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Lineker eyes on world title against Belingon

Nov 12. 2020

 UFC veteran John Lineker came into ONE Championship winning eight of his last ten fights, all the while building a reputation as a ruthless finisher with very heavy hands. 

After beating the highly-regarded Muin Gafurov in his promotional debut in October of 2019, Lineker now has the opportunity to put himself into position for a shot at the ONE Bantamweight World Championship.

Lineker, who hails from Paranaguá, Paraná in Brazil is set to face former world champion and current No.1-ranked bantamweight contender Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon of the Philippines. The two will meet at the center of the ONE Circle in the main event at ‘ONE: Inside the Matrix III,’ a previously-recorded event from Singapore scheduled for air on Friday, November 13th (SGT).

The man they call “Hands of Stone” has his eyes on the ONE World Title, and is looking to put together a statement-making performance.

“I am coming into ONE Championship prepared for anyone. I am ready to go against [Belingon]. I don’t think he can stop me. He is definitely one of the toughest opponents I have faced,” said Lineker.

“I am feeling great and ready for my next bout. My preparation for Belingon has been one of the best of my career, and I believe I am going to be able to show what I came here for, and that is to be the World Champion in ONE Championship.”

Both Lineker and Belingon are known finishers. Nearly half of Lineker’s 32 victories throughout his career have ended with a highlight-reel knockout. Belingon, on the other hand, has earned himself a reputation for being a knockout artist, with some of the most explosive finishes in ONE Championship history.

Like the traveled veteran that he is, Lineker has done his due diligence, putting in the time to study Belingon ahead of their bantamweight showdown. The Brazilian banger has definitely made his intent known, and that is to finish Belingon inside the distance.

“I studied lots of his videos. He seems to be a very versatile opponent. He likes to keep punching, he moves very well, but I think he is going to look for the exchanges. This is his style, just like mine. I’m going to look for a knockout in this fight and I know I can get the best out of the exchanges,” said Lineker.

“Maybe after our fight, I can win over some fans from the Philippines because of my performance.”

‘ONE: Inside the Matrix III’ is ONE Championship’s latest offering. The show includes performances from Belingon’s Team Lakay teammates, former ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio, and rising strawweight star Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang. Also on the card is the much-anticipated mixed martial arts debut of two-time former ADCC World Champion Yuri Simoes.

Lineker hasn’t been shy about his plans, and maintains that he’s certainly coming after the bantamweight throne.

The reigning champion is none other than Lineker’s countryman, Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes, who has established his dominance over the division with a handful of memorable victories over the past decade. Lineker hopes to set up an all-Brazilian showdown if he can beat Belingon.

“I want the world champion. I don’t think there would be a reason for them not to give him to me if I am fighting the #1 contender. And if I beat [Belingon], that should be the way to go,” said Lineker.

“I know Bibiano is a tough opponent, he has high-level jiu-jitsu, but no one can stop me at the moment. I know I have the edge. I am working really hard [to get that World Title], and I will get it.”

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Chinese Taipei’s Pan realises childhood dream with Masters debut

Nov 11. 2020C.T. Pan C.T. Pan still remembers those good old days as a child, when he would curl up on the sofa at home with his brother and father to watch the Masters Tournament on TV during the wee hours of the morning.

One of the earliest of those Masters memories was in 2005, the year Tiger Woods produced that outrageous chip-in birdie on the par 3 16th, which subsequent roars from the patrons shook the grounds at Augusta National Golf Club.

What Woods did left a lasting impression on Pan that left him dreaming about one day competing at the fabled tournament, which the legendary Bobby Jones co-founded with Clifford Roberts in 1934.

This week—some 15 years after watching that miraculous golf shot by Woods—Pan will finally make his Masters debut, thanks largely to his success on the PGA TOUR, where a maiden victory at the 2019 RBC Heritage secured his start.

“I am excited that I will realise my dream,” said an excited Pan, who is the first golfer from Chinese Taipei since Lin Wen-tang in 2009 to qualify for the Masters.

