Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/803478
50 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 MARCH 2017 MOTOGP MotoGP cancels qualifying, pole for Viñales MOTOGP has cancelled all of Saturday's action for the f loodlit Qatar Grand Prix due to inclem- ent weather conditions at Losail, with Yamaha's Maverick Viñales set to start from pole position. Heav y rain across Friday night and into Saturday left the circuit drenched and, while some parts of the track dried, other areas re- mained damp, with pools of wa- ter forming across some sections and on kerbs. MotoGP organisers repeatedly assessed the situation, with a 20-minute evaluation session scheduled, in order for riders to trial the circuit in the condi- tions, before it was scrapped. The fourth practice session was pencilled in for 20:30 local time, but officials opted to cancel run- ning in all categories, meaning the grid will be based on com- bined times from the three prac- tice sessions. Therefore Viñales will start from pole position for the first time in his MotoGP career, hav- ing set the fastest time of the weekend during Thursday's first session. Suzuki 's Andrea Iannone will start from second place, with reigning World Champion Marc Márquez rounding out the front row of the grid. Tech 3's Johann Zarco will line up fourth on his MotoGP de- but, in front of Ducati 's Andrea Dovizioso, Pramac's Scott Red- ding and Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa. The top 10 will be completed by Tech 3's other rookie, Jonas Folger, LCR Honda's Cal Crutch- low and Yamaha's Valentino Rossi, while Jorge Lorenzo will line up from 12th for his first race with Ducati. Viñales, Márquez back qualifying cancellation YAMAHA'S Maverick Viñales and Repsol Honda's Marc Márquez backed the call made by MotoGP officials to can- cel all of Saturday's action for the Qatar Grand Prix due to the circuit conditions. Overnight rain at Losail left substantial standing water on the track and, while parts of the surface dried, other sections remained too dangerous for competition to begin. Following an adjustment to the schedule, the decision was taken to abandon running for Saturday, with the grid determined by the combined times from the three practice sessions. It left Viñales on pole position for the first time in his MotoGP career, and the Yamaha rider supported the deci- sion. "It was difficult, not for rain tyres and not for dry tyres," he said of the conditions. "It was too much of a risk to go on track. "I'm sure some riders will be disappointed, others a little bit more happy, but for me first is the security and today it was quite difficult, for sure it was tricky conditions. "It's very strange, honestly strange that it rains in Qatar!" Márquez, meanwhile, will begin his title defence from third place on the grid, with the Spanish youngster split by Suzuki's Andrea Iannone. "Today was the time to come back and to work for the race but against the weather we cannot do anything," said the reigning World Champion. "First of all is the safety and it was too dangerous, [we had] really heavy rain last night and during all this morn- ing, but we will see [what happens] tomorrow. "Starting on the front row is a good result, not the best way to achieve it, but it's a good result and tomorrow we will try to fight for the podium."