Sepang MotoGP race brought forward due to rain threat
The Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix schedule for Sunday has been revised to counter the threat of rain, with the MotoGP race brought forward by two hours.
The decision to alter the schedule came amid the continued delay to premier-class qualifying due to torrential rain hitting the Sepang International Circuit shortly before the start.
With weather forecasts suggesting that a monsoon would similarly arrive at the track shortly before the scheduled race start, riders had requested a change to the race time on Friday during the Safety Commission meeting.
That request was initially turned down, but the organisers have now acquiesced.
The Sunday morning warm-up sessions for the three grand prix racing categories have been brought forward by between 50 minutes and an hour, while the races are to begin two hours earlier.
As such, the Moto3 race will kick off at 10am local time and the Moto2 race will commence at 11.20am.
The MotoGP race will now start at 1pm local, which translates to 5am GMT.
Torres ruled out of Sepang race
Jordi Torres, Avintia Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images
Maverick Vinales, Karel Abraham and Jordi Torres had all crashed when rain made its sudden appearance in the FP4 session ahead of qualifying.
And while Vinales and Abraham escaped without major injury, Torres was taken to the medical centre and subsequently emerged with a cast enveloping his left hand.
The Spanish rider, who is competing as the replacement for the injured Tito Rabat at Avintia Ducati, sustained a finger fracture and is now set to undergo surgery.
"When I ride in, I enter into Turn 9, it's completely dry, very hard, we do the change direction early in Turn 10 - and for sure I don't see any rain or nothing, any also flag to advertise [rain]," Torres said.
"And you pass from dry [track] to completely wet in two metres. And you don't see nothing about rain, drops, or something like this.
"I have the big finger [thumb] broken, we have a surgery for Tuesday."
Previous article
Indonesia street circuit set for 2021 MotoGP race
Next article
Sepang MotoGP: Marquez crashes, takes pole after rain delay
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Event | Malaysian GP |
| Sub-event | Sunday race |
| Drivers | Jordi Torres |
| Teams | Avintia Racing |
| Author | Valentin Khorounzhiy |
Mandalika Circuit update
MotoGP Starting Grid: Doha Grand Prix
MotoGP Starting Grid: Qatar Grand Prix
Top 10 most successful Repsol Honda Team riders
The "pit bull" MotoGP rookie already drawing legendary comparisons
MotoGP’s 2021 rookie crop is one of the strongest in recent years, but one is already standing out. Jorge Martin’s Doha GP heroics have courted many to compare him to numerous MotoGP legends. Autosport spoke to Pramac boss Francesco Guidotti to find out why MotoGP’s latest Spanish star is already making such an impact
Why MotoGP's stewards must revisit Miller and Mir's Losail clash
Despite Suzuki’s decision not to appeal against Race Direction’s refusal to penalise Jack Miller following the incident with Joan Mir in Losail, something must be done to avoid a repeat of such an incident, which could have easily ended in tragedy
Why MotoGP’s top gun looks more dangerous at the Doha GP
Lightning hasn't struck twice for Maverick Vinales since 2017 and his wayward form of recent years makes predicting how he'll fare each MotoGP race weekend tricky. But fresh from his Qatar GP win, Vinales looks like an even more dangerous prospect for the Doha GP following an intriguing Friday practice.
Why MotoGP’s new Amazon Prime series is long overdue
OPINION: MotoGP is getting its own version of Drive to Survive on Amazon Prime at some point in the near future. It was news welcomed by the grid’s leading riders. And following the impact DTS has had on Formula 1, MotoGP desperately needs the same boost.
The key changes behind the latest 'return of the Mack'
Maverick Vinales’s authoritative victory at the MotoGP season opener came during a period of personal and professional change for the Yamaha rider. Can it be the springboard for a title challenge?
Why Lorenzo needs to ditch social media and enjoy retirement
OPINION: Jorge Lorenzo's status as one of the greatest MotoGP riders of all time is hard to dispute. But his constant social media spats with fellow riders and insistence on listing his achievements to his detractors are running the risk of tarnishing a legacy he worked hard to create.
Can leaving a factory team end Rossi’s MotoGP win drought?
It is over three-and-a-half years since the Italian national anthem rang out to declare a Valentino Rossi victory in MotoGP. To some onlookers his move out of the factory Yamaha squad meant the 2017 Dutch TT could remain his final win, but after an encouraging transition at Petronas SRT hope is far from lost
What Marquez will we get on his much-needed MotoGP return?
As Marc Marquez’s comeback draws nearer, the six-time MotoGP world champion will have the eyes of the motorsport world on him to see if his incredible speed returns instantly. How Marquez deals with this could be key to both what he and the wider grid faces in 2021
