Motorcycling: Fog blanks out all practice sessions at Japanese GP

Team members talk in the pit lane after practice was cancelled due to weather during the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Motegi, north of Tokyo, Japan on Friday, Oct 25, 2013. Two practice sessions for what could be
Team members talk in the pit lane after practice was cancelled due to weather during the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Motegi, north of Tokyo, Japan on Friday, Oct 25, 2013. Two practice sessions for what could be a title-deciding Japanese MotoGP race were cancelled on Friday, owing to thick fog at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit. -- PHOTO: AP

(REUTERS) - Two practice sessions for what could be a title-deciding Japanese MotoGP race were cancelled on Friday, owing to thick fog at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit.

The Moto2 and Moto3 sessions were also wiped out as drizzle turned to rain, while the fog meant the medical helicopter could not fly safely.

The race is the penultimate round of the MotoGP championship, with Honda's Spanish rookie Marc Marquez poised to take the title despite being disqualified in the previous race in Australia.

The 20-year-old has an 18-point lead over reigning champion and compatriot Jorge Lorenzo, who rides for Yamaha.

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