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Quartararo pips Rins to pole as Marquez and Mir play cat and mouse in qualifying

Apr 18. 2021

The Frenchman takes it by 0.089, Marquez plays some mind games and Bagnaia and Viñales suffer lap cancellations in Portugal

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) is the new lap-record holder at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve as the Frenchman put in a stunner to take his 11th MotoGP™ pole position. It was a dramatic qualifying at the Grande Premio 888 de Portugal with Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) emerging as the closest challenger in second, within a tenth of Quartararo, and Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) locking out the front row as the Championship leader continues his run of fast form – this time despite a crash.

The first headlines came in Q1, however. Reigning MotoGP™ Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and returning, eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) both found themselves in the session, and the fireworks didn’t quite go off but a fuse was definitely lit. Marquez followed the Suzuki throughout their first runs and the two were split by just a tenth and a half in Marquez’ favour, before the number 93 also shadowed the Suzuki rider back into pitlane, side by side. They were 1-2, Marquez-Mir.

On the next runs, a number of riders threatened but it remained the two Champions on top, with Mir improving but remaining just in arrears, this time by only 0.049. Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol), Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) couldn’t quite break the Marc Marquez-Mir stranglehold, and the two sailed through as Alex Marquez, Pol Espargaro and Binder were left with 13th, 14th and 15th on the grid.

And so Q2 began. Home hero Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the leader on the road but Aleix Espargaro’s (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) first lap was a quick one – a 1:39.452 put the Spaniard P1 initially, but not for long. The benchmark was set by Quartararo, the best of the weekend so far, as he put in a 1:39.028 on his first flying lap. Meanwhile, after setting two red sectors, Zarco then crashed unhurt at Turn 11… but crucially the Frenchman was able to ride his GP21 back to pitlane.

Meanwhile, Bagnaia went P2 to cut Quartararo’s advantage down to just 0.117s, with the latter having a snap on the entry to Turn 8. That ruined his second flying lap, and then Bagnaia’s lap got cancelled, as did Maverick Viñales’ (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) because of yellow flags waving for Zarco’s crash. Mir then slotted in behind second place Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) to provisionally sit on the front row, but there was plenty of action left to play. After waiting it out, Marc Marquez – who was yet to set a time – then emerged from pitlane alongside eighth place Rins. And once again, alongside meant alongside for the Honda and Suzuki…

Quartararo, however, emerged ready to lay down another marker. El Diablo was 0.137s under his own time through Sector 3 and coming across the line, it was a new all-time lap record for the Frenchman. Oliveira then snuck into P5, Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) went P2, and Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia) – after an impressive performance to go straight through to Q2 – shot up to a magical P4. The cameras panned to Rins, Marc Marquez and Quartararo next and shadowing the Suzuki, Marc Marquez climbed onto the front row. Just behind the Spaniard, Quartararo was lurking although he couldn’t improve that time round. That’s when Q2 started to make a few headlines of its own.

Oliveira suddenly slid out at the bottom of the hill at Turn 9, although the Portuguese rider was ok, as Zarco bounced back from his own crash to slot into second. Morbidelli knocked Marquez onto the third row as the Italian took fifth, and Bagnaia was on a serious rampage. Three tenths up heading into the final sector, the Italian slammed in a new lap record – and then the lap got cancelled. Yellow flags were to blame, although it remained understandably contentious for the Italian after the fact. That left him in P11, and there was more heartbreak as Viñales instead ran afoul of track limits by the smallest of margins, leaving him down in P12.

And so Quartararo, who said it did feel a little different to his ten previous MotoGP™ poles after the drama and pace of Bagnaia, takes the top honours on Saturday and holds the new lap record. Rins snuck in a stunner to take second though, the Suzuki rider just 0.089s behind the Yamaha but nevertheless taking his equal best MotoGP™ qualifying result. Championship leader Zarco bounced back from his crash into a great position on the outside of the front row, likely remembering fondly the Ducati holeshot heroics in Qatar.

Speaking of which, Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) will spearhead Row 2, and he’s joined by Morbidelli and Marc Marquez as the former slots back into his rightful place nearer the front and… so does the latter. What can the eight-time World Champion do over race distance? Points? Top ten? Top five? Podium…?

Aleix Espargaro qualifies seventh for the second consecutive race in a row, another great job done by the Spaniard on the Aprilia. Marini recovered from a rapid FP4 crash to claim his best MotoGP™ qualifying result in P8 and get a good reward for his much quicker weekend so far, and the rookie lines up ahead of Mir on the third row. Worth remembering, however, that the reigning World Champion has take more than half of his MotoGP™ podiums from outside the first two rows…