“When I was home, I would get up to watch the Masters live with my father and brother at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. Tiger Woods’ chip at 16 … that was a beautiful chip shot. Before his shot, he was so focused and the way he read the slope of the green, I learned a lot from Tiger. I will always remember that scene.

“And now, through years of hard work, I can finally stand on the tee of the first hole at the Masters. I’ve watched it through the years and I remember every hole’s location. I have the opportunity to play this year and it will be a very exciting experience. It is a big encouragement to me, and also very meaningful to my (late) father and brother.”

There will be a tinge of sadness for Pan as his father, Jung-ho, who passed away in 2010, will not see him achieve one of his lifelong goals. His father, a long time elementary school teacher, was instrumental in getting Pan to play the game at a young age and would drive him and his brother in their family van for junior tournaments all around Chinese Taipei. Apart from playing for his father’s memory, Pan will also have plenty of reason to cherish a memorable week, as he turns 28 on Thursday, the first round.

“Every player wants good results. We want to be the winner, especially at this level, this is the Masters,” said Pan. “Every opportunity, every day playing 18 holes, it gets us closer to our dreams. I will play my best and try to defeat the others.”

In preparation for his debut, Pan took a trip to Georgia two weeks ago and enjoyed a practice round at Augusta National with a club member. He absorbed all that he could, scribbling notes on his yardage book, especially pertaining to the course’s famed lightning-quick greens.

“The member of Augusta National gave me a yardage book. I have tried to remember every distance, like the distance from tee box to a bunker. I will play with more confidence then,” he said.

“The member gave me a lot of advice. I think the greens will be fast and firm during the tournament and the weather could be cold especially in the morning. The golf won’t travel as far and I need to make a good plan. I’ll aim at the widest part of the fairway, from where I will attack the green. I’ll carefully study every pin position every evening before the round.”

He is looking forward to fully experiencing the Masters, which moved from its traditional April time slot to this week due to COVID-19, including enjoying some of those famous pimento cheese sandwiches.

“The Masters has many traditions, and many of them I have not experienced before,” he said. “I look forward to experiencing the famous pimento cheese sandwich and the beautiful Magnolia Lane!.”

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Team Lakay Coach Mark Sangiao on Adjusting to the Difficulties of Covid-19, Training Amidst a Pandemic

Nov 11. 2020

 When ONE Championship had announced its return to its flagship event schedule, martial arts fans in the Philippines knew it wouldn’t be long until they were able to see their favorite Filipino athletes be back inside the ONE Circle, doing what they do best.

Needless to say, the journey has certainly been a difficult one. When lockdowns due to the widespread outbreak of Covid-19 began in early March, gyms were closed down and athletes were forced to stay inside their homes, just like the rest of the world. Plans for any events had to be put on hold, and athletes needed to find ways to adjust to the ‘new normal.’

One man tasked with leading the Philippines’ most prolific martial arts outfit, Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao, would take the circumstances as a challenge to overcome.

“It was challenging trying to find productive alternative training methods to keep our athletes well conditioned. There’s a hard balance to strike, because it wasn’t only about facing a health crisis. We were facing an economic crisis as well. Our athletes had to find a way to survive, and so did our gym,” said Sangiao.

“The first thing I told my fighters was to be careful, and to take care of themselves and follow the government’s regulations. It’s so tempting, being in Baguio City, to go out and explore nature and train outdoors. But it’s important that we abide by the rules and stay inside our own homes.”

Team Lakay is a close-knit group, woven with world championship experience in its travelled veterans, and youthful energy in its rising young stars. Sangiao is known not only as a martial arts coach, but for many, a brother and a father.

The relationship with his athletes extended far beyond the four walls of the gym, and it was hard for Sangiao to not be there in person to guide them through a tough stretch. Regardless, the team did their best to cope with the situation.

“It was hard spending time away from them and not being able to guide them personally. We never failed to constantly communicate online, and I always checked up on them during their home training. I also asked them to post their training regimens online for accountability,” said Sangiao.

