Ariya becomes first Thai in 16 years to win LPGA Thailand
Thai golfing ace Ariya Jutanugarn produced a commanding final-round performance on Sunday to become the first Thai in 16 years to win the LPGA Thailand.
The 25-year-old former world No. 1 fired a flawless 9-under-par 63 in the final round of the Honda LPGA Thailand 2021 at Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course in Chonburi province.
She claimed the title with a 22-under-par 266, despite starting the day five strokes behind leader, compatriot Patty Tavatanakit.
Ariya pipped teenager Atthaya Thitikul by a stroke in a tense finish after thundershowers delayed play.
Defending champion Amy Yang and former world No. 1 So Yeon Ryu both shot 64 to finish third at 20-under.
Tavatanakit, who had started the tournament strongly with 64s, fell off the pace after a final-round 70, and settled for joint third place.
Ariya’s victory gave her a prize money of US$240,000 (THB7.5 million).
Ariya, currently world No. 33, is the first Thai golfer to win the LPGA Thailand since it was first organised in 2006.
Sunday’s game was also a victorious return for Ariya, who in 2013 had just turned professional and had finished second in the LPGA Thailand that year.
Including the Honda LPGA Thailand 2021, Ariya has won 11 LPGA Tours in total.
Ariya becomes first Thai in 16 years to win LPGA Thailand
From runner-up to champion
Back in 2013, the 18-year-old Ariya had missed the opportunity to win LPGA Thailand despite leading Inbee Park of South Korea by two strokes in the final round.
Due to her lack of experience, Ariya made bogeys in the last three holes and let Park snatch the title to the disappointment of local fans.
Ariya’s winless streak continued, aggravated by an elbow injury in 2015.
After a long period of recovery, Ariya claimed her first win in 2016 at the Yokohama Tyre LPGA Classic in Alabama, USA. It was also her first LPGA Tour win and the first Thai winner on this tour.
She went on to win the next two LPGA tournaments, thereby becoming the first player in LPGA history to win her first three titles in succession.
Ariya created a sensation by winning her first major championship at the 2016 Women’s British Open, and then proceeded to win the US Women’s Open in 2018. She ended the 2018 season ranked No. 1 in the world. She has since slipped to No. 33.
Plan to use stadiums in seven provinces as field hospitals under consideration
The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) is ready to allow the use of central stadiums in seven provinces as field hospitals.
The stadiums in Nakhon Ratchasima, Trang, Phetchabun, Mae Hong Son, Amnat Charoen, Narathiwat and Krabi could be used under a plan to provide beds for the increasing number of Covid-19 patients in the country.
An SAT executive told The Nation Thailand that this plan was being discussed with the Ministry of Public Health.
Previously, the SAT had turned the Nimitbutr building in Bangkok’s National Stadium complex into a pre-admission centre for Covid-19 patients.
Pfizer strikes deal with IOC to jab Thai Olympic athletes
Covid-19 vaccine producer Pfizer-BioNTech has signed a memorandum of understanding with International Olympic Committee (IOC) to provide jabs for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
IOC’s Patama Leeswadtrakul said the MoU was signed on Thursday and the first set of doses will be delivered at the end of this month.
She added the vaccines will be allocated in line with the demand in each country. Also, there are no regulations making it mandatory for athletes to be inoculated before joining the Tokyo Olympics.
The Olympics is scheduled to run from July 23 to August 8, while the Paralympics will be held from August 24 to September 5.
Manchester United match postponed after fans invade Old Trafford in protest of American owners
Manchester Uniteds match Sunday against visiting Liverpool was postponed after supporters invaded Old Trafford in protest of the teams American ownership.
The match was initially delayed by the Premier League as police worked to clear protesters off the pitch and elsewhere at Old Trafford, Manchester United’s 112-year-old stadium. Players for both sides reportedly remained at the hotel where they had been staying rather than travel by bus through hundreds of protesters, who had also gathered at the hotel and in front of the stadium.
“Following discussion between the Police, The Premier League, Trafford Council and the clubs, our match against Liverpool has been postponed due to safety and security considerations around the protest today,” Manchester United said. “Discussions will now take place with the Premier League on a revised date for the fixture.
“Our fans are passionate about Manchester United, and we completely acknowledge the right to free expression and peaceful protest. However, we regret the disruption to the team and actions which put other fans, staff, and the police in danger. We thank the police for their support and will assist them in any subsequent investigations.”
As news of the postponement spread, some fans chanted, “We’ll decide when you can play.”
There were also protests last week outside Old Trafford before Manchester United played a road game at Leeds United, but in a stunning scene, Sunday marked the first time fans gained illegal access to the stadium and paraded on the field.
Fans have not been able to attend Premier League matches since last year, when coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions were enacted. The invasion quickly raised questions of whether areas were breached that are meant to be completely free of the virus, and if so, whether Sunday’s match might be postponed for health-related reasons.
Greater Manchester Police said two officers were injured, including one who required emergency treatment after getting slashed in the face with a bottle.
