Event of the Day: MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix
Our event of the day is the Aragon MotoGP in Alcañiz, Spain. Jorge Lorenzo of Ducati qualified in pole position with a scorching time of 1:46.881. The Spaniard’s teammate Andrea Dovizioso was a whisker behind him in second, qualifying in 1:46.895. Lorenzo’s compatriot Marc Márquez completed the top three with a time of 1.46.960. Márquez looked set to secure pole after the opening runs, but failed to improve in the second run. Cal Crutchlow of Honda had been in contention to qualify in pole. However, he crashed out on his final lap, and will start on the second row today. Honda rider Márquez currently tops the MotoGP standings by a considerable margin after a superb 2018 season. His 67-point advantage over second place Andrea Dovizioso is almost unassailable with just six races remaining. Spaniard Márquez will be desperate to edge closer to his fifth world title in six years with victory at a home grand prix. At just 25, he will already go down as one of the greatest MotoGP racers of all time.
However, he will face stiff competition today. Jorge Lorenzo, who, despite being out of the championship race as he sits in fourth place, 91 points off the lead, will be equally keen to taste victory on home soil. Similarly, Andrea Dovizioso will look to keep the championship race alive, especially after his first-place finish in San Marino two weeks ago. With riders running out of time to catch the awesome Márquez, today promises to be fast, furious and fascinating.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the NFL fixture between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Elsewhere in the States, the MLB series between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles concludes at Yankee Stadium. The final day of the PGA Tour Championship gets underway in Atlanta, where the FedEX Cup winner will be decided. On the European Tour, it’s day 4 of the Portugal Masters. In China, the Wohan Open begins on the WTA World Tour, whilst it’s the final at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Japan. Meanwhile on the ATP World Tour, the seventh day of action begins at the Moselle Open in Metz. Further world class sporting action in France comes from the Ligue 1 clash between two giants of French football, Lyon and Marseille, at the Groupama Stadium. Similarly, in the Eredivisie, two of Dutch football’s biggest names meet at the Phillips Stadium, as PSV Eindhoven host Ajax. In La Liga, Barcelona entertain Girona, and in Serie A, AC Milan welcome Atalanta. A tasty London derby takes place in the Premier League, as West Ham take on Chelsea at the London Stadium. Elsewhere in the capital, Saracens play Gloucester in Premiership Rugby action.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by MotoGP