In tenth it’s not a repeat Portugal pole position for Oliveira after his crash, but he was perfectly ok and will be raring to go on Sunday afternoon from P10. Bagnaia slots into P11, ahead of Viñales in P12. Both will have a point to prove as the lights go out, and after the stunning starts from Oliveira and Bagnaia we’ve seen so far in 2021, they’ll be aiming to hit quick. Viñales, meanwhile, will likley be more of a pace man based on the form book… but could very much still threaten as Yamaha seem to have made some strides at the Algarve on take two. Viñales’ best lap had been quicker than pole… Finally, there was some bad news for Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin on Saturday morning. Following a huge crash in FP3, the Spaniard was declared unfit and has a fractured foot and finger. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on track soon. Click here for full results! That’s it from Saturday, with the grid for the Grande Premio 888 de Portugal promising a stunner. Points to prove, pace to unleash… and lots in the locker. Who will reign Portimão in 2021? Find out at 13:00 local time (GMT +1) as the next 25 points come into play… and Marc Marquez looks to make race distance for the first time since Valencia 2019.  MotoGP™ front row 1 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 1:38.862 2 Alex Rins – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – +0.089 3 Johann Zarco* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – +0.129 *Independent Team rider MotoGP™ front row L-R: Rins, Quartararo and Zarco Fabio Quartararo: “First of all, it’s pole but it doesn’t feel like usual, we saw Bagnaia was extremely fast on one lap! I’m more happy about FP3 and FP4. The main goal was the front row and we achieved it, and of course pole position. It feels really good but it’s a shame because on the last lap I had a big shake out the last corner and we could have improved the laptime but I’m feeling happy, I know the pace I can have and that one is for my team.” Rins was within less than a tenth after a seriously good Saturday from the Suzuki man And Zarco went from crash to front row and top Independent Team rider Lowes denies Gardner by just 0.023 as the duel rolls on The Brit remains undefeated on Saturday. But will the same be true on Sunday? Gardner is homing in… Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) has made it three from three in 2021 as the Championship leader took pole once more for the Grande Premio 888 de Portugal. It was close though, with Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) just 0.023 off as the 2020 winner at the track remains the man closest on the chase. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) went from Q1 to P3 as he completes the front row. In Q1, Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) came out on top, the Thai rider moving through along with Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team), Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) and Xavi Vierge. Jorge Navarro (Lightech Speed Up) crashed, as did Lorenzo Baldassarri (MV Agusta Forward Racing), riders ok but the former especially losing out as he didn’t set a time. Nevertheless, the clock rolled on and Q2 began. Lowes was the early leader in Q2 as the first laps of the second part of qualifying were fired in, but Gardner soon took after after setting a 1:43.032. However, the fight between Gardner and Lowes had already begun. The British rider was back on top by 0.114s after two flying laps, but the number 22 had a hairy moment heading into the tight Turn 5 left-hander on his third flyer. Responding, Gardner improved his lap time to lie just 0.006s behind Lowes. Q1 graduate Vierge was in P3 already, having shown some impressive pace in the early stages of Q2, and the Spaniard was ahead of two rookies in the form of Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Albert Arenas. The reigning Moto3™ World Champion was shuffled down to P7 rather rapidly though as Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) moved to P5 and P6 respectively. Another great lap from Lowes came in next and his advantage over Gardner grew to 0.023s – not a lot – but the Brit was then down at Turn 11, ending his session a little early. No one could better him regardless, although Gardner runs him closest in P2 once again and the top two in the title fight so far line up side by side. Vierge joins them on the front row. Ogura takes fourth and that’s the Japanese rookie’s best Moto2™ qualifying performance, just 0.220s down on Lowes and showing his Doha GP speed was no flash in the pan. Bezzecchi and Augusto Fernandez join Ogura on Row 2, which is Augusto Fernandez’s best Saturday result of the year. Arenas is another rookie to bag his best Moto2™ qualifying in P7, the Spaniard beating one of the pre-qualifying favourites in Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) by just 0.010s. The American is P8 on the grid, just ahead of Aron Canet (Solunion Aspar Team) and a seemingly disappointed 10th fastest Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The rookie sensation, who won in Moto3™ at the track last year in some style, will be hoping to shoot through to the podium fight on Sunday. Chantra, Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40), Cameron Beaubier (American Racing), Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) complete the fastest 15 in Q2.  Click here for full results! It’s three from three for Lowes on a Saturday this year, but will it be a hat-trick of wins on Sunday? And a Lowes vs Gardner shootout for victory again? Find out when the Moto2™ riders go racing in Portimão at 14:30 local time (GMT+1) on Sunday afternoon. Moto2™ front row: 1 Sam Lowes – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 1:42.901 2 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – +0.023 3 Xavi Vierge – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Kalex – +0.174 Moto2™ front row L-R: Gardner, Lowes and Vierge Sam Lowes: “It was a bit different from this morning, yesterday I think the grip was down in general, the laptimes were not so fast. Today was more similar to last year, laptimes were similar. This afternoon maybe a bit of temperature and a bit of wind and the laptimes were a bit slower but I felt good. We improved the bike a lo over the weekend. It was the first time with a new tyre and low fuel in qualifying, the bike was feeling good and we could make a good rhythm. I’m happy with the work we’ve done and I’m looking forward to the race.”   Migno takes magnificent pole in Portugal Only just off the lap record, the Italian reigns in Q2 as Foggia takes second but a tenth and a half back Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) put in a pretty imperious qualifying at the Grande Premio 888 de Portugal, the Italian on top after the first runs and coming over the line in the final push to secure his second Grand Prix pole position. He pulled out a tenth and a half on last year’s podium finisher Dennis Foggia as the Leopard Racing rider takes second, with Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) third quickest but set to start from pitlane – plus a five second delay – on Sunday. In Q1 it was Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) who went quickest to lead the four graduates through, the Italian pipping Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) on his second run. Joining the two were Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Adrian Fernandez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), with Andi Farid Izdihar (Honda Team Asia) losing out by just 0.008. Once Q2 began and the first runs were done, Migno was already top of the pile. The Italian has had good pace all weekend and as the grid filed back out for one final push, was very much the man to beat. Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) didn’t quite make the cut as he ran out of time to make it to the line though, and a couple more key rivals for Migno’s provisional pole wouldn’t make it round either as Salač collided with Friday pacesetter Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) and both went down. The Argentinean had looked like a good bet to threaten for pole, but instead headed for a check up at the Medical Centre, rider ok.  Meanwhile, the freight train thundered on and over the line, a few improved but only Alcoba was able to take over from Migno at the top. It didn’t last long though and Migno hit back to better his own time and snatch back pole position. Foggia splits the two, but with Alcoba to start from pitlane it will be fourth quickest Sergio Garcia (GASGAS Valresa Aspar Team) who takes the final place on the front row. Rodrigo was fifth quickest in the end, just 0.009 off Garcia, but the Argentinean will start fourth as Alcoba leaves the grid for pitlane. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) was sixth quickest but is another with a pitlane start – his with a delay of 10 seconds – so Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) capitalises. Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), who’s second in the standings, has had a slightly more muted weekend in Portugal so far and was next up. Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing) put in one of his best performances of the year so far and was ninth fastest and set to move up, with Q1 graduate Sasaki tenth quickest after a significantly better Saturday than in Qatar. Speaking of Qatar… the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo of Pedro Acosta and Jaume Masia took a win apiece in the desert, but it’s not been quite the same pace yet in Portugal. Masia got the upper hand as he was 11th, and Acosta 12th although he didn’t take the fastest rookie honours this time around. However, the Spaniard did just win from pitlane, so that seems more molehill than mountain… Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was next up ahead of Fenati, with rookie Izan Guevara (GASGAS Valresa Aspar Team) just behind the veteran Italian. Adrian Fernandez pipped Antonelli, with Salač relegated to last in Q2 after his earlier exploits saw him lose out on a second push. Click here for full results! That’s it from Saturday in the Moto3™ class and Migno launches from pole for the first – and only – time since Valencia 2019. Can the Italian hold off the rest on the charge? Find out on Sunday at the slightly different time of 11:20, and that’s GMT +1 in Portugal. Moto3™ top three 1 Andrea Migno – Rivacold Snipers Team – Honda – 1:47.423 2 Dennis Foggia – Leopard Racing – Honda – +0.149 3 Jeremy Alcoba – Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3 – Honda – +0.279 Moto3™ top three L-R: Alcoba, Migno and Foggia Andrea Migno: “In FP3 we were strong, I’m happy about the feeling I have with the bike and happy about qualifying. Tomorrow in the race maybe it’ll be a normal Moto3 race, some group of course! But we’re ready to fight and we’ll see what happens tomorrow and just and try and enjoy the race.”   Autodromo Internacional do Algarve presented with Best Grand Prix award After a 2020 full of challenges faced and conquered for the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship, the award for Best Grand Prix will be presented to all those who played host to an event last season. This is to recognise and thank each track for their incredible support and collaboration in a history-making 2020. The second of those awards was presented just ahead of the Qualifying Press Conference on Saturday at Portimão, with IRTA President Herve Poncharal and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta handing over the trophy to Paulo Pinheiro, CEO of the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. Photos: IRTA President Herve Poncharal (centre) and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta (right) present the trophy Paulo Pinheiro, CEO of the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve

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Friends Prom and Chapchai happy to share title in truncated Thailand Mixed event

Apr 18. 2021

Chapchai Nirat and Prom Meesawat

By THE NATION

Close friends Prom Meesawat and Chapchai Nirat shared the winner’s trophy in the truncated Bt3-million Thailand Mixed presented by Trust Golf.

Atthaya Thitikul 

The event had to be reduced to 54 holes due to Covid-19 restrictions announced by the government on Saturday.

Prom and Chapchai, along with wonder girl Atthaya Thitikul, were neck-and-neck at 15-under coming to the final hole with twilight looming at the Alpine Golf Resort in Lamphun province. While the 18-year-old Atthaya missed the greens and ended up saving par, the two experienced men managed birdies to share the lead.

However play had to be stopped due to bad light, as a result the organisers declared Prom and Chapchai joint winners. The two signed off with a 16-under-par 210 and received prize money of Bt281,250 each.

Round three was behind schedule, as some of the previous day’s round-two action was postponed to Saturday morning due to tropical showers.

Tournament director Wanchai Meechai also had to shorten the competition to only three rounds to follow the new policies announced by the National Community Communicable Disease Committee on the pandemic.

Chapchai Nirat

For Chapchai, it was the end of a long wait for a title since winning the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation in Hua Hin five years ago.

“This is beyond my expectation,” said the 37-year-old from Phitsanulok province.

“I came here out of shape, to be honest, because I haven’t played a lot of tournaments these days,” said Chapchai, who hit a final-round 66.

“Winning again really gives me a lot of confidence. This is the first time that I have shared a title with another player, who happens to be my best friend Prom. We go way back,” said Chapchai, a four-time Asian Tour winner.

Of the three 53-hole leaders (including Atthaya), Prom was the only one who enjoyed a bogey-free day after shooting a 66.

“I couldn’t be happier to share this win with my close friend,” said Prom, who has secured at least one victory every year since 2019.

Atthaya missed another chance to win a Golf Trust Tour title after losing to Arpichaya Yubol in the Thailand Mixed I in February. The teenager, however, has been in formidable form winning four out of her last six events.

Prom Meesawat

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Major Winner Patty Tavatanakit to receive sponsor invitations to HSBC Women’s World Championship

Apr 17. 2021

Patty Tavatanakit (Photo credit to LPGA)

Continuously featuring one of the most competitive fields in golf since its inauguration in 2008, the HSBC Women’s World Championship has never been short of star-power; and while the 2021 edition is set to be no different, it’s likely to be some of the new names competing in ‘Asia’s Major’ that turn heads at Sentosa Golf Club at the end of the month.