“The behaviour displayed today by those at both Old Trafford and The Lowry Hotel was reckless and dangerous,” a GMP official said in a statement. “We understand the passion many supporters have for their team and we fully respect the right for peaceful protest. Plans were in place to ensure this could happen safely, but it soon became clear that many present had no intention of doing so peacefully.”
Manchester United supporters have never fully embraced the Florida-based Glazer family, which also owns the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and which took control of the storied Premier League club in 2005. That antipathy reached an unprecedented boiling point in the wake of an announcement by Manchester United and 11 other clubs of their intention to form an exclusive Super League. That venture promised to earn the clubs much more money but also threatened to badly damage the Champions League and upend much of the culture of European soccer, in which top club teams are connected through promotion and relegation to all the rungs of their respective domestic structures.
Amid strong condemnation from supporters, prominent soccer governing bodies and European leaders such as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron, the Super League quickly fell apart last month.
“You made very clear your opposition to the European Super League, and we have listened,” Manchester United co-owner Joel Glazer said in an April 21 statement. “We got it wrong, and we want to show that we can put things right. . . . This is the world’s greatest football club and we apologise unreservedly for the unrest caused during these past few days.”
In a team-organized forum with fans on Friday, Manchester United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward sought to assure them that “we have learned our lesson from the events of the past week and we do not seek any revival of the Super League plans.” However, the Manchester United Supporters Trust called for a change in ownership structure.
“Joel Glazer’s subsequent apology is not accepted,” the trust said in a statement issued at the forum. “Actions speak louder than words and he and his family have shown time and again that their sole motivation is personal profit at the expense of our football club.”
During last week’s game at Leeds United, Manchester United fans flew a plane over that team’s stadium with a banner bearing an anti-Glazer message, and Sunday’s protests featured signs and chants calling for the ouster of the owners. Clashes with police were also reported outside Old Trafford.
Manchester United fans have long been unhappy with the Glazers for loading the club with debt during the family’s highly leveraged takeover, and the family has also been perceived by some as unresponsive to fans’ concerns and disengaged from the culture of British soccer. Fans are calling for a 51% controlling stake in the club to be held by supporters, as is common in Germany’s top-tier Bundesliga.
“It’s important that the fans’ views are listened to and that we communicate better,” United Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Friday. “My job is to focus on the football side and that we have the best possible team. As I’ve said before, I’ve been backed, I’ve had great support from the club and the owners and I’m sure I will get the backing again to go one step further. But I’m so happy that all the clubs agreed that this shouldn’t be the way of moving forward.
“Then again, when the protests are on, it’s important that they go in a good fashion and that we keep it peaceful.”
Liverpool was also among the 12 clubs that would have formed the backbone of the Super League. Liverpool also has American ownership via Fenway Sports Group and principal owner John Henry, and its fans have also staged protests, as have fans of similarly American-owned and Super League-minded Arsenal.
“Liverpool Football Club was in full agreement with the decision to postpone today’s fixture as a result of ongoing events at Old Trafford and the surrounding area,” the club said Sunday. “It is our position that public safety must be the number one factor in any such decision, with the ability to provide a secure environment for the participants, staff and officials being a particular priority.
“It was clearly not possible for this to be guaranteed today due to a situation which escalated rapidly.”
“The security and safety of everyone at Old Trafford remains of paramount importance,” said the Premier League, which added that Sunday’s match would be rescheduled at a later time. “We understand and respect the strength of feeling but condemn all acts of violence, criminal damage and trespass, especially given the associated COVID-19 breaches. Fans have many channels by which to make their views known, but the actions of a minority seen today have no justification. We sympathise with the police and stewards who had to deal with a dangerous situation that should have no place in football.”
Thailand’s top snooker player tests positive for Covid-19
Thailand’s snooker champion Prapruet “Rom Surin” Chaitanasakun tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.
The 59-year-old recently posted a video clip saying he was waiting at home for officials to take him to hospital. He said his symptoms – cough and loss of taste – have improved thanks to the medicines his daughter brought him.
“My spirits are still high, and I will do my best to start training as soon as possible,” he said.
Later, another Thai snooker star James “Tong Sitchoi” Wattana called on the authorities to take Prapruet to hospital as soon as possible as he was having breathing problems.
James also urged people to be careful and pay attention to their health, so the country can overcome this crisis.
Meanwhile, the Billiard Sports Association of Thailand said of the 25 snooker players who took the second Covid-19 test on Monday, Prapruet was the only one who tested positive.
“The rest of the players will continue training for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games and SEA Games,” the association said.
Olympic medal-winners add shine to the ‘Flag of Nation’ relay
Two former Olympic athletes, Yaowapa Boorapolchai and Manus Boonjumnong, joined the “Flag of Nation” relay on Thursday as the nationwide run reached its 26th day.
Atotal of 4,568 flag runners – athletes, celebrities and members of the public – are running with the flag through 35 provinces as Thailand counts down to the Tokyo Olympics.
Launched in Bangkok on March 28, the flag relay is making its way around the country before being delivered to Suvarnabhumi Airport on May 27.
The flag will then be carried by the Thailand athletics team at the Tokyo Olympics, which runs from July 23 to August 8.
