WRC Italy, Barcelona MotoGP
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WRC - Italy: Next up is SS6 – Sagama, which was also the last stage run before the break and is just over five minutes away.
It’s only a 1.1 mile test, with Ogier the fastest man through this morning in 2m09.6s.
Here’s our stage guide Jari-Matti Latvala to tell us more:
"This is a spectator stage which is driven a little bit in the field, so we will have a lot of dust – but also there are a lot of rocks at the side of the road which you have to be really careful of."
It’s only a 1.1 mile test, with Ogier the fastest man through this morning in 2m09.6s.
Here’s our stage guide Jari-Matti Latvala to tell us more:
"This is a spectator stage which is driven a little bit in the field, so we will have a lot of dust – but also there are a lot of rocks at the side of the road which you have to be really careful of."
MotoGP - Barcelona: The bikes still use the original version of the Barcelona track so get the high-speed right-handers at the end of the lap and the longer back straight down to a more open Turn 10.
Any watching F1 racers will probably be pretty jealous as they see the bikers sweep past the tedious final chicane.
Any watching F1 racers will probably be pretty jealous as they see the bikers sweep past the tedious final chicane.
WRC - Italy: Welcome to the afternoon’s Rally Italy coverage.
You can catch up with the day’s action so far with our report from this morning below:
Hyundai's Paddon takes Rally Italy lead
Here is your leader, enjoying a debrief in the service area.
You can catch up with the day’s action so far with our report from this morning below:
Hyundai's Paddon takes Rally Italy lead
Here is your leader, enjoying a debrief in the service area.
Paddon/Sardinia/2015
MotoGP - Barcelona: Rossi has a big twitch in Turn 3 but balances it with some high-speed leg waving and continues.
Crash
MotoGP - Barcelona: Scott Redding has crashed near the end of the lap. He's up and walking, but very dusty.
MotoGP - Barcelona: Hernandez pumps in one of his practice specials and leaps up from 13th to fourth.
Meanwhile Crutchlow is having a trip through the gravel at the end of the back straight. He stays upright, which his ankle will appreciate.
Meanwhile Crutchlow is having a trip through the gravel at the end of the back straight. He stays upright, which his ankle will appreciate.
MotoGP - Barcelona: The works Ducatis' side winglets are getting larger this weekend, and we've just had a replay showing the extra attachments brushing the high F1-style kerbs as Dovizioso leans in.
MotoGP - Barcelona: Lead order overall:
1 A Espargaro
2 Lorenzo
3 Crutchlow
4 Dovizioso
5 Marquez
6 Iannone
7 P Espargaro
8 Rossi
9 Pedrosa
10 Redding
11 Smith
12 Vinales
13 Hernandez
14 Petrucci
15 Di Meglio
1 A Espargaro
2 Lorenzo
3 Crutchlow
4 Dovizioso
5 Marquez
6 Iannone
7 P Espargaro
8 Rossi
9 Pedrosa
10 Redding
11 Smith
12 Vinales
13 Hernandez
14 Petrucci
15 Di Meglio
MotoGP - Barcelona: Third right now is Cal Crutchlow, which is great stuff from a man who dislocated his ankle two weeks ago in his Mugello crash.
Crutchlow said yesterday he's tried to keep the leg moving constantly since Italy as it became too painful when still. He was pleased that he can "now move it up and down"... Tough breed, bike racers.
Crutchlow said yesterday he's tried to keep the leg moving constantly since Italy as it became too painful when still. He was pleased that he can "now move it up and down"... Tough breed, bike racers.
MotoGP - Barcelona: Suzuki has an engine upgrade for this weekend's event and early signs are good: Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales were both in the top five this morning, and Espargaro is on top again so far in the afternoon session.
His 1m41.874s puts him just under two tenths clear of Jorge Lorenzo in first place right now. Vinales is 12th.
His 1m41.874s puts him just under two tenths clear of Jorge Lorenzo in first place right now. Vinales is 12th.
Welcome back to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live for our afternoon and evening stint, where we'll be bringing you action from Barcelona MotoGP practice, the second loop of Rally Italy stages, Toronto IndyCar practice and Formula Renault 3.5's practice day at the Hungaroring.
WRC - Italy: Here is our morning report, and a quick reminder to join us again at 13:45 BST for the afternoon leg. Can Paddon repeat his incredible morning? Join us and find out.
