07:30
Mir looks quicker than Marquez here....
Maverick Vinales, MotoGP, Indian MotoGP, 22 September
2023 Indian MotoGP: Saturday sprint race LIVE UPDATES!
After Friday's practice was led by Luca Marini, Saturday sees final practice, qualifying and the debut MotoGP (Sprint) race at India's Buddh International Circuit.
Francesco Bagnaia takes a 36-point title lead over Pramac’s Jorge Martin into round 13 of 20.
Michelin is offering a wider choice of tyres for this weekend, four fronts and three rears, as MotoGP faces its first new event without any prior testing in over a decade.
The 13-turn ex-F1 track features several sizeable straights, the longest at just over 1km, plus banked corners at 8 & 9 plus what proved to be a tricky Turn 1 in Friday practice.
Missing this weekend are Ducati’s Enea Bastianini - who fractured his hand and ankle during a multi-rider pile-up in Catalunya, moments before team-mate Bagnaia was run over following a highside - and LCR Honda’s Alex Rins, who is still recovering from leg fractures at Mugello in May.
HRC test rider Stefan Bradl will replace Rins with Ducati test rider Michele Pirro in place of Bastianini.
Following Friday's feedback from riders and official tyre suppliers in the hot and humid conditions, race distances have been adjusted with one lap taken off the MotoGP Sprint, Moto2 and Moto3 races, while Sunday's MotoGP Grand Prix will be shortened by three laps:
MotoGP Sprint: 11 laps
Moto3: 16 laps
Moto2: 18 laps
MotoGP: 21 laps
23 Sep 2023
07:29
Make that two Repsol Hondas chasing the reigning world champion with Joan Mir behind Marquez.
07:29
Marc Marquez is tucked in behind Francesco Bagnaia. Bagnaia can't back off as he's only 7th.
07:26
Halfway through Qualifying 2 and Jorge Martin is on provisional pole from Bezzecchi, Marini, Vinales and Quartararo.
07:23
Marc Marquez falls at turn 3 but is soon back on his feet and keeps the bike running.
07:22
No sign of Alex Marquez, who looks set to miss Qualifying 2 due to hand and rib checks.
Brother Marc is trying to get a tow from Jorge Martin.
07:21
Espargaro leaves the pits again... but with the small starter window open on the side of his Aprilia bodywork.
07:19
And just to add insult to injury, almost as soon as Espargaro sits down the green flags are waved...
07:18
An 'overheating' Aleix Espargaro screams at his Aprilia team as he returns to the pits.
07:17
Qualifying 2 has been delayed slightly, catching out Aleix Espargaro who was already at the end of the pitlane and needs to be pushed back.
07:13
Alex Marquez has been taken to the medical centre,
07:10
Alex Marquez is being helped away by marshals. He and Raul Fernandez have progressed to Qualifying 2, but it remains to be seen if Marquez will be fit to ride.
07:08
Alex Marquez is holding his ribs at the side of the track.
07:07
Alex Marquez moves into second behind Raul Fernandez, then highsides, bringing out the yellow flags and potentially denying others of a final flying lap.
07:00
Qualifying 1 is underway, with Brad Binder and Raul Fernandez holding the two transfer places at the halfway stage.
06:56
This morning's big story:
06:46
Final practice ends with Marco Bezzecchi fastest from Alex Marquez, Luca Marini, Jorge Martin, Brad Binder and Aleix Espargaro.
06:34
Turn 1 is proving less problematic this morning, suggesting riders have dialled in their braking point now.
06:32
At the other end of the timesheets, the RC16s of Brad Binder, Pol Espargaro and Jack Miller are only 18th, 19th and 20th.
06:29
Aleix Espargaro sets a 1m 45.7 to move 0.022s clear of Marc Marquez.
Quartararo is bucked out of the seat of his M1 on the exit of the long Turn 8-9 banked corner.
06:27
Unfortunately, the main grandstand is looking quite empty at the moment, let's hope more fans arrive in time for the Sprint and Sunday.
06:25
Halfway through the session and the order at the top of the timesheets is: Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez, Quartararo, Bezzecchi, Bagnaia, Martin, Augusto Fernandez, Mir, Aleix Espargaro, Morbidelli.
06:23
Marc Marquez moves to the top for Repsol Honda, he had insisted Saturday will be tougher as the other faster machines continue to improve on the new track.
Meanwhile, Marini's team-mate Marco Bezzecchi takes a trip through the gravel.
06:21
10mins gone and Alex Marquez is currently fastest, one-second off Luca Marini's Friday best.
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