Taekwondo athlete Yaowapa won a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Boxer Manus won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and silver four years later in Beijing, both at light-welterweight.
On Thursday, Flag of Nation relay runners covered 75.4 kilometres from Saraburi to Nakhon Pathom.
Yaowapa ran with the flag, while Manus joined the team of other runners and supporters.
Manus told reporters he was happy to take part, despite not getting a chance to carry the flag. He also wished Thailand’s athletes success at this year’s Olympiad.
Quartararo conquers Portimão as Bagnaia vs Mir decides the podium
Apr 19. 2021
Fabio Quartararo
The Frenchman’s roll rolls on at the rollercoaster as Bagnaia carves his way through – and Mir takes his first podium of the season
As weekends go, they don’t get much better than that for Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). The Frenchman converted pole position into victory at the Grande Prémio 888 de Portugal as the MotoGP™ race saw some big names crash out, but the Frenchman remained cool and calm at the front despite intense pressure from Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar). It wasn’t to be for the number 42 though as he crashed out, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) then carving his way through to second and just holding off third placed Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar). The returning Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) battled through the pain to finish P7 after a few feisty exchanges.
The initial getaway from polesitter Quartararo was about as good as it gets, but in the second phase of the start, Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and Rins got the better of the Yamaha man and it was the Suzuki who actually grabbed the holeshot. Zarco hit back to take over as the early race leader though, and Marc Marquez made a searing start to move up and battle Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) for P3. Mir made a typically great start and was up into the top five, and it was Mir vs Marquez again on the opening lap. Before long, the reigning World Champion shoved his GSX-RR up the inside of the Repsol Honda at Turn 11 for P3.
Zarco led the opening lap and at Turn 3, Marc Marquez and Mir came close again – too close. The eight-time World Champion tagged the back of Mir, who luckily stayed on, but it allowed Quartararo to squirm back through to fourth past Marquez. Miller and then Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) also passed Marquez as the number 93 to P7, with Rins showing a wheel to Zarco at Turn 13 nearer the front.
Lap 3 saw Quartararo make a clean move up the inside of Mir at Turn 1 for P3, the Frenchman making swift progress after getting a bit beaten up at the start. A Turn 13 move on Zarco stuck at the third time of asking a lap later. By Lap 5, Rins was now the race leader, but Zarco blasted back through on the straight. Then, suddenly, the sound of a bike hitting the deck was heard and as the cameras panned out, we saw Miller down at Turn 3 at the beginning of Lap 6. The Australian’s Portuguese GP was over after just over four laps, a disaster for the factory Ducati man. On the same lap, Miguel Oliveira’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) hopes of another dream home round rostrum were also over as the Portuguese star was down at Turn 14. He remounted but it was game over for Oliveira.
Meanwhile, Quartararo had followed Rins through on Zarco and the Yamaha man now had his radar firmly set on P1. Just like he had on the other Suzuki of Mir, Quartararo dived up the inside down the hill into Turn 1 and El Diablo was now at the head of the race. This was now where Quartararo and Rins started to display some superiority and a handful of laps later, third place Mir was one and a half seconds down on the leading duo, with Lap 14 seeing Quartararo set a 1:39.680 – the fastest lap. However, Rins was matching the Yamaha every step of the way for now, and the duo exchanged fastest laps on numerous occasions. Some colossal drama was about to unfold, however,
First, we saw Rins crash at Turn 5 on Lap 19 of 25. The downhill, tricky left-hander caught out the Spaniard who was right behind Quartararo, and it was race over for the number 42. That gave Quartararo a 4.2 second lead over Zarco, with Bagnaia grabbing P3 off Mir at Turn 5. Then, a lap later at Turn 11, the former World Championship leader was down. Zarco’s front washed away the top of the hill and the Frenchman slid out of contention, just after Bagnaia had picked him off at Turn 5.
And so, barring a disaster, victory was Quartararo’s. The podium battle, however, was still well on. Bagnaia was holding P2 and looking good, with Mir having Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) in his mirrors heading into the final exchanges. With two to go, the trio were locked together but Pecco wasn’t buckling, and fifth place Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was less than a second away from Morbidelli’s rear wheel to boot. Mir was pressuring Bagnaia but the Italian was holding firm, and on the last lap, the Suzuki rider looked tempted…
Five seconds down the road, Quartararo cruised over the line to pick up his second win of 2021. A commanding victory for factory Yamaha’s new recruit, and one that sees him take a 15-point lead into Jerez – a circuit he was quite successful at last season. That makes it three from three for Yamaha for the first time since 2010, too. Behind that, Bagnaia was just able to keep it pinned to the line to complete an awesome recovery from P11 to P2 after some qualifying heartbreak, and he’s up to P2 in the standings with his first podium of the year. Mir couldn’t get past the Ducati but he held off the Yamaha of Morbidelli by 0.179s to earn his first podium of 2021, an important result from the World Champion and another rostrum after starting from outside the top two rows. More of his podiums come from further down the grid than not, somehow.