“Now, the moment we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. They all have appearances in the Circle lined up. Of course, we still strictly comply with all health protocols being implemented. Right now, it’s about being smart and training smart.”

And of course, as soon as they were allowed to return to their beloved gym in La Trinidad, Benguet, the warriors of Team Lakay were all determined to work as hard as they could to prepare for their upcoming bouts.

“I would say the training has been solid, and the athletes are more eager than before. We’re all excited to head back to action after a long hiatus. It was fun to train at home when early in the lockdowns, but as soon as regulations eased, we went back to the gym,” said Sangiao.

“Working as a team, developing our skills together, that’s when we are the strongest. We can conduct our regular sparring sessions, which is a crucial component of our training.”

ONE Championship returns with ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX III, a previously-recorded event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore for global broadcast this Friday night, 13 November. In the main event, former ONE Bantamweight World Champion and #1-ranked bantamweight contender Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon of the Philippines faces #5-ranked bantamweight contender John “Hands of Stone” Lineker of Brazil.

Sangiao has been in Singapore, helping his wards prepare for their matches while traversing various health and safety protocols put in place by ONE Championship, in partnership with the Singapore Government. The Team Lakay head coach says he’s satisfied with how ONE has handled the events, experiencing it firsthand in the Lion City.

“I am thankful and glad with the way ONE Championship has handled the operations in Singapore. It’s very professional, and they really place a lot of importance on following health and safety protocols. I think it’s great for our athletes, because they have that peace of mind that they are being well taken care of. We have everything we need during quarantine, and all very happy to be back in Singapore,” said Sangiao.

“I am so happy and grateful that even in this pandemic, our athletes are still able to showcase their skills and what they’ve been working on.”

“This event is a great sign that, slowly, things are getting back to normal — not the usual normal, but still, we can see significant progress away from this pandemic. It is great news indeed for ONE Championship and for our athletes. We are hoping that more events will be staged and gradually will be held in more countries around the world,” Sangiao concluded.

Catch ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX III this Friday, 13 November on ONE Super App, AIS Play and ONE Championship Youtube at 7:30 p.m. Thailand Standard Time. Thairath TV Channel 32 will air the event on a same-day delay at 10.40 p.m.

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PFL to leverage IBM technologies to innovate next-gen SmartCage

Nov 11. 2020

 The Professional Fighters League (PFL) announced it will be leveraging Flagship’s capabilities to deliver IBM’s suite of advanced cloud and AI products to enhance the league’s delivery of next-gen SmartCage data and analytics, both live in-broadcast and via the league’s OTT platform, Fight Central.

Flagship Solutions Group, an IBM Gold Business Partner and recognized provider of IBM solutions, managed services, and cloud solutions worldwide, will partner with the PFL to manage, design, and deliver the experience leveraging IBM’s technology solutions. PFL and Flagship Solutions Group will also work closely with the IBM Garage’s unique framework for enabling innovation at speed and scale through a team of leading technologies and multidisciplinary experts, to turn big ideas into tangible results.

PFL’s proprietary SmartCage measures real-time MMA fighter performance analytics along with biometric and positional data providing fans with an elevated viewing experience. Moving forward, SmartCage fight data, called Cagenomics, will be enhanced with Watson machine learning to scour data points and uncover new insights for MMA fans, bringing them inside the cage like never before.

“Every day we strive to push the sport of MMA forward and drive deeper engagement with fans by being at the forefront of technology and innovation, and this infusion of IBM’s solutions into our product through the support of Flagship Solutions Group helps take our efforts to the next level,” said Peter Murray, CEO of the Professional Fighters League. “With the implementation of IBM’s cutting-edge technology, we look forward to creating transformative experiences for fans before, during, and after PFL events across platforms, further strengthening our position as the most innovative MMA organization in the world.”

