Qatar Grand Prix organisers have had no choice but to cancel Saturday’s action from the Losail International Circuit due to a high level of standing water on the track.
Rain has been threatening to derail proceedings all weekend, and indeed today’s running was delayed due to a heavy downpour on the run up to the opening session on the schedule.
The MotoGP class had been given an extra 20-minute session to assess the track conditions as no running has ever been conducted under the floodlights on a saturated surface. However, this was quickly scrapped.
After a two-hour delay whilst track staff tried to clear the standing water from the circuit and the gravel traps, the decision was taken by the Safety Commission to cancel this evening’s planned running.
This means grid positions for all three classes will be based on combined times from the three completed free practice sessions from Thursday and Friday.
Maverick Vinales will start from pole in MotoGP for his Yamaha debut ahead of Suzuki’s Andrea Iannone and Honda’s Marc Marquez, whilst Ducati’s Jorge Lorenzo will launch away from a disappointing 12th.
In Moto2, Franco Morbidelli will lead away Marc VDS team-mate Alex Marquez and Interwetten Racing’s Tom Luthi. In Moto3, Jorge Martin takes a maiden pole ahead of Philipp Oettl and Romano Fenati.
Mercifully, tomorrow’s forecast is for a clear day in Qatar, though plans have been put in place by Dorna Sports to ensure the races are run.
