WRC Italy, Barcelona MotoGP
Live Text
Sort by
Stopwatch
MotoGP - Barcelona: Now some bloke called Marquez has got involved at the top. He does a 1m40.794s to break the MotoGP lap record around the Circuit de Catalunya.
Stopwatch
MotoGP - Barcelona: But then Aleix Espargaro takes the top spot with a 1m40.943s! He's the first man to break the 1m41 barrier this weekend.
MotoGP - Barcelona: With the first laps complete, it's the MotoGP man of the moment Jorge Lorenzo who goes fastest with a 1m41.008s.
MotoGP - Barcelona: Suzuki riders Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales topped the times in FP2 and FP3 - could we be looking at the first Suzuki MotoGP pole since Chris Vermeulen managed it at Assen in June 2007?
Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki, MotoGP 2007
MotoGP - Barcelona: Q2 is underway at Barcelona.
MotoGP - Barcelona: The chequered flag is out for the end of Q1 and Pedrosa and Iannone are safely through to the second phase of qualifying.
MotoGP - Barcelona: Petrucci is still having to jump all over his bike to stop it getting away from him in the final sector.
MotoGP - Barcelona: Bradl goes to P3, but he's still 0.8s behind Pedrosa.
MotoGP - Barcelona: With four minutes left in Q1, it looks like Pedrosa and Iannone have the top two spots - and progress to Q2 - secured. But then stranger things have happened in MotoGP qualifying this season...
MotoGP - Barcelona: Petrucci nearly loses the front end of his bike at the penultimate corner, just moments after the back end got away from him several times under braking for Turn 10. Well held!
MotoGP - Barcelona: Pedrosa now does 1m41.188s. That's the second fastest time we've seen all weekend.
MotoGP - Barcelona: Pedrosa and Iannone are, somewhat unsurprisingly, currently P1 and P2.
MotoGP - Barcelona: Andrea Iannone is another surprise rider in Q1 - he finished in second place in the last race at Mugello. He also topped FP4 a few minutes ago - but that's not saying much...
MotoGP - Barcelona: Q1 is underway at the Circuit de Catalunya. Honda rider Dani Pedrosa is the surprise factory rider who has to go through this first part of qualifying after he missed the cut after FP3.
Dani Pedrosa, Honda, Barcelona MotoGP 2015
MotoGP - Barcelona: FP4 comes to an end and the top 10 is as follows:
1 Iannone
2 Marquez
3 Pedrosa
4 Rossi
5 Dovisioso
6 Aleix Espargaro
7 Redding
8 Lorenzo
9 Crutchlow
10 Vinales
1 Iannone
2 Marquez
3 Pedrosa
4 Rossi
5 Dovisioso
6 Aleix Espargaro
7 Redding
8 Lorenzo
9 Crutchlow
10 Vinales
MotoGP - Barcelona: With 10 minutes of FP4 left the top 10 is as follows:
1 Iannone
2 Marquez
3 Pedrosa
4 Rossi
5 Aleix Espargaro
6 Redding
7 Lorenzo
8 Dovisioso
9 Vinales
10 Crutchlow
1 Iannone
2 Marquez
3 Pedrosa
4 Rossi
5 Aleix Espargaro
6 Redding
7 Lorenzo
8 Dovisioso
9 Vinales
10 Crutchlow
MotoGP - Barcelona: Vinales has gone straight across the gravel trap at the exit of Turn 10. Fortunately he slowed down enough to stop just before the barrier and he's going again.
MotoGP - Barcelona: FP4 is underway and Karel Abraham has crashed at Turn 4 in a big high side. He looks to be in some pain in the gravel trap.
Coming up through the afternoon and evening on AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live...
MotoGP practice four and qualifying from Barcelona
Another four Rally Italy WRC stages
Practice and qualifying from IndyCar in Toronto
Updates from Michigan NASCAR practice day
More reaction to an astonishing FR3.5 race
And over on our sister Le Mans Live service, you can follow the entire 24 Hours as it happens, with build-up starting in half an hour.
MotoGP practice four and qualifying from Barcelona
Another four Rally Italy WRC stages
Practice and qualifying from IndyCar in Toronto
Updates from Michigan NASCAR practice day
More reaction to an astonishing FR3.5 race
And over on our sister Le Mans Live service, you can follow the entire 24 Hours as it happens, with build-up starting in half an hour.