“We’re thrilled to deliver Flagship’s InfralyticsTM on IBM’s leading Cloud and AI platforms to the Professional Fighters League, an organization committed to reimagining the sport of MMA through technology and innovation,” said Mark Wyllie, CEO of Flagship Solution Group. “The solutions we are partnering to create will provide fans with a deeper, more immersive and engaging experience; one not seen in combat sports before.”

Professional Fighters League has quickly established itself as the No. 2 MMA company in the world with distribution on ESPN in the U.S. and to more than 160 countries via premium sports networks and platforms. The league has experienced tremendous YoY growth across digital channels* – 68% follower increase on Instagram, 30% total audience growth across digital and a 200% social engagement spike.

PFL’s portfolio of leading brand partners includes Anheuser-Busch InBev, GEICO, Acronis, Air Force Reserve, and Rich Energy. The U.S. Marines are the presenting partner of Inside the Season on ESPNews and ESPN+, leveraging the national platform and compelling content to engage with qualified youth considering a military career.

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Belingon aiming to put Lineker’s lights out in clash of top bantamweights

Nov 10. 2020

By THENATION

Former ONE bantamweight world champion Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon is in for one of the toughest challenges of his professional career in what he says will be a “dangerous” fight.

The 33-year-old Filipino, who is ranked the No 1 bantamweight contender, will take on former UFC veteran and current No 5 John “Hands of Stone” Lineker of Brazil in his next outing. The bout headlines ONE: Inside the Matrix III, pre-recorded at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and scheduled to air globally this Friday, November 13.

Belingon is wary of Lineker’s reputation as a finisher. “The Silencer” is heading into this bout cautiously, weighing Lineker’s strengths and weaknesses, while crafting a solid game plan with Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao.

“John Lineker is one of the toughest fighters I will ever face. He’s not an opponent to be taken lightly. He’s got a lot of experience, and a lot of power in his hands, which is why he is known to end fights early,” said Belingon.

“We have watched his previous fights and we’re confident we can come up with the right game plan for whatever he brings to the table. I have to win this fight to prove that I deserve to stay as the No 1 contender.”

Given the “all guns blazing” style of both fighters, the match-up should be an explosive affair, with viewers advised not to look away even for a second. Both exceed a 40 per cent knockout ratio in their wins, and appear equally matched on the ground.

Belingon say fans can expect the argument to end early.

“You all know how I fight, I fight moving forward. So this is going to be a very exciting matchup. I don’t think this is going the distance, with the way we both attack. I want to put on a good show for the fans,” said Belingon.

“I’ve prepared the same way as for my previous fights. I never underestimate any of my opponents. That’s not a good thing to do inside the Circle. Every fight is dangerous.”

Belingon remains confident ahead of this matchup, and believes a victory will put him in a good position for another crack at the title. He’s spent the past few months honing his skills in Baguio City, despite Covid-19 lockdowns, and even saw the birth of his daughter, Kelsey, in August.

“I’m ecstatic to compete, because it’s already been a year since my last fight. The situation we are in right now has truly affected everyone in the industry. Every fighter, including myself, has had to slow things down a little bit and stay isolated in quarantine so we don’t contract the virus,” said Belingon.

“The birth of my daughter has really added extra motivation for me to succeed. I am fighting to give my family a better life, and that’s a powerful thing.”

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Mir makes history to put one hand on the crown

Nov 09. 2020

 The number 36 puts MotoGP™ on cloud nine as he becomes the ninth different winner and the fifth first time winner of the year, pulling clear in the Championship

