Pringle sorry for cancelled British MotoGP

The British MotoGP has been cancelled after race organisers found the rain soaked trap too dangerous to race on due to the risk of slipping and aquaplaning.

A safety car at England's Silverstone circuit

Silverstone race organisers say downpours have made it too dangerous to hold the British MotoGP. (AAP)

Silverstone circuit organisers have apologised to MotoGP fans after the British round of the championship was cancelled due to heavy rain making it too dangerous to race.

"I am so sorry," said managing director Stuart Pringle in a video statement on Sunday, promising to contact all ticket holders during the week.

"In the end the riders felt that the conditions were not going to be right today to race at all and they made the decision not to race."

Organisers had repeatedly postponed the start, having brought it forward to allow plenty of room for manoeuvre, before accepting there was no possibility of beating the bad weather.

They had ruled out already any option of holding the race on Monday.

Honda referred to 'drainage issues' in a statement and MotoGP race director Mike Webb said a recent resurfacing of the track had contributed to the problem.

Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo, winner of the previous race in Austria two weeks ago, had been due to start on pole position on Sunday.

Honda's reigning champion Marc Marquez has 201 points at the top of the standings, ahead of Yamaha's Italian Valentino Rossi (142) and Lorenzo (130).

"It has been a long, unusual, tiring day that we hope won't happen again," said Marquez.

"The Safety Commission analysed the situation and I think the Race Direction has to be thanked; they listened, and in the end, safety was everybody's main consideration -- one of us riders is in hospital already."

Avintia Ducati's Spanish rider Tito Rabat broke his leg in three places and underwent emergency surgery after falling and being hit by Franco Morbidelli's Marc VDS Honda in Saturday's wet practice.


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Source: AAP



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