 A sponsor invitation has been awarded to Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit who announced her arrival on the international golf scene earlier this month, winning the year’s first major championship in her rookie season.

 The big hitting 21-year old from Bangkok saw off a late challenge from Lydia Ko to claim her first LPGA Tour victory at the ANA Inspiration and joins Ariya Jutanugarn as the only two players from Thailand, male or female, to win one of the game’s major championships.

 Tavatanakit said:  “I’m feeling good about where my game is right now, and I really feel ready to take on the rest of the season.  The win at the ANA Inspiration hasn’t really sunk in yet, but I’m so grateful to my coaches and trainers who helped make that lifelong dream a reality. I’m really excited to play the HSBC Women’s World Championship for the first time which is a tournament I’ve always followed from home in Thailand. I’ll be familiar with the conditions in Singapore so hope I can do well. A big thank you to HSBC and I look forward to seeing you in Singapore!”

 Amanda Tan returns to the Tanjong Course by virtue of being Singapore’s top ranked player. It will be the 22-year old’s fourth outing at the tournament having previously played in 2014, 2017 and 2019. Playing at her own club, she will be looking to take full home advantage.

 “Thank you very much to HSBC for the invitation to compete in this year’s HSBC Women’s World Championship. It’s a great honour to represent Singapore once again and especially to play at Sentosa Golf Club which is my home club. As always, I’m really looking forward to it and will do my absolute best to give all the fans at home something to cheer about,” said Tan.

 Other players to receive sponsor invitations are Xiyu Lin of China who returns to Singapore for the first time since 2016, while Emily Pedersen of Denmark makes her tournament debut on the back of an impressive run of form on the Ladies European Tour in 2020, notching up four wins together with a runner-up finish in the Aberdeen Standard Ladies Scottish Open.

 Olfert De Wit, Interim CEO of HSBC Singapore said: “The HSBC Women’s World Championship is our flagship event in women’s golf and we are thrilled to have recently announced our ongoing commitment as title partner of the event. Hosting this tournament in one of HSBC’s most important international hubs showcases our firm commitment to Singapore and women in sport. Since 2008, we have brought world class golf to Singapore through our support of ‘Asia’s Major’ with the long term aim of inspiring the next generation of talent in the region.  We are delighted to be able to extend sponsor invitations to such exciting Asian talent as Patty and Amanda and to be able to open up this opportunity for them both.  We were thrilled to see Patty recently become a Major winner and we wish all golfers the very best of luck for the tournament.”

 25-year old A Lim Kim shot to fame last year when she won the 2020 US Open and, in the process, became only the fifth player in history to win a major championship on debut. The win at Champions Golf Club, Houston earned her a place on the LPGA Tour together with a debut appearance at the HSBC Women’s World Championship.

 The players join a stellar field of 69 players at Sentosa Golf Club, set to feature six of the world’s top-ten players, the current world number one, multiple major winners and three former champions.*

 The 2019 HSBC Women’s World Championship was won by Sung-hyun Park who joined a list of champions that includes Michelle Wie, Inbee Park, Paula Creamer, Karrie Webb, Ai Miyazato and Lorena Ochoa.

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Big Dolphin catches eagle for share of 3-way lead at Thailand Mixed II

Apr 17. 2021

Chapchai Nirat, Atthaya Thitikul and Prom Meesawat

By THE NATION

Two-time Asian Tour winner Prom Meesawat ended with an eagle to card 66 for a share of the clubhouse lead with wonder-girl Atthaya Thitikul and Chapchai Nirat as rain suspended round two of the Bt3-million Thailand Mixed II presented by Golf Trust on Friday.

Dubbed the “Big Dolphin”, the 32-year-old sank four birdies before landing an eagle on the ninth hole to take the joint lead on 134 (10-under) at the Alpine Golf Resort in Lamphun province.

“You have to be content after shooting 10-under after two rounds on a tough course like this,” said Prom, whose career highlights include wins in the 2006 SK Telecom Open and 2014 Yeander Tournament Players Championship.

“There are a lot of slopes which makes it difficult to make some putts. I had to stick to my game plan by aiming for good positions on the greens, which are quite narrow. You have to hit to the right spots to make birdies,” said Prom, whose last victory came in the Singha Pattaya Open last August.

Atthaya Thitikul fixes her make-up.

Atthaya, the only woman among five leaders after round 1, fought back from a bogey on hole 11 and a double bogey on 13 to shoot 68 for a share of the clubhouse lead.

“I wasn’t too happy with my wedge and iron but luckily I still managed to shoot scores at the turn,” said Atthaya, who is attempting to become the second female winner in the mixed event after Arpichaya Yubol triumphed in Hua Hin two months ago.

“First things first: for the weekend rounds, I need to fix my wedge shots. Better accuracy with my wedge should result in a lot of birdies,” added the rising Thai star, who has won four of her last six tournaments.

Chapchai started on the back nine, where he swapped three birdies with three bogeys before landing four more birdies after the turn.

“I was hitting better than in the first round even though I’m still a bit unhappy with my iron,” said the burly veteran, who has just opened a golf academy back home in Phitsanulok.

Chapchai Nirat 

“But my putts really helped me this week. The course is quite long which suits my style. I’m playing with a carefree mindset and I’m quick to move on after any mistakes,” added the 37-year-old, who is seeking his first win since the 2016 Thongchai Jaidee Foundation in Hua Hin.