Hyundai's Paddon takes Rally Italy lead
Hyundai's Paddon takes Rally Italy lead
Paddon/RallySardinia/2015
WRC - Italy: Andreucci is through and he's 2.2s down on Esapekka Lappi's benchmark. Such was the closeness of the competitors, that was only good enough for fifth!
He keeps the WRC2 lead though, 3.8s ahead of Lappi.
He keeps the WRC2 lead though, 3.8s ahead of Lappi.
WRC - Italy: DAVID EVANS also spotted a rare site in modern WRC, we'll give you a hint, 037, S4...
Lancia 037/Rally Italy
S4/Rally Italy
WRC - Italy: Rallies Editor DAVID EVANS captured a comical moment at the beginning of the day, which we can now provide photo evidence for:
"Well, they do all look the same... Latvala assured us he was just trying Mikkelsen's seating position."
"Well, they do all look the same... Latvala assured us he was just trying Mikkelsen's seating position."
Latvala/David Evans
WRC - Italy: With AUTOSPORT's comprehensive morning report on the way, let's have a look at the itinerary for the rest of the day with their expected start times (BST):
SS6 - Sagama 9 (13:48)
SS7 - Sinis-Mont’ E Prama (15:03)
SS8 - Grighine Sud (16:33)
SS9 - Grighine Nord (17:26)
SS10 - Montiferru (18:42)
SS6 - Sagama 9 (13:48)
SS7 - Sinis-Mont’ E Prama (15:03)
SS8 - Grighine Sud (16:33)
SS9 - Grighine Nord (17:26)
SS10 - Montiferru (18:42)
WRC - Italy: Esapekka Lappi is fastest so far in WRC2, 0.8s up on Lefebvre.
Andreucci doesn't start for a while, so it's another wait to see the outcome of the lead battle for this morning.
Andreucci doesn't start for a while, so it's another wait to see the outcome of the lead battle for this morning.
WRC - Italy: The WRC2 battle is hot this morning, with home-favourite Paolo Andreucci 6s ahead of Esapekka Lappi.
As soon as all the leaders are in, we'll give you an update of the order.
As soon as all the leaders are in, we'll give you an update of the order.
WRC - Italy: The rally overall after SS5:
1 Paddon 46m30.9s
2 Latvala +23s
3 Ogier +25.1s
4 Sordo +35s
5 Neuville +39s
6 Tanak +41.4s
1 Paddon 46m30.9s
2 Latvala +23s
3 Ogier +25.1s
4 Sordo +35s
5 Neuville +39s
6 Tanak +41.4s
WRC - Italy: SS5 result:
1 Ogier 2m09.6s
2 Latvala +0.1s
3 Sordo +1.6s
4 Ostberg +1.6s
5 Paddon +2.4s
6 Neuville +3.9s
1 Ogier 2m09.6s
2 Latvala +0.1s
3 Sordo +1.6s
4 Ostberg +1.6s
5 Paddon +2.4s
6 Neuville +3.9s
Quote
WRC - Italy: Paddon currently leads the rally by a commanding 23s.
Here is what the leader has to say: "To be leading is much more than we were expecting," he says.
"This afternoon will be more difficult in the rougher conditions - but we'll see what we can do."
Here is what the leader has to say: "To be leading is much more than we were expecting," he says.
"This afternoon will be more difficult in the rougher conditions - but we'll see what we can do."
WRC - Italy: Dani Sordo, Thierry Neuville, Martin Prokop and Ott Tanak have also completed the stage. They are all down on Ogier, Prokop is the furthest down - 7.2s off the pace.
WRC - Italy: Paddon comes through but can't take his fourth consecutive stage win. He's 2.4s down on Ogier but still leads Latvala by 23s
Breaking news
WRC - Italy: Andreas Mikkelsen has retired but will rejoin under rally-two tomorrow
WRC - Italy:
Here comes Elfyn Evans. He comes through 24.3s down on Ogier following his driveshaft issues.
Here comes Elfyn Evans. He comes through 24.3s down on Ogier following his driveshaft issues.
WRC - Italy: Ogier keeps the stage lead for now as Latvala arrives 0.1s down on his team-mate.
It doesn't get much closer than that in rallying!
It doesn't get much closer than that in rallying!
Quote
WRC - Italy: Ostberg is happy the morning is over.
"It's been a difficult morning, it's nice to have a service to sort things out."
