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MotoGP Grand prix of Qatar

Raajiv Tripathi
DOHA
Torrential overnight rain, a storm and too much standing water on track at Losail International Circuit saw the qualifying at the season-opening MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar cancelled on Saturday leaving Movistar Yamaha's debutant Maverick Vinales to start Sunday's race from pole position.
Along side the 22-year-old Spaniard Vinales on the front row will be Team Suzuki Ecstar's Andrea Iannone and defending champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda).
Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) will lead the Moto2 and Moto3 races, respectively.
The Safety Commission had long inspection of the Losail International Circuit track on Saturday evening following a revised scheduled due to heavy rain. Around 8.30 pm, it cancelled the pole races for all the three classes, handing Vinales, Morbidelli and Martin their maiden poles on the basis of the combined lap times of all the three Free Practices.
The rain had stopped when the revised action was to begin but there were pools of water and wet patches. Even the drain pumps were also used to dry the track. With the safety of the riders being the prime concern, the pole shoot-outs and the fourth MotoGP FP were scrapped.
Vinales had become a big favourite for the prestigious No. 1 slot on the grid after his dominant performance, right from the winter tests and in two out of three Free Practice sessions. Though he would have loved to fight hard again and grab it, all will have to accept the decision taken for the well-being of the riders.
Vinales was delighted with his first pole of the Premier Class and commented:"It's been very strange that it rains in Qatar. From FP1, I felt good and I did a great laptime, riding much faster than qualifying from last year so we're happy we can ride like that and can make our own pace for tomorrow.
"We wanted to make some last adjustments in the warm up. It will be important to end that with a good feeling. We hope the weather is good.
"It was difficult today. It wasn't okay for wet tyres or dry tyres. It was too risky to go out. For me, it is safety first.
"The plan was to prepare for the race with full tank and used tyres in FP4. So we're disappointed we couldn't do that and we'll try tomorrow. For everyone who can't do the work that they wanted, it is always a bit disappointing," added Vinales, who will be looking for his second career victory on Sunday.
The second row will be started by Monster Yamaha Tech3's Johann Zarco. Other two riders with him are Ducati Team's Andrea Dovizioso and OCTO Pramac Racing's Scott Redding.
Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa, who is also having a good and consistent pace, is placed at the head of the third row. Jonas Folger (Monster Yamaha Tech3) is sandwiched between Pedrosa and LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow.
The fourth row has seven-time MotoGP world champion and four-time Losail race winner Valentino Rossi ahead of Ducati machine users Danilo Petrucci (OCTO Pramac Racing) and former teammate Jorge Lorenzo, who is racing for the Italian factory team this season. Last year's winner here, Lorenzo has also been quite successful in Qatar, claiming six race wins, including three in the highest class.
This is the second time in Losail that rain forced any session. In 2009, the race had been postponed to Monday because of floodlight reflection off the track due to water on the track.
Starting Grid
Grand Prix of Qatar MotoGP starting grid on Sunday, the first race of the 2017 World Championship season:
1st row
1. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 1:54.316
2. Andrea Iannone (ITA/Suzuki) at 0.532
3. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 0.596
2nd row
4. Johann Zarco (FRA/Yamaha Tech3) 0.692
5. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 0.726
6. Scott Redding (GBR/Ducati Pramac) 0.769
3rd row
7. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 0.797
8. Jonas Folger (GER/Yamaha Tech3) 0.892
9. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Honda LCR) 0.895
4th row
10. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 1.098
11. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/Ducati Pramac) 1.119
12. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Ducati) 1.145
5th row
13. Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Ducati Aspar)1.265
14. Loris Baz (FRA/Ducati Avintia) 1.308
15. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 1.318

Sunday Schedule
13:50hrs Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup Race 2 (14 laps)
15:50-16:10 Moto3 Warm Up
16:25-16:45 Moto2 Warm Up
17:00-17:20 MotoGP Warm Up
18:00 Moto3 Race (18 laps)
19:20 Moto2 Race (20 laps)
21:00 MotoGP Race (22 laps)
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26/03/2017
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