Two shots off the pace was Settee Prakongvech, who finished third in the Thailand Mixed I. Settee carded 65 for the day’s lowest round. He shares fourth place on 8-under 136 with Nopparat Panichphol, who hit a second consecutive 66.

A tropical rainstorm stopped play in the late afternoon, forcing several players to resume action on Saturday morning.

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Bagnaia makes his mark as Marquez proves his speed on Day 1

Apr 17. 2021

The Italian heads the timesheets by three tenths – and Marquez slots into sixth despite nine months on the sidelines

Day 1 at the Grande Premio 888 de Portugal belongs to Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the Italian put together a pretty imperious performance to end the day fastest on the combined timesheets. From wet patches in FP1 to a fully dry FP2, the Italian was a force to be reckoned with most of the time he was on track, with red sectors aplenty. He ends Friday three and a half tenths clear of Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), with reigning Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) taking third overall. The headlines were stolen a little, however, by the return of eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)… and it was quite a return. Listening to the number 93 in his pre-event Press Conferences, it seems he had just as many questions as everyone else regarding his return from injury nine months after his crash in Jerez. And Friday gave us a few answers. In FP1 Marquez was third overall and only lost out on the top spot after two very late lunges from Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), and by the end of play the Repsol Honda rider was sixth. Happy, fast, and with a few questions remaining about his stamina as could be expected… but as exciting to watch as ever. The first lap was a steady one, before the number 93 started to reel in those ahead of him as Bagnaia trolled those taking it steady with some consistent attacks on the top. With the damp patches still very much playing a part it wasn’t ideal for anyone least of all a rider coming back after nine months on the sidelines, but as the final few flashes of pace emerged in the last few minutes, Marquez most definitely had speed. Cranking it up to take over at the top with only moments remaining, it seemed like the fairy tale initial headline could be about to come true. But no, Rins first and next Viñales did enough to deny the eight-time World Champion by a couple of tenths. FP2 similarly bubbled to a fast lap mad dash, although with the weather expected to remain pretty fair for the rest of the weekend – and conditions not changing as much as Qatar – there was a little less fervour than what we saw a couple of weeks ago. Nevertheless, there were some solid time attacks and Marquez was back amongst it. He ran off at Turn 1 and had a couple of twitches on his way to sixth, but a threat at the front he seems to remain… Jaws music, anyone? Between Mir in third and Marquez in sixth, Rins slots into fourth as both Team Suzuki Ecstar machines enjoyed a good start to the weekend, looking to make amends for a difficult GP on the Algarve last year. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), despite arm pump surgery ahead of the weekend, was fifth on Friday as he returns to the venue of his most recent podium, and the Aussie was only 0.008 off Rins ahead of him. Marc Marquez’ sixth, meanwhile, was decided by just 0.003 as Miller pipped him by the smallest of margins. Viñales, after topping FP1, was seventh and 0.560 off the top, ahead of top Independent Team rider Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) by just 0.064. Championship leader Zarco had an interesting end to the day as he suffered a mechanical problem on a practice start and pulled off the track as his bike began to smoke slightly, luckily finding himself in range of a Miller Taxi service as the Australian picked him up and let the Frenchman ride pillion back to the pits. Home hero now and last year as he destroyed the field on his way to the win from pole, Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) begins the 2021 edition in P9, and within provisional reach of Q2. The last rider currently on to join him is Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), the Japanese rider sneaking in late on despite a monumental crash earlier in FP2. Coming off on the way into Turn 1, the number 30 slid across the run off at speed and is feeling a little sore but was back out later in the session. Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was the rider just denied by his teammate’s last push for the top ten as he ends the day in P11, with Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) shuffled down to P12 by just 0.011 despite having shown a stronger start to the day, only four thousandths off teammate Marquez in FP1. The top rookie was Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia) as the Italian moved into a provisional top ten and then got shuffled down a few places to a nevertheless still impressive P13, just 0.013 off Pol Espargaro. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), meanwhile, was 14th and a tenth and a half further back, with Valentino Rossi completing the fastest fifteen on Friday after a tougher day for the Italian and his teammate Franco Morbidelli, who was P19. Clouds remain overhead but the forecast says they don’t threaten any more rain. So will the first European schedule FP3 be a classic all-out shoot out for Q2? Find out on Saturday morning from 9:55 (GMT +1), before qualifying from 14:10 to decide the grid for the Grande Premio 888 de Portugal. Last year it was Oliveira on pole, but this year the grid are already within a second of that on Friday… will history repeat itself? MotoGP™ Friday top five: 1 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 1:39.866     2 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – +0.340 3 Joan Mir – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – +0.419 4 Alex Rins – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – +0.428 5 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – +0.470 Top Independent Team rider: 8 Johann Zarco – Pramac Racing – Ducati – +0.624 Quartararo was closest on the chase Mir was third as he aims to conquer Portimão Taking it steady? Of course (not so much)! Marquez returns Zarco was top Independent Team rider Roberts reigns the rollercoaster on Friday The American tops both sessions on Day 1, with Raul Fernandez the only rider getting close Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) was back on top on Friday at the Grande Premio 888 de Portugal, the American