more in 2016, with Chip Ganassi running a factory effort. Read the full story below:
Ford announces 2016 Le Mans return
Ford GT announcement
WRC- Italy: We have a break as the cars move on to SS7 - Sinis-Mont’ E Prama.
First car is due at 15:03 BST, we'll be back at 15:00 with more of the action.
First car is due at 15:03 BST, we'll be back at 15:00 with more of the action.
Breaking news
WRC - Italy: Here's a quick summary of that short stage:
Latvala goes quickest as he looks to pull away from third placed Ogier.
Tanak struggles with handbrake trouble, losing plenty of time but he holds onto sixth overall.
Sordo pulls away from team-mate Neuville overall, the Spaniard is fourth and put in the second fastest stage time in SS6.
Latvala goes quickest as he looks to pull away from third placed Ogier.
Tanak struggles with handbrake trouble, losing plenty of time but he holds onto sixth overall.
Sordo pulls away from team-mate Neuville overall, the Spaniard is fourth and put in the second fastest stage time in SS6.
WRC - Italy: The rally standings overall:
1 Paddon 48m42.1s
2 Latvala +18.8s
3 Ogier +23s
4 Sordo +32.9s
5 Neuville +37.9s
6 Tanak +44.8s
No change in the top six there.
1 Paddon 48m42.1s
2 Latvala +18.8s
3 Ogier +23s
4 Sordo +32.9s
5 Neuville +37.9s
6 Tanak +44.8s
No change in the top six there.
WRC - Italy: Here's your SS6 order:
1 Latvala 2m07s
2 Sordo +2.1s
3 Ogier +2.1s
4 Neuville +3.1s
5 Ostberg +3.4s
6 Paddon +4.2s
1 Latvala 2m07s
2 Sordo +2.1s
3 Ogier +2.1s
4 Neuville +3.1s
5 Ostberg +3.4s
6 Paddon +4.2s
WRC - Italy: Here's Paddon, he's sixth quickest but only 4.2s down on Latvala.
"It's just another rally," says the cucumber-cool Paddon.
"It's just another rally," says the cucumber-cool Paddon.
WRC - Italy: Tanak is surprisingly 7.6s down on Latvala and slower than Prokop.
He started this stage sixth overall, but a complaint about the handbrake - which also affected him this morning - slowed him in the hairpins.
He started this stage sixth overall, but a complaint about the handbrake - which also affected him this morning - slowed him in the hairpins.
WRC - Italy: Next up will be Tanak, followed by Paddon.
WRC - Italy: Prokop is in and has fallen back after his shock superspecial win.
He is slowest on this stage so far.
He is slowest on this stage so far.
WRC - Italy: Neuville is next up, he almost took a stage win this morning before he was eclipsed by rally leader Paddon, who also happens to be his team-mate.
He comes through in 2m10.1s, 3.1s down on Latvala. He loses time to Sordo, who started this stage fourth.
He comes through in 2m10.1s, 3.1s down on Latvala. He loses time to Sordo, who started this stage fourth.
WRC - Italy: Sordo is through, second quickest and driving brilliantly today.
He's 14s behind Latvala in second, and that is including a 10s penalty for jump-starting the superspecial yesterday.
He's 14s behind Latvala in second, and that is including a 10s penalty for jump-starting the superspecial yesterday.
WRC - Italy: Elfyn Evans had trouble with his differential this morning, and goes 2.5s slower than Latvala on this stage.
A note on Latvala vs Ogier for second overall - Latvala extends his lead to 4.2s after setting the fastest time so far.
A note on Latvala vs Ogier for second overall - Latvala extends his lead to 4.2s after setting the fastest time so far.
WRC - Italy: Latvala is always good for a quote at the end of the stage:
"I tried to push on this stage, always going little bit quicker in the car. As a rally driver we are not here on holidays, we are here to fight!"
"I tried to push on this stage, always going little bit quicker in the car. As a rally driver we are not here on holidays, we are here to fight!"
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Latvala is next up, and he goes quickest, 2.1s up on Ogier.
WRC - Italy: Ostberg is also through now after a troubled morning. He's 1.3s down on Ogier.
MotoGP - Barcelona: Espargaro was very proud of that effort, he did what appeared to be a celebratory seagull impression after crossing the line then patted his Suzuki's nose on the way down the straight. The team's pit looked pretty ecstatic too.
Quote
WRC - Italy: Ogier is through already.
His time is 2m09.1s, 0.5s quicker than this morning.
"I hope that the conditions will be OK now and we can get some time back. We're going to push this afternoon."
That doesn't sound too good for current leader Paddon, the Frenchman appears to be fired up.
His time is 2m09.1s, 0.5s quicker than this morning.
"I hope that the conditions will be OK now and we can get some time back. We're going to push this afternoon."
That doesn't sound too good for current leader Paddon, the Frenchman appears to be fired up.
Checkered flag
MotoGP - Barcelona - practice two result:
1 A Espargaro
2 Marquez
3 Pedrosa
4 Dovizioso
5 Vinales
6 Iannone
7 Lorenzo
8 Crutchlow
9 P Espargaro
10 Redding
11 Rossi
12 Hernandez
13 Smith
14 Barbera
15 Baz
1 A Espargaro
2 Marquez
3 Pedrosa
4 Dovizioso
5 Vinales
6 Iannone
7 Lorenzo
8 Crutchlow
9 P Espargaro
10 Redding
11 Rossi
12 Hernandez
13 Smith
14 Barbera
15 Baz
MotoGP - Barcelona: Rossi hasn't got near the front today, he's going to end this session only 11th fastest.
Stopwatch
MotoGP - Barcelona: As the chequered flag comes out, Espargaro goes fastest of all on a 1m41.158s, 0.285s quicker than Marquez.
MotoGP - Barcelona: Suzuki isn't done yet - very, very rapid lap from Espargaro on the soft tyre in progress now.
WRC - Italy: Ogier has set off into Sagama, he begins this stage third overall and only 2.1s behind Volkswagen team-mate Latvala.
MotoGP - Barcelona: And now we have a Honda one-two again, like this morning, as Pedrosa comes up to second place behind Marquez.
Honda 1-2, Suzuki 3-4 is our order going into the final seconds.
Honda 1-2, Suzuki 3-4 is our order going into the final seconds.
Stopwatch
MotoGP - Barcelona: That lap takes Marquez to the top, 0.306s up on Espargaro.
Suzuki can still be chirpy, though, here comes Vinales into third place on the softer tyre.
Suzuki can still be chirpy, though, here comes Vinales into third place on the softer tyre.
MotoGP - Barcelona: After a quiet spell, the timing screens are going multi-coloured.
Redding leaps to third, but that very quickly becomes third as Iannone flies into second.
Marquez is down to ninth but is on a very quick lap.
Redding leaps to third, but that very quickly becomes third as Iannone flies into second.
Marquez is down to ninth but is on a very quick lap.
By: Matt Beer, Jack Benyon, David Evans, AUTOSPORT staff, Mark Glendenning, Peter Mills, Alex Kalinauckas
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