It was a return to form for fourth place Morbidelli as the Italian got back in the podium hunt throughout to hopefully banish his Losail woes. Binder’s P5 proves once again the South African is a Sunday rider through and through, and that’s a morale-boosting result for KTM and Binder ahead of Jerez – where the then-rookie had some serious speed last year. Aleix Espargaro earns Aprilia an equal-best MotoGP™ result in P6, yet another great ride from the Spaniard, who was 4.3 seconds ahead of the next man on track…
That man is Marc Marquez. The eight-time World Champion completed his first race since the 2019 Valencia GP finale, and emotions were shown by the Spaniard when he arrived back in his box. And in his debrief.
Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) bagged his first top 10 of the year in P8, with reigning Moto2™ World Champion Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) picking up his second top 10 MotoGP™ result in P9. It was another brilliant ride from ‘The Beast’, and what an absolutely superb effort from 10th place Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) too. The battered and bruised Japanese rider has been in considerable pain all weekend since his huge Friday Turn 1 crash, but a P10 sums up just how tough – physically and mentally – MotoGP™ riders are.
Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) didn’t recover from a horror start, and in the end benefited from a few crashes to pick up P11.Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia) slipped to P12 from a P8 start but it was nevertheless a very promising weekend for the Italian, and a job well done after some awesome speed in practice. Injured Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing), Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) completed the points, and Oliveira was the final finisher in P16 after his crash.
Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) crashed at Turn 11, rider ok, with Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) pulling into pitlane in the early stages with a technical issue.And on we go. Quartararo marches on in the 2021 title race and two wins from three is the Frenchman’s tally heading to Jerez. A weekend off is followed by the Spanish GP at the end of April/start of May, and already the title race is twisting and turning. After all, this is MotoGP™… so make sure to come back for more!
MotoGP™ podium 1 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 41:46.412 2 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – +4.809 3 Joan Mir – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – +4.948
Top Independent Team rider 4 Franco Morbidelli – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – +5.127 MotoGP™ podium L-R: Bagnaia, Quartararo and Mir
Fabio Quartararo: “Good to feel back! I feel full of confidence. Bringing that confidence from Qatar. Now we know what we need work to go fast. I only need to feel the front and I go fast and just focus on my riding. Woah, what a pace, I didn’t expect it, I was less than half a second from my qualifying lap on the pace. It was amazing, also the pressure of Rins in the back, I wanted to make a gap. He made a mistake and then… I was riding well; I was riding easy and still making a gap to Pecco.
“We did an amazing job, we were P1 all day yesterday, P1 today, thanks to the team. Important points, and now we go to one of my favourite tracks in Jerez. I can’t wait to be there, thanks to my family for watching. It will be a great celebration for my birthday in two days. “ Fabio does it again – and in style There’s a pool at Portimão, so of course… Bagnaia *just* held off Mir It’s Mir’s first podium of the season – last year that prefaced a charge for the crown Morbidelli bounced back for P4, just off the podium and top Independent rider Fernandez flies to first Moto2™ victory Last year he dominated in Moto3™ on the Algarve. This year, the rookie took to the top step in Moto2™ for the very first time – as Lowes crashes out Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) just loves the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. After dominating at the track last season to sign off from Moto3™ with a win, the Spaniard returned in Moto2™ with a podium already under his belt and it seemed somewhat like fate. Fighting his way through a few big rivals, the Spaniard crossed the line a second and a half clear for his first intermediate class win, underlining his impressive form so far and moving up to second in the Championship. Aron Canet (Solunion Aspar Team) took his first Moto2™ podium in second after an impressive ride, with Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) charging past Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) late on to complete the podium. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) crashed out at Turn 1, leaving his key rivals with an open goal…
Lowes was the first big headline, that sending shockwaves through the race. Late on the brakes into Turn 1 after a tough start, the Brit was careering straight towards Gardner’s rear wheel and was forced to pick it up and run wide, the rear end then kicking him off. Rider ok, but some big drama to start the Moto2™ race.
At the front, Gardner led on Lap 1 but Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) was the man on the move in the opening exchanges and blasted past on the home straight. Roberts had made a good start from P8 to battle Gardner for P2 as the latter got out of shape coming out of Turn 1. Bezzecchi was able to pull out a healthy one second lead at the front but Canet was making moves and soon, the lead was cut to nothing as Gardner and the five other chasers reeled in the Italian.
Yet more drama unfolded just behind as we saw a huge crash involving Yari Montella (Lightech Speed Up) and Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP40) at the final corner, both bikes catching fire in the gravel trap. Montella, who highsided, was taken to the medical centre for a check-up and later declared fit. And more: at Turn 5, the two Idemitsu Honda Team Asia riders were down as Ai Ogura made contact with American Racing’s Cameron Beaubier. Ogura got out of shape and couldn’t help but crash into Somkiat Chantra, an unfortunate racing incident between the two teammates.
Lap 11 saw Canet take the lead, but Roberts then pounced at Turn 1 as Canet and Bezzecchi went wide. Bezzecchi slipped to P4 as Gardner also passed the Italian, but one of the pre-race favourites then made a couple of mistakes in the soaring Portuguese heat. That saw the Aussie lose valuable ground as Canet and Roberts made a breakaway, but the Spaniard and American scrapped it out for a few laps and Canet also got a track limits warning. Enter Raul Fernandez. The rookie was lapping far superior to his rivals and he soon picked off both Roberts and Canet to take the lead with four to go, late race pace searing him through.