fastest in both sessions and pretty comfortably. His 1:43.144 put him 0.317 clear of rookie on the chase Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), last year’s dominant force at the track in Moto3™, with Aron Canet (Solunion Aspar Team) in third heading up a close and high-profile remainder of the top ten. With a few damp patches in the morning but Moto2™ getting the best conditions enjoyed by any class, Roberts started how he meant to go on and went fastest in FP1, although he did have some close company as Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was just 0.041 off. By the afternoon and in full sun though, it was Roberts on top again and the American pulled the pin. He ended the day three tenths ahead of a different Red Bull KTM Ajo as Fernandez leaped into second, with the two enjoying some clear space ahead of the chasing pack. Canet leads that chasing pack, but the gaps make for intense reading. Gardner is fourth just 0.009 back, with Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) 0.048 off the Aussie. Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40) was back to the form he’d started to show towards the end of 2020 and takes sixth with a deficit of 0.023, and it’s exactly the same gap back to Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) in seventh as the Championship leader had a quieter first day on the timesheets. Reigning Moto3™ Champion Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team) had his best day in the intermediate class yet as he took P8 and was just 0.011 off Lowes. Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) takes ninth 0.028 further back, with Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) completing the top ten, just ahead of teammate Jake Dixon. Yari Montella (Lightech Speed Up) had an impressive Friday. The reigning Moto2™ European Champion struggled somewhat in Qatar but has been much quicker out the blocks in Portugal, ending Day 1 in P12 and after some periods much further up the timesheets too at a track at which he has both good experience and good memories. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) are currently the last two set to move through to Q2, but it can still shuffle on Saturday morning! There were few incidents on Day 1 for Moto2™. Lorenzo Baldassarri (MV Agusta Forward Racing) crashed in FP1, rider ok, before Canet took a tumble in the afternoon, rider also ok. Come back for more Moto2™ in FP3 as that begins at 10:55 (GMT +1), before qualifying from 15:10. Moto2™ Friday top five: 1 Joe Roberts – Italtrans Racing Team – Kalex – 1:43.144 2 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – +0.317 3 Aron Canet – Solunion Aspar Team – Boscoscuro – +0.608 4 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – +0.617 5 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – +0.665 Rodrigo rules Day 1 as Moto3™ get back in action on the Algarve The Argentinean pulls out nearly half a second on the field as mixed conditions give way to dry… for the most part Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) laid down a marker on Day 1 of the Grande Premio 888 de Portugal, pulling out 0.476 on closest rival Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) to go fastest on Friday by some margin. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo), the all-time lap record holder in Moto3™ at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, completes the top three nearly exactly half a second off the top. The morning saw the grid greeted with a good few damp patches, with action therefore understandably a little slow to start. It did gradually dry out but not wholly, so all riders improved in a fully dry FP2. Fully dry for the most part at least, with rain starting to spit in the final ten minutes or so – and no one after that able to depose Rodrigo as the Argentinean remained top, although his best was around two seconds or so off Masia’s all-time lap record set in 2020. Migno had more of his solid 2021 speed to just pip the aforementioned Red Bull KTM Ajo of Masia, with only 0.028 between the two to compare to Rodrigo’s 0.476 advantage in P1. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS Valresa Aspar Team) slots into fourth another tenth back, with Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) in fifth as the veteran’s speed remains despite him having the same experience of the track as most, rather than a chunk more. Championship leader, rookie and man of the moment Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is sixth after Day 1 as he tastes the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for the first time in the Grand Prix paddock, but he has already won here in the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship, which is joyous news for his rivals as he’s once again quick straight out the box. His deficit to Fenati was less than half a tenth, and his gap back to Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in seventh a more sizeable 0.114. Jason Dupasquier (CarXpert PrüstelGP) showed his step forward in 2021 was no flash in the Qatar pan as he was eighth, within a tenth of Suzuki and just ahead of last year’s Portuguese GP podium finisher Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) as the Italian took P9. Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3) completes the top ten fresh from his first podium since 2019 last time out, more fully fit than at any race in 2020. The weather looks like it may improve for qualifying, but will the lightweight class face another damp patch lottery for FP3? If they do, it’ll be second in the standings Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), rookie Izan Guevara (GASGAS Valresa Aspar Team) and veteran John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) heading through to Q2 directly as they complete the fastest 14 on Friday in that order. In a small twist of fate, McPhee denied Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) by just 0.029 ahead of their pitlane starts following their spat in Qatar. The Scotsman was also the sole crasher on Friday, rider ok and remounting to head back to the pits. Tune in for FP3 from 9:00 (GMT +1) to see if we have another shuffle, and don’t miss qualifying from 12:35 as the grid for the Grande Premio 888 de Portugal gets decided.  Moto3™ Friday top five: 1 Gabriel Rodrigo – Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3 – Honda – 1:49.538 2 Andrea Migno – Rivacold Snipers Team – Honda –  +0.476 3 Jaume Masia – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM – +0.504 4 Sergio Garcia – GASGAS Valresa Aspar Team – GASGAS – +0.623 5 Romano Fenati – Sterilgarda Max Racing Team – Husqvarna – +0.732

