British MotoGP: Downpour disrupts 125GP practice

A torrential downpour after less than three minutes badly disrupted today’s 125GP practice session at Donington Park.

Most riders had only completed an out lap and one quick lap on a dry track when Donington was hit by a deluge, the rain at one stage so severe that the field spent the majority of the opening 15 minutes ducking for cover in the pits.

The early monsoon saw Spaniard Esteve Rabat claim top spot with a best lap of 1.45.105, with Aspar Aprilia rider Bradley Smith the best British rider in ninth position.

The Oxfordshire rider also completed two laps before the heavens opened and clocked a best time of 1.48.670. Degraaf Aprilia Danny Webb was in 15th place with runaway world championship leader Julian Simon two places further down the rankings in 17th.

Scott Redding was one of only eight riders to have gone quicker after the rain had fallen, but the Gloucestershire rider was still down in 28th place with a best time of 1.52.501 that he posted on his 16th lap.

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