After a lacklustre performance in Friday practice Monster Energy Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales has surged to pole position at the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix of Austria, but admitted in his post qualifying press conference that a podium finish is the most realistic goal.

Vinales survived a late challenge from Aussie Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) with the leading times being set within the final minute of qualifying. Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) will complete the front row.

Lining up at the head of the second row is Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), who only minutes earlier had sensationally announced he will be parting ways with the factory Ducati outfit at the end of the 2020 season. Dovi went fastest with one minute remaining but was then picked off by both Vinales and Miller.

The Ducati pair will have history on their side as the Italian manufacturer has won every race at the Red Bull Ring since it’s return to the MotoGP calendar in 2016.

After topping Friday practice and Q4, Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) couldn’t repeat that form in Q2 and will line up in fifth position, while Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) completes the second row.

After taking his maiden podium at Brno last week, Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT)  will start Sunday’s race from the head of the third row, beside the second Suzuki of Alex Rins. Johan Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) will complete the third row with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Indemitsu) rounding out the top ten. In what was an incredibly tight qualifying, the first four rows were covered by a mere half a second.

In Moto2, Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) has made a stunning return to form to seal his second pole position in the category and steal the all-time Moto2 lap record at the Red Bull Ring in the process. The Australian will be joined on the front row by Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Marcel Schrotter (Liqui Moly Intact GP).

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez backed up his pole position at Brno last week with another P1, pipping championship leader Albert Arenas (Valresa Aspar Team) in the final seconds of the session. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) completes the front row.

Detailed results

Image: Supplied.

Italian Andrea Dovizioso is set to depart the factory Ducati Team at the conclusion of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship, it has been revealed on Saturday at Red Bull Ring.

The pair have been unable to agree to terms on a contract from 2021 and Ducati Team manager Davide Tardozzi indicated yesterday that a decision would be made following the Austrian double-header.

However, Dovizioso’s manager Simone Batistella suggested this afternoon on Sky Italy that it has in fact been decided that the 34-year-old will not remain at Ducati next season.

With options limited, a sabbatical could be on the cards for Dovizioso, save for a potential factory deal with Aprilia as it awaits the fate of Andrea Iannone. It’s understood that he intends to continue in the premier class.

“We have communicated to Ducati that Andrea has no intention of continuing for the next few years, that he now wants to concentrate on the next races, but that there are no conditions to continue together,” announced Batistella.

The news was then confirmed by Ducati sporting director Paulo Ciabatti: “We met Simone this morning here at Red Bull Ring and realised that unfortunately there are not the conditions to continue our relationship with Dovi beyond the end of the current contract.

“Ducati and Andrea will now fully concentrate on the remainder of the 2020 season, starting from tomorrow’s Austrian GP, with the common goal to add more wins to the 13 first places already achieved together and fight for the title until the end of the championship.”

With Australian Jack Miller already signed to the factory team for next year, he could be joined by current Pramac Racing teammate Francesco Bagnaia, unless triple MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo – a race winner with Ducati in 2018 – opts to come out of retirement and a deal can be struck.

There is also the possibility that Johann Zarco, fresh from claiming pole position and a podium with Esponsorama Racing aboard a GP19 at Brno last weekend, could be elevated directly into the official team in place of Dovizioso. Danilo Petrucci has already signed with KTM for 2021.

Dovizioso joined Ducati in 2013 and has finished runner-up in the standings behind Marc Marquez for the past three seasons, including 2017, 2018 and 2019. He also previously took third in the championship during 2011 with Honda.

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Argentina has been removed from the 2020 Motul Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) calendar as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization have confirmed.

The round was originally scheduled for 9-11 October and was to enter its third year of WorldSBK action, however the series’ scheduled return will instead be postponed until 2021 as part of a three-year contract.

“It is a great shame not to be going to one of the most atmospheric events on the calendar,” said Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK executive director.

“Health and safety come first and along with the travel restrictions, logistical challenges and the uncertainty of the immediate future, we regret not being able to find a solution that meets the needs of all.

“We look forward to welcoming Argentina and San Juan back onto the calendar in 2021, where the passionate Argentinean fans can cheer on their heroes again.”

All parties involved examined and evaluated every possible scenario to make sure the event went ahead as planned. However, given the current situation and the subsequent health and safety concerns, travel restrictions and logistical challenges, the solution is to postpone the event.

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One of the biggest races on the international calendar, the Suzuka 8 Hours, has been cancelled for 2020 due to travel restrictions that won’t enable overseas riders to enter Japan.

The FIM, Eurosport Events – promoter of the Endurance World Championship (EWC) and Suzuka race organiser Mobilityland have agreed to call the event off for this year.

Initially rescheduled to the beginning of November as the EWC final, instead the Suzuka 8 Hours will be cancelled for the first time since its creation in 1978.

“With anguish, we find no alternative but to make the decision to cancel it in consideration of the continued spread of the coronavirus pandemic,” said Kaoru Tanaka, president representative director of Mobilityland Corporation.

“And the fact that there is no prospect of deregulation of immigration restrictions on visitors from abroad at this stage in Japan. Once again, we extend our apologies and regrets to all the fans who were looking forward to attending the Suzuka 8 Hours.

“In closing, let us say that we are determined to make preparations so that the 2021 Suzuka 8 Hours event will be even more enjoyable for the fans than ever before.”

François Ribeiro, head of Eurosport Events, added: “We have been working hard with Mobilityland to reschedule the race from July to November – a first since 1978 – and then to organise entry into Japan for international teams and riders with a special business visa.

“Our hopes have evaporated with immigration restrictions for foreigners. The decision was made not to run this iconic race as a domestic event. The Suzuka 8 Hours, the most prestigious endurance race in the world over the last 40 years, shall not run without top international riders.”