WRC - Italy: A quick WRC2 update. Local hero Paolo Andreucci, a long-time European championship star in both its guises, is still hanging onto the lead and he's moved up to eighth overall now.
He's just over half a minute clear of Yuriy Protasov, with Yazeed Al-Rahji not far behind either.
European champion Esapekka Lappi is flying in the new Skoda, but he's a long way adrift after a big impact with a rock yesterday.
He's just over half a minute clear of Yuriy Protasov, with Yazeed Al-Rahji not far behind either.
European champion Esapekka Lappi is flying in the new Skoda, but he's a long way adrift after a big impact with a rock yesterday.
Paolo Andreucci, WRC Italy 2015
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: Manor Formula 1 driver Roberto Merhi's second place in today's FR3.5 race couldn't have come soon enough for the Spaniard.
Merhi revealed he was close to quitting the team after practice on Friday, but the heroic efforts of his Pons mechanics who worked until 5am to put in a new engine and rebuild his car persuaded the 2011 European Formula 3 champion to give it one last shot.
Merhi revealed he was close to quitting the team after practice on Friday, but the heroic efforts of his Pons mechanics who worked until 5am to put in a new engine and rebuild his car persuaded the 2011 European Formula 3 champion to give it one last shot.
Breaking news
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: Two championship rivals, an F1 driver and a GP2 race-winner... and they were all fended off by a rookie from Russia.
Here's the full story of Egor Orudzhev's shock in win a brilliant Hungaroring Formula Renault 3.5 race:
Rookie Orudzhev wins five-way FR3.5 fight
Here's the full story of Egor Orudzhev's shock in win a brilliant Hungaroring Formula Renault 3.5 race:
Rookie Orudzhev wins five-way FR3.5 fight
Egor Orudzhev wins Hungaroring FR3.5 2015
Breaking news
WRC - Italy: So when Latvala was delayed with his tyre damage and a few other elements on SS13, he initially clocked in with a delay of just over 3m30s.
During SS15, that delay was changed to around 2m30s instead - which instantly took him from fighting Neuville for fifth to fighting Ostberg for fourth, and made much of what we'd been saying in AUTOSPORT Live look a bit daft.
Expect a full explanation from Latvala of that 'phantom minute' shortly, DAVID EVANS is about to speak to him in service.
During SS15, that delay was changed to around 2m30s instead - which instantly took him from fighting Neuville for fifth to fighting Ostberg for fourth, and made much of what we'd been saying in AUTOSPORT Live look a bit daft.
Expect a full explanation from Latvala of that 'phantom minute' shortly, DAVID EVANS is about to speak to him in service.
Moto3 - Barcelona: Enea Bastianini still tops the times with a 1m51.001s with 20 minutes of qualifying remaining. He's over half a second clear of Antonelli in P2.
WRC - Italy: Bit of timing oddness there involving Latvala and his earlier delay... going to look into that one.
Checkered flag
WRC - Italy - SS15 results:
1 Latvala 4m00.9s
2 Ogier +2.3s
3 Paddon +2.9s
4 Tanak +2.9s
5 Ostberg +4.9s
6 Evans +5.8s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Paddon
2 Ogier +9.3s
3 Tanak +1m08.9s
4 Ostberg +2m30.6s
5 Latvala +2m38.4s
6 Neuville +3m46.6s
1 Latvala 4m00.9s
2 Ogier +2.3s
3 Paddon +2.9s
4 Tanak +2.9s
5 Ostberg +4.9s
6 Evans +5.8s
Overall leaderboard:
1 Paddon
2 Ogier +9.3s
3 Tanak +1m08.9s
4 Ostberg +2m30.6s
5 Latvala +2m38.4s
6 Neuville +3m46.6s
Quote
WRC - Italy: Paddon on how much his road position is helping him today compared to Ogier...
"We've got a little bit of an advantage with our road position, but he's got a pretty big advantage in terms of knowledge."
Fair point. And by knowledge, Paddon's referring to WRC experience rather than suggesting Ogier's brighter than him.
"We've got a little bit of an advantage with our road position, but he's got a pretty big advantage in terms of knowledge."
Fair point. And by knowledge, Paddon's referring to WRC experience rather than suggesting Ogier's brighter than him.