The rookie pulled 0.7s clear in three laps, setting another fastest lap of the race on Lap 21 of 23, a 1:42.86, and his teammate Gardner was finding some late pace too in P4, the Australian reeling in Roberts and Canet. Three personal best laps from Gardner was mega stuff but nothing was going to stop Raul Fernandez, on the final lap his lead was up to 1.2 seconds and it seemed the job was done as attentions turned to the three-way scrap for P2 and P3.
Roberts lunged up the inside of Canet at Turn 11, but Canet then dived back at Turn 13, but both ran slightly wide to give Gardner an invitation. Roberts switched to the inside for Turn 14 but the narrow line he took saw him open a small gap for the Aussie to squeeze into, an that he did – making some contact but getting through, Roberts staying on but watching th podium fade away.
Up the road though, Raul Fernandez had rounded the final corner to win his first Moto2™ race, with Canet cementing his first intermediate class podium with a hard-earned P2, escaping the discussion on whether rubbing is racing raging just behind him. Gardner’s third, however, sees him head to Jerez as Championship leader for the first time.
Roberts was unlucky to lose out on a podium in Portimão but it was nevertheless a great ride from the American. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) backs up his Doha P6 with P5 as the Spaniard continues to find form in 2021, and Bezzecchi was eventually forced to settle for P6 having led in the early laps. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) was a second behind Bezzecchi in a solid P7, with Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP40) earning his first points of the season in P8. Beaubier is a top 10 Moto2™ finisher after a brilliant ride to P9 on his first visit to the Algarve International Circuit, and Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) completed the top 10.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team), Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team), Lorenzo Baldassarri (MV Agusta Forward Racing) and Marcos Ramirez (American Racing) were the remaining point scorers.
Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) crashed at Turn 8 unhurt, with Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) taking out compatriot Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) at Turn 1.
As we leave the Algarve, the Moto2™ Championship is shaken up after another stunner. Heading to Jerez, three points split Gardner, Raul Fernandez and Lowes – so it’s game on in the Moto2™ title race! Moto2™ podium: 1 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 39:47.377 2 Aron Canet – Solunion Aspar Team – Boscoscuro – +1.600 3 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – +1.968 Moto2™ podium L-R: Canet, Fernandez and Gardner Raul Fernandez: “Unbelievable. I want to say thanks to my team, they brought me the best bike of the weekend for the race. Yesterday I had bad luck in qualifying with the yellow flag, but this morning in warm up I said ‘eh, I have an incredible bike for the end of the race’. I had this problem in Qatar at the end of the race, I didn’t have too much tyre. It was incredible with my team and my family, it’s incredible. I don’t have words, I want to say thanks. We will see in the next race, this is one of my best tracks and we will see in Jerez.”
Acosta ravages the rollercoaster for second successive win A brutally brilliant last lap move from the Spaniard sees him take to the top step once again on the Algarve Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) has done it again! The rookie sensation took a hard-fought victory at the Grande Premio 888 de Portugal after a brilliant last lap move on Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing), keeping it pinned to the line to make a little more history. After becoming the first rider to win from pitlane in Moto3™ last time out, Acosta is now the youngest rider with three Grand Prix podiums in a row and the first rider since MotoGP™ Legend Daijiro Kato to take podiums on his first three GP appearances. Oh, and Acosta extended his Championship lead to a stunning 31 points after just three races. Behind the duel for the win won by the Spaniard, Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) converted pole into a podium after showing great pace all weekend.
It was Migno who took the holeshot, the Italian off like a shot from pole and into the lead ahead of a storming start from Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing). Foggia slotted into third ahead of Sergio Garcia (GASGAS Valresa Aspar Team), with a lead freight train forming from the off. Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing) had his pitlane start first, before five seconds later Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) set off. Then, John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing).
Back at the front, Artigas took the lead at the end of Lap 1, but the rookie’s impressive race would sadly provide the first drama as a touch from Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) sent him tumbling out of contention. Rodrigo was given a Long Lap penalty for the incident, and the freight train rolled on.
Foggia was the man doing a lot of the work in the lead, the Leopard rider looking confident out front and Acosta tagged onto him, up at the sharp end immediately alongside teammate Jaume Masia, Garcia, Migno, Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and a few more familiar frontrunning faces. By nine to go, there was more drama as Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) collected Izan Guevara (GASGAS Valresa Aspar Team) and the two crashed out. The leading train was 11 riders, with Rodrigo back on their tail after his Long Lap.
The next drama came from Adrian Fernandez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) as the rookie collected the veteran, leaving a nine-rider group fighting for the win – and the familiar Leopard and Red Bull KTM Ajo colours at the front. As the laps ticked on the fervour went up a few notches, and with four to go the Turn 1 shuffle was getting brutal as Acosta headed a little wide with nowhere else to go, Migno took back the lead and Foggia had to settle for second.
By the penultimate lap, Foggia led Acosta and that’s how the final lap began as just behind, Garcia somehow saved a highside but that was the Spaniard’s podium hopes over. Meanwhile, Masia was up to P3 but then there was yet more drama at Turn 5 as the number 5 slid down the road, his hopes of a race win over too. Now, it was a straight fight between Foggia and Acosta.
Acosta was a monster on the brakes at Turn 11 and clawed back enough ground and then, at Turn 13, the rookie sensation made his move: late on the brakes, up the inside, full lean angle, clean pass. Just two corners remained before a run to the line, but coming over the crest of the final corner, Acosta’s KTM was squirming. Somehow he didn’t crash, but it did help Foggia as the two pinned it and tucked in for the line.
It was only 0.051, but Acosta held it and won his second consecutive race as he extends his points lead to a stunning 31, making yet another statement with another win. Foggia is back on the podium for the second time on the Algarve, and it was Migno who emerged from the battle to complete the podium to take third, just 0.013 ahead of Sasaki as the Japanese rider was back in the fight at the front.
Rodrigo finished P5 despite his long lap, and he beat Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3) and Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) by less than a tenth as the fastest seven riders finish 0.773s apart after some incredible racing again in Moto3™.
Garcia was in amongst it throughout but that late, out the seat moment on the last lap cost the Spaniard and he took eighth. Despite the Turn 5 tumble, Masia salvaged ninth to slot in behind the freight train out front.
Ryusei Yamanaka (CarXpert PrüstelGP) picks up another top 10 in 2021 with P10, and he led Stefano Nepa (BOE Owlride) and teammate Jason Dupasquier (CarXpert PrüstelGP) over the line. Filip Salac (Rivacold Snipers Team) took home P13 from Portimao, with Alcoba and Öncü doing well to pick up the remaining points despite pitlane starts on a five second delay.
That’s it from Portugal. Next up: Jerez and another track Acosta knows well. Will the dream Grand Prix debut season continue? You wouldn’t bet against it! Moto3™ podium 1 Pedro Acosta – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM – 38:01.773 2 Dennis Foggia – Leopard Racing – Honda – +0.051 3 Andrea Migno – Rivacold Snipers Team – Honda – +0.584 Moto3™ podium L-R: Foggia, Acosta and Migno Pedro Acosta: “It was an amazing race, no? After this difficult weekend with the conditions and everything. I think that my mechanics did an amazing job to do this. Before the race Aki asked me, ‘what is the race strategy?’ and I said ‘have fun for 25 minutes and then take the trophy!’ It’s amazing to be here again!”
After 54 holes, Ruixin Liu (Guangdong, People’s Republic of China) trailed by six strokes, but she found momentum late on Sunday’s back nine this afternoon.
Making birdies on the last four holes of the day helped Liu finish regulation at 15-under par and tie with Morgane Metraux (Lausanne, Switzerland). While both players made par on the first playoff hole, Liu went right for the flag on the second one and closed the day by sinking a birdie putt for the win.
“The 18th hole today is pretty tough today. The pin location is tucked in the back with water on the right and the back. I really tried to land the ball between the bunker and the flag which only gives me about 5 to 8 yards to land it. Morgane did really good putting the ball on the green,” said Liu. “The putt was really tough because it was a hard angle to hit it, but after the first one I thought if I want to end this one quick I have to aim at the pin. I was really aggressive for the second (playoff hole) and there were great results for that.”
Just a few hours north in Mesa, Ariz., Liu also competed in a two-hole playoff at the first event of the season with amateur Rose Zhang where she won her fifth title on the “Road to the LPGA.”
“It was my first ever playoff and winning that one gave me a lot of confidence. Today I didn’t really worry about the results because I did pretty good from 15 to 18 already,” said Liu. “I didn’t give myself any pressure on the playoff holes at all.”
In 2018, Liu claimed six top-10 finishes leading her to both become Player of the Year and graduate onto the LPGA Tour. Back now on the Symetra Tour, Liu remembers certain events where she did not see the results she had hoped and is looking forward to conquering them this season along with getting back into the top-10 in the Race for the Card.
“For this season I am going to try and play as good as I am playing right now and see where it is going to take me,” said Liu. “Also, there are some golf courses we already played before I was to conquer them and not make the mistakes that I did a few years ago. The Island Resort Championship was my first win as a professional so I for sure want to play good there again, but in Kansas I didn’t play well last time. I barely made the cut so that is one I am really looking forward to.”
METRAUX LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE OF 2021
Morgane Metraux had a five-stroke lead coming into Sunday’s final round. This afternoon she carded a 1-over par with three bogeys and two birdies. Metraux’s second birdie of the day came in clutch on No. 18, as she had to make it to force a playoff with Liu. She made par on the first playoff hole but missed a birdie putt on the second playoff hole to continue play.
“I was really calm. I surprised myself how calm I was. I was actually more nervous during the actual round that I was during the playoff,” said Metraux. “I guess because I was just happy to be in the playoff after making that putt on 18 (in regulation). I hit some good shots and good putts so there is nothing to regret.”