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A farmer, 84, joins national flag relay for Olympics

Apr 16. 2021

By THE NATION

An 84-year-old farmer defied age and impressed all with his participation in the national flag relay for the Olympics in Surat Thani province.

The “Flag of the Nation” relay for the Tokyo Olympics kicked off on March 28 at the Sports Authority of Thailand in Bangkok.

The 4,606km relay through 35 provinces in 61 days will see4,568 flag runners –athletes, celebrities and members of the public — take part.

Flag runner Chum Ladboon, an 84-year-old farmer, grabbed the limelight on Thursday.

He ran a kilometre from Surat Thani to Chumphon province in only seven minutes.

The relay will end at Suvarnabhumi Airport on May 27 and the flag will take off with the Thai Olympic contingent to Tokyo.

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Japan official opens door to canceling Olympics on virus surge

Apr 16. 2021

By Syndication Washington Post, Bloomberg · Gearoid Reidy, Isabel Reynolds

A senior official in Japan’s ruling party indicated canceling the Tokyo Olympics was an option as the country struggles with a surge in coronavirus cases less than 100 days before the Games are due to begin.

Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, said that if it was determined to be impossible to hold the Olympics, they would have to be canceled, in an interview with TV broadcaster TBS released Thursday.

“What would be the point of an Olympics that spread the infection?” Nikai added. Nikai is a veteran political broker whose support for Yoshihide Suga was crucial to him becoming prime minister last year.

Earlier Thursday, Taro Kono, Japan’s vaccine czar and administrative reform minister, signaled the possibility of holding the Olympics without spectators, according to Kyodo News.

Japan has stepped up virus prevention measures in six regions including Tokyo and Osaka. Osaka has seen record case numbers this month, while the capital recorded 729 cases Thursday, the highest level in more than two months. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said she would consider asking the government to declare a state of emergency if the current restrictions fail to slow the spread.

Japan wants to press ahead with preparations for the Olympics, top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato told reporters Thursday.

Since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed when the pandemic broke out, Suga has repeatedly expressed determination to press ahead with the event scheduled to start July 23, flagging it as an opportunity to prove the human race has defeated the virus.

Nikai echoed these sentiments in the interview, saying the Olympics were a big opportunity for Japan, and problems in staging the event should be resolved one by one to make it a success. He later issued a statement saying he wanted the event to go well, adding it was up to officials managing the Olympics to make decisions about the Games, Kyodo News said.

But his comments on a taboo topic come as Suga prepares to fly to the U.S. to meet President Joe Biden, whose continued support will be key to keeping the plans on track.

Disputes have broken out over various aspects of the planning, including whether athletes should be given priority access to vaccines when elderly and vulnerable people have yet to be immunized. Japan has so far managed to administer only about two million doses of the vaccine to its population of 126 million people.

Overseas fans have already been excluded from the event, and officials have indicated venues may operate at half capacity. Even so, a large number of people will still converge on Tokyo. More than 60,000 athletes, coaches, national team staff, media and other essential workers are expected to travel from more than 200 countries.

Polls show most of the Japanese public don’t want the Olympics to go ahead this summer. A survey conducted April 10-11 by the Asahi newspaper found 35% of respondents said the sports spectacle should be canceled, while 34% said it should be postponed again.

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Itthipat aiming to break female golfers’ domination at Thailand Mixed II

Apr 14. 2021

A field of 128 male and female golfers will battle for the winner’s cheque of Bt450,000 when the Bt3-million Thailand Mixed II hosted by Trust Golf tees off on Thursday (April 15) at the hilly Alpine Golf Resort.

Itthipat Buranatanyarat 

The battle of the sexes featuring 80 men and 31 women will rage from April 15-18 under a strict Covid-19 bubble policy.

The Alpine course measures 7,200 yards off the men’s tees and 6,163 yards off the women’s. After 36 holes, the top 60 players will proceed to the weekend rounds.

Thailand Mixed I champion Arpichaya Yubol will attempt to make it two wins in a row. The Saraburi-based player beat Atthaya Thitikul by one stroke in February and will tee off on Thursday in a group with Suteepat Prateeptienchai and young gun Amarin Kraivixien, winner of the Thailand Development tour in Nakhon Nayok two years ago.

Atthaya meanwhile will tee off alongside former Singha Masters winner Phachara Kongwatmai, who is playing his first event after suffering a car accident earlier this year, and Settee Prakongvech, who finished third and the best male player in the inaugural edition in Hua Hin.

Former Boonchu Ruangkit Championship winner Itthipat Buranatanyarat will be among the men attempting to prevent a repeat of the female domination that saw four women finish in the top five in Hua Hin.

“It all comes down to who has better putts. Once on the greens, we are all equal. As for myself, I have prepared well coming to this tournament,” said Itthipat, who will play alongside Chorphaka Jaengjit and former Asian Tour champion Chapchai Nirat.

Thaya Limpipolpaibul

Chiang Mai-based Thaya Limpipolpaibul will try to claw back his confidence at this home tournament after missing the cut on the PGA Thailand tour last week in Nakhon Nayok.

“Though I grew up in Chiang Mai, I haven’t played on this course much. The grass is a bit fast. I need to hit the fairways to set myself up in a good position to shoot scores this week,” said Thaya, who is still looking for his maiden title. He will compete in the same group as Jakraphan Premsirigorn and Phannarai Meesom-us.

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Lock and load: Marquez returns to race the rollercoaster

Apr 14. 2021

After nine months on the sidelines, the eight-time World Champion is back. At a track he’s never raced, to face a field of rivals ready to measure their mettle

Nine months since last starting a race and even longer since last finishing one, the time has come for Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to return to MotoGP™. It’s been a long road to recovery following his crash in Jerez, and translating that into racing terms pulls it into focus: Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) are now all premier class race winners. Mir is the first MotoGP™ World Champion in ten years not called Marc Marquez or Jorge Lorenzo. Ducati are the reigning Constructors’ Champions and Team Suzuki Ecstar the Teams’. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) leads the 2021 Championship, many on the grid are in different colours and some familiar sparring partners have gone. Some are new faces entirely and there’s even someone different on the other side of the Repsol Honda Team garage as Pol Espargaro continues to settle in. This has all happened in what feels for many like a breathless, exciting rush – and will likely have felt to Marquez like the longest months of his life. But the wait is over, and the Grande Premio 888 de Portugal can’t start soon enough.