WRC - Italy: Paddon completes the stage six tenths slower than Ogier, which keeps his lead at 9.3s heading for service.
WRC - Italy: Sure enough, Latvala's pace brings him past Neuville to fifth overall.
Moto3 - Barcelona: With 30 minutes left in qualifying, Enea Bastianini tops the times on a 1m51.001s
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Latvala is now our Ozieri pacesetter, 2.3s quicker than Ogier.
"I have to keep fighting!" the Finn declares. Can he take fifth from Neuville on this stage?
"I have to keep fighting!" the Finn declares. Can he take fifth from Neuville on this stage?
Checkered flag
FR3.5 - Hungaroring:
1 Orudzhev; 2 Merhi; 3 Rowland; 4 Vaxiviere; 6 Dillmann; 6 Stoneman.
1 Orudzhev; 2 Merhi; 3 Rowland; 4 Vaxiviere; 6 Dillmann; 6 Stoneman.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Ogier is now fastest on the stage by 3.8s. He's grimacing at a little mistake he made but it wasn't too costly. He's likely to head into the afternoon - when he promises a charge will begin in earnest - about 10s behind Paddon.
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: In an incredible final twist, Merhi takes second from Rowland at the last corner of the last lap in what has arguably been the best race of the season.
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: Merhi has passed Vaxiviere to grab third.
Meanwhile, Gustav Malja has climbed from last on the grid into the points in 10th.
Meanwhile, Gustav Malja has climbed from last on the grid into the points in 10th.
WRC - Italy: With Mikkelsen and Sordo's Rally 2 returns proving shortlived, we're already onto Ogier. He'll be followed by Ostberg and Latvala, then Evans, Tanak, Neuville and leader Paddon complete what's become a slender pack of frontrunners.
WRC - Italy: Thanks to Kiwi rally writing star Kate Gordon-Smith we can offer even more detail on New Zealanders leading in the WRC...
In 1988, when Rally New Zealand counted only for drivers' points, Neil Allport, Tony Teesdale and Ray Wilson each led the event in their Mazda 323s. Opel's Sepp Haider ultimately won with Wilson second.
Two years later Rod Millen (also in a 323) led Rally New Zealand before the turbo let go. Another two years on in 1992 and Possum Bourne led after the Totara Park stage in Manukau City.
Manukau’s superspecial seven years later was the last time Bourne – or any Kiwi – led a WRC round. Before yesterday.
In 1988, when Rally New Zealand counted only for drivers' points, Neil Allport, Tony Teesdale and Ray Wilson each led the event in their Mazda 323s. Opel's Sepp Haider ultimately won with Wilson second.
Two years later Rod Millen (also in a 323) led Rally New Zealand before the turbo let go. Another two years on in 1992 and Possum Bourne led after the Totara Park stage in Manukau City.
Manukau’s superspecial seven years later was the last time Bourne – or any Kiwi – led a WRC round. Before yesterday.
Quote
WRC - Italy: Kubica is next in, and it looks like he might have his second bit of tyre damage in as many stages. He confirms he had a puncture for most of that one.
"Many problems!" he laughs. "We haven't really had a smooth stage today with the punctures and the intercom problems.
"These are already difficult stages without problems..."
He's keeping Meeke company in the 40-somethings after his Friday crash.
"Many problems!" he laughs. "We haven't really had a smooth stage today with the punctures and the intercom problems.
"These are already difficult stages without problems..."
He's keeping Meeke company in the 40-somethings after his Friday crash.
Stopwatch
WRC - Italy: Meeke is already through in 4m07.0s. He's still around 43rd overall due to having pretty much a full day of Rally 2 penalties following yesterday's early mishap.
But as he keeps saying, he's using today as practice at running first on the road - something he doesn't intend to moan about...
But as he keeps saying, he's using today as practice at running first on the road - something he doesn't intend to moan about...
FR3.5 - Hungaroring: Rowland has gone very wide again, this time at Turn 3, but has recovered right onto Orudzhev's gearbox.
Just 1.9s cover the top five, with six minutes and a lap remaining.
Just 1.9s cover the top five, with six minutes and a lap remaining.
By: Matt Beer, Jack Benyon, David Evans, AUTOSPORT staff, Mark Glendenning, Peter Mills, Alex Kalinauckas
Published:
Lap:
