MotoGP 2018 at Silverstone (England) – race canceled

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MotoGP 2018 at Silverstone (England) - race canceled
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MotoGP 2018 at Silverstone (England) – race canceled

MotoGP 2018 at Silverstone (England) – race canceled
MotoGP race canceled without replacement

The MotoGP race at Silverstone was canceled due to constant rain and dangerous track conditions.

Michael Praschak

08/24/2018

Had the conditions at Silverstone been adverse during qualifying, the conditions on race Sunday couldn’t have been more difficult. In order to be able to hold the MotoGP race at all, the race management decided on Saturday evening to start the race an hour and a half earlier and at 12:30. Due to temperatures of only 13 degrees, torrential rain and above all the extensive water standing on the track, the race management decided, after waiting for hours and postponing a final decision several times, to completely cancel the race for safety reasons. For a short time, the repetition of the race on Monday was considered, but after the intervention of the IRTA drivers’ association, it was decided to cancel the race in Great Britain without replacement.

Since the Moto3 and Moto2 races were moved to the afternoon because the MotoGP race was brought forward and were also affected by the bad weather and the delays, the drivers in the small classes also had to forego their races. 

UPDATE: Race start postponed

Due to the difficult weather and track conditions on Saturday and the uncertain weather forecast for Sunday afternoon, the race management decided to bring the MotoGP race forward to 12:30 for safety reasons.

In the last free practice session on Saturday afternoon, there were a series of falls after a heavy shower made the track in the area of ​​the Hangar Straight almost impassable. While most of the riders got off lightly, Avintia Ducati rider Tito Rabat was less fortunate. The Spaniard was hit by Franco Morbidelli’s motorcycle as he slipped on and suffered an open thigh fracture and fractures of the tibia and fibula.

Jorge Lorenzo will start the race from pole position this Sunday in front of team-mate Andrea Dovizioso and Yamaha Tech3 driver Johann Zarco.

Qualifying

Training Saturday and qualifying for the Silverstone Grand Prix were characterized by typical British conditions and capricious weather conditions. After it had drizzled briefly over and over again during the day, it started to rain heavily towards the end of the fourth MotoGP free practice and as a result of aquaplaning, the riders fell in rows. The situation was particularly unfortunate for Tito Rabat (Avintia Ducati), who was hit by the sliding motorcycle of Franco Morbidelli (Marc VDS Honda) after a mild departure and still had to receive medical care at the scene of the accident. The training was canceled and not restarted.

For qualifying one, which started with a significant delay after the rain, blue skies and sunshine prevailed again, but while part of the track had already dried out, the water was still in many sections and made for the most difficult conditions. In the end, a surprisingly strong Bradley Smith and Alex Rins made it into the round of the top twelve.


MotoGP 2018 at Silverstone (England) - race canceled


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KTM rider Bradley Smith surprisingly made it into the second qualifying.

For safety reasons, the final qualifying also started with a three-quarters of an hour delay, as one had to wait for the rescue helicopter to return. On the partly dry, partly wet track, it was the surprising fastest from QP1, Bradley Smith, who set the first best time on the 5.9 kilometer track with a time of 2: 12.894 minutes. At halftime it was Jorge Lorenzo (2: 12.001 min.), Marc Marquez but the top favorites who topped the timesheets ahead of Jack Miller.

The final sprint was opened by Cal Crutchlow and Johann Zarco and both drivers took the lead with 2:11 times. Just a few seconds before the end, Andrea Dovizioso, a Ducati works rider, took provisional pole again. The Italian had to admit defeat to his team-mate Lorenzo shortly afterwards. If Johan Zarco still looked like he could attack the pole setter again on his last lap, in the slipstream of Marc Marquez it was enough for a strong third place on the grid and the title of best Yamaha rider. The second row opens in front of Marc Marquez, local hero Cal Crutchlow, Pramac Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci starts the race from sixth position.


MotoGP 2018 at Silverstone (England) - race canceled


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Johann Zarco was the best Yamaha rider and will start the race from 3rd place.

The big surprises are with Bradley Smith (KTM) and Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) on row three. Smith, who already attracted attention with his jump in Q2, placed his KTM behind Andrea Iannone (Suzuki) on a strong eighth place on the grid. At the end of qualifying, Jack Miller was the only driver to try slicks and was rewarded with ninth place for his courage. Alex Rins completes the top ten.

Starting grid

position  No. driver motorcycle team
1 # 99 Jorge Lorenzo Ducati Ducati
2 # 04 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Ducati
3 # 5 Johann Zarco Yamaha Tech 3
4th # 35 Cal Crutchlow Honda LCR
5 # 93 Marc Marquez Honda Repsol Honda
6th # 9 Danilo Petrucci Ducati Pramac
7th # 29 Andrea Iannone Suzuki Suzuki
8th # 38 Bradley Smith KTM KTM
9 # 43 Jack Miller Ducati Pramac
10 # 42 Alex Rins Suzuki Suzuki
11 # 25 Maverick Viñales Yamaha Yamaha
12th # 46 Valentino Rossi Yamaha Yamaha
13th # 21 Franco Morbidelli Honda Marc VDS
14th # 45 Scott Redding Aprilia Aprilia
15th # 12 Thomas Luthi Honda Marc VDS
16 # 26 Dani Pedrosa Honde Repsol Honda
17th # 41 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia Aprilia
18th # 76 Loris Baz KTM KTM
19th # 30 Takaaki Nakagami Honda LCR
20th # 17 Karel Abraham Ducati Asparagus
21 # 19 Alvaro Bautista Ducati Asparagus
22nd # 10 Xavier Simeon Ducati Avintia
23 # 55 Hafizh Syahrin Yamaha Tech 3
DNS # 53 Tito Rabat Ducati Avintia

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