MotoGP: Rain brings opening day to a halt with Crutchlow fastest

The opening day of action at Philip Island had been brought to an early halt after torrential rain swept into the Australian track, leaving Brit Cal Crutchlow top of the time sheets after only a handful of racers took to the track in the day’s second session.

Crutchlow was able to get in a lap time early in the session to leave him fastest from Valentino Rossi, Danilo Petrucci and Jack Miller before even heavier rain hit the circuit and closed down the day’s action. The session was initially delayed, before being red flagged only minutes into the eventual start.

However, with riders only able to run ten laps on Michelin’s super-soft rain tyre thanks to a restriction put in place by the manufacturer, Rossi was docked all of his fast laps on the tyre, losing his second place and instead being demoted to second last, potentially facing a trip to qualifying one tomorrow if conditions don’t improve.

With further rain scheduled for tomorrow, a decision will be made on the exact schedule tomorrow morning at 0800. However, Sunday’s forecast gives dry if cold conditions, meaning that the championship could be facing something of a lottery race with only one dry session leading into it.

 

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