"It's been a difficult morning, it's nice to have a service to sort things out."
WRC - Italy: Ostberg is also through, 1.6s down on Ogier.
Mikkelsen didn't make his second placed starting spot for this stage after his suspension issue.
Mikkelsen didn't make his second placed starting spot for this stage after his suspension issue.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: So Ogier is already through the stage, it's only a short one, 1.1 miles.
His time is a 2m9.6s.
His time is a 2m9.6s.
WRC - Italy: According to his management, Haydon Paddon is the first Kiwi to lead a WRC round outside of New Zealand in the championship's history.
Not bad going, Haydon!
Not bad going, Haydon!
Quote
WRC - Italy: Up next is SS5, Sagama, which will also be the first stage of the afternoon.
Our stage guide Jari Matti-Latvala runs us through the stage:
"This is a spectator stage which is driven a little bit in the field, so we will have a lot of dust – but also there is a lot of rocks at the side of the road which you have to be really careful of."
Our stage guide Jari Matti-Latvala runs us through the stage:
"This is a spectator stage which is driven a little bit in the field, so we will have a lot of dust – but also there is a lot of rocks at the side of the road which you have to be really careful of."
Crash
WRC - Italy: Mikkelsen is stopped at the end of the stage fixing the suspension.
They have a spare top mount, so they are replacing that, but whether it will hold until the end of the next stage is yet to be seen.
They have a spare top mount, so they are replacing that, but whether it will hold until the end of the next stage is yet to be seen.
Breaking news
WRC - Italy: Here's a quick recap of SS4:
Haydon Paddon takes his third consecutive stage win and extends his lead to 25.3s.
Fellow Hyundai Thierry Neuville manages the fastest stage time.
Andreas Mikkelsen falls out of third thanks to suspension damage.
Haydon Paddon takes his third consecutive stage win and extends his lead to 25.3s.
Fellow Hyundai Thierry Neuville manages the fastest stage time.
Andreas Mikkelsen falls out of third thanks to suspension damage.
WRC - Italy: The rally overall after SS4:
1 Paddon 44m18.9s
2 Latvala +25.3s
3 Ogier +27.5s
4 Sordo +35.8s
5 Neuville +37.5s
6 Tanak +39.4s
1 Paddon 44m18.9s
2 Latvala +25.3s
3 Ogier +27.5s
4 Sordo +35.8s
5 Neuville +37.5s
6 Tanak +39.4s
WRC - Italy: SS4 result:
1 Paddon 9m47.4s
2 Neuville +4.2s
3 Ogier +5.2s
4 Latvala +5.5
5 Sordo +6.2s
6 Tanak +12.4s
1 Paddon 9m47.4s
2 Neuville +4.2s
3 Ogier +5.2s
4 Latvala +5.5
5 Sordo +6.2s
6 Tanak +12.4s
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Paddon is in, QUICKEST AGAIN!
He's 4.2s up on Neuville's time.
"We have an advantage with the road position, so we're just trying to make the most of it."
He also had puncture at the end of the last stage, so that's staggering! Three stages this morning, three stage wins.
He's 4.2s up on Neuville's time.
"We have an advantage with the road position, so we're just trying to make the most of it."
He also had puncture at the end of the last stage, so that's staggering! Three stages this morning, three stage wins.
WRC - Italy: Tanak is 7.2s down on Ogier and fifth on the stage so far.
Amazingly he's not happy with how his morning has gone, a little tough on himself there.
Amazingly he's not happy with how his morning has gone, a little tough on himself there.
WRC - Italy: No splits for the leader, Haydon Paddon. We're waiting patiently for his stage time to appear.
Tanak, who is just in front of him on the stage, doesn't have any split times showing either.
Tanak, who is just in front of him on the stage, doesn't have any split times showing either.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: What a time from Neuville! He pops up quickest overall, 1s up on Ogier.
Is the Belgian back? He's had a poor couple of rallies but he's been on it this morning.
Is the Belgian back? He's had a poor couple of rallies but he's been on it this morning.
WRC - Italy: Sordo completes now, 1s down on Ogier.
Remember the Spaniard has a 10s penalty for jumping the start on last night's superspecial.
Remember the Spaniard has a 10s penalty for jumping the start on last night's superspecial.
By: Matt Beer, Jack Benyon, David Evans, AUTOSPORT staff, Mark Glendenning, Peter Mills, Alex Kalinauckas
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