New Saturday schedule due to rain in Qatar
UPDATE 3: New track inspection planned, but few will be surprised if tonight's action is cancelled. Puddles mean cannot use slicks, too dry for wets.
UPDATE 2:The extra MotoGP track session has now been officially cancelled.
UPDATE 1: The extra 6pm session start time is looking doubtful: 'Session delayed until further notice due to track conditions'. The problem appears to be standing water in some corners.
Heavy rain on Saturday has soaked the Losail International Circuit, ahead of qualifying for the MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 classes.
As a result, MotoGP will now start the Saturday track action after being granted an extra session to try the wet conditions.
A Safety Commission meeting will then be held to gather feedback from the riders, to decide if timed action can continue in the wet.
Previously night riding was halted in wet conditions, due to concerns over glare from the floodlights, but a recent test by Loris Capirossi suggested it would be possible to continue.
Tonight will be the first chance to put that theory to the test with MotoGP machines.
Standing water on the main straight #QatarGP #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/pTzKY3YkYP-- Peter McLaren (@McLarenMotoGP) March 25, 2017
Should more bad weather occur on Sunday, the races could be brought forward to the daytime, rather than postponed until Monday, as occurred in 2009.
New Saturday schedule:
17:00-17:10 Track Inspection
18:00-18:20 MotoGP Extra Free Practice - CANCELLED.
18:55-19:40 Moto2 Qualifying
19:55-20:25 MotoGP Free Practice 4
20:35-20:50 MotoGP Qualifying 1
21:00-21:15 MotoGP Qualifying 2
21:30-22.10 Moto3 Qualifying
Original Saturday schedule:
18:00-18:40 Moto3 Qualifying
18:55-19:40 Moto2 Qualifying
19:55-20:25 MotoGP Free Practice 4
20:35-20:50 MotoGP Qualifying 1
21:00-21:15 MotoGP Qualifying 2