After her second-place finish at the Casino Del Sol Golf Classic, Metraux took home a check of $18,940. This moved her up the money list and she now sits at No. 5 in the Race for the Card. Despite not having the outcome she had hoped, Metraux was happy to have her mom on the bag for the week.
“It was fun. She doesn’t caddy that often for me. t was fun to just talk about other things as well on the course. She plays but she is not giving me advice or anything for the actual golf part. We just talk about other things and that was quite cool,” said Metraux. “Sometimes I have another caddy, sometimes I am on my own, but it was fun to share these memories with her that we can talk about. I wish it was a win we could talk about but maybe next time.”
RACE FOR THE CARD STANDINGS AFTER WEEK THREE
Following the third tournament of the 2021 Symetra Tour season, the Race for the Card money list welcomes a fresh top five.
Here is a look at the current top-10 heading into the fifth annual IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa hosted by Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon in Beaumont, Calif., from Aug. 21-23:
1. Ruixin Liu – $64,558
2. Sophie Hausmann (Nottuln, Germany)- $30,696
3. Fatima Fernandez Cano (Santiago de Compostela, Spain) – $26,244
Formula 1® and MotoGP™ pay tribute to Fausto Gresini
Apr 19. 2021
A minute of silence in memory of the Imola-born motorcycle World Champion is observed in both Imola and Portimão
Formula 1® and MotoGP™ came together on Sunday the 18th of April to pay their respects to two-time motorcycle World Champion Fausto Gresini, with a minute of silence observed at both the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola and the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão.
At the Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell’emilia Romagna, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Jean Todt joined members of Gresini’s family in parc ferme to observe the minute of silence. At the MotoGP™ Grande Premio 888 de Portugal, the bikes, riders and team members from the MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™ class Gresini teams gathered in front of the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini box ahead of the MotoGP™ race, joined by FIM President Jorge Viegas and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, to pay their respects.
Gresini was born in the city of Imola and sadly passed away earlier in 2021. He will be greatly missed by the motorsport community.
Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1: “To remember Fausto Gresini means to scroll through some of the most beautiful sporting pages of our hometown Imola. The passion for motors and motorsports has tied us together from an early age. Fausto not only has been a World Champion, but also an incredible scout of extraordinary talents, who left their mark into two-wheeled motorsport. He will never be forgotten.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “Fausto has been, without a doubt, among those who most contributed in bringing MotoGP to the level it is now. He was first of all a good friend and one of those key figures of our paddock. With his charisma and smile, he built one of nicest and best equipped teams of the paddock, and my goal is to keep his memory alive. He left a great family both outside and inside the paddock and we will miss him a lot. We celebrated him in Qatar with a heartfelt minute of silence, and I think this shared event with Formula1 is the ultimate proof of how important his figure has been in the whole world of motorsport.” Outside the Gresini box in Portugal, team members and dignitaries gathered for the tribute Gresini’s family in parc ferme in Imola with one of his bikes
Lydia Ko entered the final round of the LOTTE Championship up one-stroke ahead of playing partner Nelly Korda at -21.
The last time Ko slept on the 54-hole lead was at the 2020 Marathon Classic, where she ultimately finished in a tie for second. But less than one year later, on the shores of Oahu, Ko secured her 16th win on the LPGA Tour after a final-round 65 to finish -28 for the tournament, her first victory in 1,084 days.
“Like I told my mom this morning, honestly, before Marathon I couldn’t even sleep on Saturday night. Because even though I had been in that position before because it had been such a long time, I think I was putting a lot of pressure on myself and I know there were expectations. I slept great last night. I just said, Hey, my fate is all right chosen. I’m just going to play the best golf I can today. I hung in there,” said Ko. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, especially around a golf course like this. Can go really low and it doesn’t matter how far back you are, you can always be in it. I just continued to stick to my game plan, and I think this kind of — it proves to myself. I think that’s the biggest thing. I could be here with my team and family, so I’m super grateful that they’re with me along this journey.”
Her 260 breaks not only her personal-best but also the tournament scoring record. Ko’s -28 is also the third lowest in LPGA Tour history, behind only Sei Young Kim’s -31 from the 2018 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic and -29 from Shanshan Feng at Thornberry in 2019. Ko also recorded 29 total birdies, including a streak of four on Nos. 9-12 on Saturday. The 29 birdies also ties the Tour’s third-best number of most sub-par holes (birdies/eagles) in a single event, last recorded by Jessica Korda at the 2021 Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions. Despite her impressive play in the final round, Ko said she never felt like resting on her laurels.
“I was quite a ways back a few week ago at ANA and put myself right into it, so I knew that could be the case today,” said Ko. “So I said to myself, even seeing that I had a six-shot lead, You know what? You just got to focus and do a good job with each shot. You don’t want to make careless mistakes. I think I played smart and felt like I focused until the last putt dropped on the last hole.”
Ko turns around a record-setting performance at the LOTTE Championship and sets her sights on the HUGEL AIR-PREMIA LA Open. The New Zealander said she hopes to carry the momentum and every positive from her time in Hawaii with her through the next couple of weeks.