All eyes will be on Marquez from FP1, and having not raced on the Algarve last year, there will likely be thousands of words given to balancing taking it easy vs track familiarisation vs getting back on a MotoGP™ bike after so long vs expecting the eight-time Champion to put in a lap record in five seconds. Some will expect the answers within five minutes and others within five Grands Prix, but the questions themselves are the bigger draw. How long will it take to see the number 93 on full power? Will it be no time at all? Did everyone raise the bar, or is Marquez returning to do just that?

Speaking of raising the bar, that’s something Oliveira definitely did last year in his first premier class race on home turf. Already a MotoGP™ winner by the time the paddock arrived in Portugal for what was then the season finale, the number 88 shot out the blocks and couldn’t be caught, making it look easier than ever to make history in arguably the closest era ever. As we return only a few months later though, it’s been a difficult couple of races for KTM on the way in so the Austrian factory will get plenty of attention to see if they can get back to the winning ways that made them a star of 2020, as will Oliveira, who will be eager to put himself and Portugal back on the top step at home. Teammate Brad Binder did take a best KTM Losail finish ever in eighth, as the Qatari circuit has always been a tougher one for the marque, so that’s one box ticked and he’ll be keen for more too. Is this where the 2020 titans start to show more cards?

The aforementioned Zarco, meanwhile, arrives as Championship leader and is one person who believes the grid got faster in 2020. The layout of Portimão wasn’t the best fit for Ducati last year with the exception of Jack Miller, now at Ducati Lenovo Team, as the Australian took second, but the reason Ducati are the reigning Constructors’ champions was explained by Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti in Portugal last year: a Ducati was extremely fast at every track, it just wasn’t always the same one. So the task will be for the rest of the Borgo Panigale machines – especially Zarco and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – to unlock Miller’s secret to second place in 2020, and for Miller it’s to grit his teeth slightly after arm pump surgery and try and get back nearer the front. The Moto2™ graduate rookies will be interesting too, coming in with a blank slate and Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) with a first premier class pole and podium. How can he, Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) and Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia) adapt?

Yamaha have a similar balancing act to take from last year’s first visit to the Algarve. Franco Morbidelli put in a stunner for another podium finish as his machine seemed to edge out the factory riders later in the season, but so far in 2021 fortunes have been slightly reversed as Fabio Quartararo and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammate Maverick Viñales arrive with a win apiece; second and third in the Championship. They say a key test of the 2021 machine is how it handles Portimão, so how will it handle Portimão? And can Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT), after a stunning first qualifying in Qatar before a slide down the order, get back to the front?

For Suzuki there are also plenty of questions left unanswered on the Algarve. After winning the title before the Portuguese GP last year, Joan Mir had a self-described disaster of a weekend as he had issues in practice, qualified well down the order and then eventually pulled in during the race with a mechanical problem. Teammate Alex Rins, meanwhile, said he made the wrong tyre choice – leaving Suzuki at full chat a somewhat unknown quantity. Test rider Sylvain Guintoli said after his very first experience of the track on the GSX-RR that it should suit the bike, so the Hamamatsu factory could be a big threat if all goes a little more smoothly than the 2020 edition.

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Atthaya, Arpichaya hungry to repeat man-eating performance at Thailand Mixed II

Apr 14. 2021Arpichaya Yubol

By THE NATION

Thailand LPGA No 1 Atthaya Thitikul and Arpichaya Yubol will lead the female challenge against the men as the second leg of the Thailand Mixed tees off this Thursday at the Alpine Golf Club in Chiang Mai.

 Atthaya Thitikul 

Thai LPGA Order of Merit 2020 winner Atthaya and 2018 winner Arpichaya are among a starry field at the Bt3-million tournament hosted by Trust Golf from April 15-18.

The 18-year-old Atthaya, who lost to Arpichaya by just one stroke in the inaugural edition six weeks ago, enters the competition among the heavy favourites with a stunning record of four wins from her last six events.

“I’ve never played at this course before. I will try to get used to the condition during my practice rounds,” said the talented teen, who claimed her first title of the season at the Phoenix Ladies Classic in Pattaya last month.

“I will play with my new iron this week. I’m looking forward to testing my game before I head overseas to play next month,” added Atthaya, who will join the Ladies European Tour in May.

Like other participants, the two-time LET Thailand Championship winner (2017, 2019) underwent Covid-19 tests on Monday in Bangkok under a strict tournament bubble policy as Thailand is hit by a third wave of infections.

Two more tests will be conducted on April 16 and 18.

“We need to test negative to be eligible to play,” said Atthaya. “As for myself, I will try to be even more careful by always wearing a mask and frequently washing my hands.”

Arpichaya, also 18, won the first leg in Hua Hin to claim her first title in almost two years. Like Atthaya, she will be making her debut at the Alpine course.

“You have to come up with a prudent game plan for this hilly course. I need to get used to the conditions as quickly as I can,” said the Saraburi-based player, who claimed a record four straight wins on the Thai LPGA Tour back in 2018.

A total of 144 male and female players will compete over 36 holes with the top 60 making the cut to vie for the winner’s purse of Bt450,000.

The spectator-free tournament will be broadcast live at https://www.facebook.com/trustgolfclub and the TrustGolf YouTube channel with replays via the AIS Airplay app. T-Sports will also have live TV coverage of the weekend rounds.