Sporting Digest: Motorcycling

A new grand prix will be held at San Marino's Imola circuit on 3 September to replace the cancelled American race, the international federation said yesterday.

Honda's Alex Criville left it to his final practice lap to take pole position for today's Dutch 500cc Grand Prix. The session was marred by several bad crashes, the most prominent involving the 500cc world championship leader, Daryl Beattie, who broke his collar-bone.

DUTCH GRAND PRIX (Assen) Leading times after final qualifying practice: 500cc: 1 A Criville (Sp) Honda 2min 03.151sec (ave speed 176.827 kph); 2 M Doohan (Aus) Honda 2:03.443 ; 3 L Capirossi (It) Honda 2:03.671 ; 4 A Puig (Sp) Honda 2:03.716; 5 N Abe (Japan) Yamaha 2:03.874; 6 S Russell (US) 2:04.155; 7 A Barros (Bra) Honda 2:04.173; 8 D Beattie (Aus) Suzuki 2:04.284; 9 S Itoh (Japan) Honda 2:04.543; 10 L Cadalora (It) Yamaha 2:04.565. 250cc: 1 M Biaggi (It) Aprilia 2:05.180 (ave speed 173.961 kph); 2 T Harada (Japan) Yamaha 2:06.328; 3 T Okada (Japan) Honda 2:06.668; 4 R Waldmann (Ger) Honda 2:06.754; 5 J-P Ruggia (Fr) Honda 2:07.011.