“I feel like when I’m hitting it with confidence and aggressive kind of mindset, that’s when I hit it the best and play the best, because it’s more free and I’m controlling it less. I don’t know why I did that better this week than others, but I think I was being less tentative just sticking to my game plan. And if it was a tough driving hole, just hit it more aggressively. I felt it was — felt great hitting a really solid drive down the last,” said Ko. “I guess things just clicked, and I don’t mean like it clicked in a technical way, but I think it just clicked I think sometimes between the ears. I think just having my team to kind of always remind me of my keys, key aspects has really been helpful for that.”
Korda, who started the day at -20, finished with a final-round 71 to sit in a tie for second at -21 with Inbee Park, Sei Young Kim and Leona Maguire. Korda struggled on the front nine, parring her first seven holes until a bogey on No. 8, but said she was proud of way she bounced back through two bogeys and four birdies in her last nine holes.
“I’m happy with a second finish. You never complain finishing second in a tournament. Left a lot out there, but Lydia played so well. It was her time. But, yeah, every single time I put myself into these positions I learn from it. And my putter was definitely — if there is a way for my putter to be dead, ice cold, my putter was dead today,” said Korda. “I mean, like it just happens in golf. You have these days. And thankfully I came in with a couple birdies and I fought back to finish tied second.”
Maguire secured her career-best finish on Tour with the tie for second at LOTTE, and said she’s known this kind of performance has been a continual work in progress.
“I played really nice this week. Drove the ball really well. Today was probably the best all week today. Irons were solid all week. Putted nicely. Not the best I’ve ever putted, but nicely. So everything is trending very nicely in the right direction,” said Maguire. “I knew Lydia was going to go low today and I was going to have to do something very special to try and catch her. Proud of the way I finished strong.”
Jenny Shin, Wei-Ling Hsu, Sarah Schmelzel and sponsor invite Yuka Saso finished in a tie for sixth at -19, with Tour winner Amy Yang and 2020 U.S. Women’s Open champion A Lim Kim T10 at -18. 2018 and 2019 LOTTE champion Brooke Henderson finished at -14 in a tie for 27th.
JENNY SHIN WITH CAREER DAY IN HAWAII
LPGA Tour winner Jenny Shin felt she had nothing to lose heading into the final day of the LOTTE Championship. Starting the day in a tie for 36th, Shin said it was her goal to go as low as possible. “3-under feels like even-par here,” she said. Shin started strong with three birdies on her opening holes, later making four more on Nos. 7-10. By day’s end, the 28-year-old finished one-shot off the tournament’s 18-hole record, a 62, to secure a T6 result.
“I started with three great birdies. Made — first two putts were not short so they were a great momentum picking up. And I had troubles on two holes, 11 and 12, so — no, it was 12 and 13. I handled that well. Got up and down; made par,” said Shin. “I think that was a huge deal for me. I was able to make a birdie, two birdies closing in, so it was a great day overall.”
Shin said her confidence has been high since a top-10 finish at the Gainbridge LPGA, and had the 18-hole record in her mind as she made her way around Kapolei Golf Club. “That last putt I wanted it so badly and I hit it a little bit too firm and I was just like, Oh, my gosh,” said Shin. “I didn’t really know where I was coming down until the last few holes. I was starting to count and I was like, Where am I? I really need to birdie the last two holes,. I did that yesterday, so I thought could totally be a possibility. Did the best I could, but, yeah, maybe not today.”
Shin started the week with a little advice from her boyfriend, who is native to the area and grew up playing Kapolei. She was impressed by the conditions of the public course and is thrilled to enter the HUGEL-AIR PREMIA LA Open with a chip on her shoulder.
“I was telling my caddie and my boyfriend as well, because he grew up on this golf course. I said, This is a public golf course, and to have this kind of condition on the greens was really surprising,” said Shin. “I’m looking forward to my Asia events. I’ve done pretty well in both Thailand and Singapore. This is a really good, and I look forward to it. So it’s a great opening of my four-week run.”
PLAYER NOTES
Rolex Rankings No. 11 Lydia Ko (67-63-65-65)
She hit 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens, with 26 putts
Her 260 breaks not only her personal-best but also the tournament scoring record. Her 195 also sets the 54-hole scoring record for the LOTTE Championship
Ko’s -28 is also the third-lowest in LPGA Tour history, behind only Sei Young Kim’s -31 from the 2018 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic and -29 from Shanshan Feng at Thornberry in 2019
This is Ko’s fifth event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season; before the LOTTE Championship, she recorded two runner-up finishes and additional top-10 result
This is her eighth season on the LPGA Tour; she is a 15-time winner and two-time major champion
This is Ko’s sixth appearance at the LOTTE Championship; her best finish is T2 in 2017
She won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics
In 2014, she became the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year and in 2015 earned Rolex Player of the Year honors
In 2015, Ko was the youngest player, male or female, to reach No. 1 in the world
Ariya becomes first Thai in 16 years to win LPGA Thailand
Formula 1® and MotoGP™ came together on Sunday the 18th of April to pay their respects to two-time motorcycle World Champion Fausto Gresini, with a minute of silence observed at both the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola and the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão.
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