Motocross: Canard, Pourcel set fastest laps in qualifying at Unadilla - MotorSportsTalk

The dominant trio in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship’s 450 Class recently has consisted of Ken Roczen, Ryan Dungey and Eli Tomac. After setting the fastest lap in timed qualifying this morning, Trey Canard is hoping to put his name into that mix today at Unadilla.

Canard topped the charts in both of this morning’s practice sessions – consistently posting times that were a full second quicker than the rest of the field.

Still in search of his first moto win, Canard has shown that he can get up front and lead a few laps but has stuggled to stay there over the course of a full 30+ minute moto. After practice, he noted that the track is shaping up to provide quite a challenge for the riders today.

“The track is gonna be tough today,” Canard said. “It’s really rutty, and it’s been pretty muddy, but I think it’s gonna dry out and get kind of hard and edgy. So I think it’s gonna be fun, I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully we can have a good couple motos.”

In the 250 Class, Christophe Pourcel edged out points leader Jeremy Martin to qualify first. Pourcel has made a habit out of dominating practice this year – he has now posted the fastest lap in eight out of ten races.

Qualifying in first will once again entitle Pourcel to the first gate pick for Moto 1. It’s been working out well for him this year, at least in the sense that he’s been able to use the first gate pick to propel himself to strong starts. Pourcel has won the holeshot in seven out of 18 motos so far this season.

Like Canard, Pourcel’s issue has been holding onto the lead once he gets out front, and he is in search of his first moto win of the season as well. Pourcel is a big fan of Unadilla though and feels plenty optimistic about his odds today.

“This track is the best for me, it’s my favorite track,” Pourcel said. “So I enjoy it. I think they put a little bit too much water [on the track] this morning. But the track’s getting together and they’re fixing corners. So I think it’s gonna be a good day, and it always feels good to go fast.”

450 Class Top Qualifying Times
1. Trey Canard, 2:14.313
2. Eli Tomac, 2:15.538
3. Ryan Dungey, 2:16.146
4. Ken Roczen, 2:16.813
5. Brett Metcalfe, 2:17.385

250 Class Top Qualifying Times
1. Christophe Pourcel, 2:14.349
2. Jeremy Martin, 2:14.424
3. Zach Osborne, 2:16.023
4. Blake Baggett, 2:16.108
5. Marvin Musquin, 2:16.130

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Coverage of the Red Bull Unadilla National resumes at 12:15 PM E.T. with the pre-race show, which can be seen online exclusively on NBC Sports Live Extra. First motos in both classes will stream live starting at 1:00 PM E.T., with second motos to follow at 3:00 PM E.T. Click here to access the Live Extra stream.

NBC will also have live television coverage of the second 450 Class moto at 3:00 PM E.T., with coverage shifting over to NBCSN at 4:00 PM E.T. for the second 250 Class moto.

The NTT IndyCar Series will return to the Motor City for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix but with start times in a new location for 2023.

After a 30-year run on Belle Isle, the Detroit GP has moved a few miles south to the streets of downtown on a new nine-turn, 1.645-mile circuit that runs along the Detroit River.

It’s the first time single-seater open-cockpit cars have raced on the streets of Detroit since a CART event on a 2.5-mile downtown layout from 1989-91. Formula One also raced in Detroit from 1982-88.

The reimagined Detroit Grand Prix also will play host to nightly concerts and bring in venders from across the region. Roger Penske predicts the new downtown locale will be bigger for Detroit than when the city played host to the 2006 Super Bowl.

Here are the details and IndyCar start times for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend (all times are ET):

CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX INDYCAR START TIMES

TV: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock, the NBC Sports App and NBCSports.com. Leigh Diffey is the announcer with analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kevin Lee are the pit reporters. Click here for the full NBC Sports schedule for IndyCar in 2023.

Peacock also will be the streaming broadcast for both practices and qualifying.

POSTRACE SHOW ON PEACOCK: After the race’s conclusion, an exclusive postrace show will air on Peacock with driver interviews, postrace analysis and the podium presentation. To watch the extended postrace show, click over to the special stream on Peacock after Sunday’s race ends.

COMMAND TO START ENGINES: 3:23 p.m. ET

GREEN FLAG: 3:30 p.m. ET

PRACTICE: Friday, 3 p.m. (Peacock Premium); Saturday, 9:05 a.m. (Peacock Premium); Sunday, 10 a.m. (Peacock Premium)

PRACTICE RESULTS: Session I l Session II l Warmup l Combined

QUALIFYING: Saturday, 1:20 p.m. (Peacock Premium)

STARTING LINEUP: Alex Palou captured the first street course pole of his IndyCar career; click here for where everyone will begin Sunday’s race

RACE DISTANCE: The race is 100 laps (170 miles) on a nine-turn, 1.645-mile temporary street course in downtown Detroit.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Seven sets primary, four sets alternate. Rookie drivers are allowed one extra primary set for the first practice.

PUSH TO PASS: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation (Indy NXT: 150 seconds total, 15 seconds per). The push-to-pass is not available on the initial start or any restart unless it occurs in the final two laps or three minutes of a timed race. The feature increases the power of the engine by approximately 60 horsepower.

FORECAST: According to Wunderground.com, it’s expected to be 80 degrees with a 0% chance of rain.

ENTRY LIST: Click here to view the 27 drivers racing Sunday at Detroit

INDY NXT RACES: Saturday, 12:05 p.m. 45 laps/55 minutes (Peacock Premium); Sunday, 12:50 p.m. 45 laps/55 minutes (Peacock Premium)

INDY NXT ENTRY LIST: Click here to view the 19 drivers racing at Detroit