Another race, another chapter written into the history books: Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) is now a MotoGP™ race winner. The Suzuki rider was pitch perfect in the Gran Premio de Europa to make his first visit to the top step in the premier class, putting one hand on the crown in the process as he stretches his advantage in the Championship to 37 points. Mir is also the ninth different premier class winner of the year, seeing 2020 equal the record of most winners in a season, and the number 36 sets a new record as the fifth different maiden winner this year. With teammate Alex Rins following him home in second, the day also marked the first Suzuki 1-2 since 1982 and the Hamamatsu factory now lead in the fight for the riders’, constructors’ and teams’ Championships. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) kept Rins honest as the number 44 took third though, back on the podium at the scene of both his and KTM’s first premier class rostrum finish in 2018. It was close as the premier class riders roared away from the line, with both Rins and Pol Espargaro getting away well from the front row but the KTM ultimately taking the holeshot. Mir got away well from fifth too and was up to P4, just behind Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu). But not long after that, eyes would turn to some serious Lap 1 Championship drama. Heading into Turn 8 at the end of the back straight, Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was suddenly down and out of contention, the Frenchman reacting to Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) alongside him as the two both slid into the gravel. No contact was made and pure bad luck reigned, but it was monumental for the Championship. Luckily for Quartararo, he was able to pick the bike up and get running again but El Diablo re-joined behind Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), who had started from pitlane due to exceeding his engine allocation. Early doors, it was advantage Mir near the front as some of his key rivals scrabbled to make up lost ground.  Pol Espargaro led the first one and a half laps but it didn’t take long for Rins to pounce at Turn 11, the Suzuki slotting through to take the lead and a couple of laps later, Mir – who had passed Nakagami on the opening lap – copy and pasted his teammate’s move on KTM as the Hamamatsu factory made it formation flying at the front. Oliveira was now also past Nakagami as two KTMs chased the Suzukis, before more drama hit further back – once again for Yamaha. On Lap 5, the returning Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was shown stopped on track at Turn 5, the Doctor’s comeback from Covid-19 sadly over after just a handful of laps. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) then crashed unhurt not long after, bumping Viñales up to 15th and Quartararo on the verge of the points. How much more progress could they make? Meanwhile, the front group remained in a tense as-you-were. An intriguing game of chess was beginning as Rins led teammate Mir, with Pol Espargaro and Oliveira not far off and Nakagami and Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) still in fairly close pursuit to boot. After a slow start, Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) was regrouping and chasing Zarco down as well, with Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) going the opposite way as the Italian was shuffled back. With 15 to go, there remained nothing to choose between the two Suzukis in the lead. Lap after lap, Rins and Mir were exchanging 1:32.1s. A few laps later, Mir was visibly closer and homing in, but a move wasn’t coming yet as the gameplan seemed to hint towards patience. But that was assuming it would all come down to tactics, and instead it was about to come down to a small but costly mistake for the man in the lead. Rins, heading through Turn 11 with 11 to go, was ever-so-slightly wide – and a door ajar will soon become a door opened in MotoGP™. Mir needed no second invitation, sweeping through to take over at the front and face down 10 laps with a lot at stake. Next time around, the Mayorcan set the fastest lap. By seven to go, his lead had crept to over half a second. Two laps later, Mir was over a second clear it that made it clear: a mistake was likely the only thing that was going to stop the Mayorcan finally taking to that top step. Rins was still getting hounded by an impressive Pol Espargaro, and Nakagami was lurking just behind with some great late race pace as well. Suzuki Team Manager Davide Brivio could barely watch, but it all came down to this: one more lap. With 1.4 seconds in his pocket, just 4km stood between Mir and a historic maiden MotoGP™ win, as well as a whole load of Championship advantage. And the number 36 held firm, keeping everything calm and collected to the line to finally make it a reality: his first premier class win, taken in some style. Monkey off back, one hand on crown and debate silenced, all he needs next time out is a podium – regardless of anyone else’s results. Rins held off Espargaro by six tenths in the end, enough to create that milestone Suzuki 1-2 and moving himself into third overall – equal on points with Quartararo. Another impressive podium for KTM was also Pol Espargaro’s fourth rostrum of 2020, putting him just nine points down on Dovizioso in the Championship. Nakagami banished the Aragon demons with a great ride to P4, less than a second away from a first premier class podium and top Independent Team rider to earn a trip to parc ferme. Oliveira slipped back into the grasp of Miller but the Portuguese rider just got the better of the Australian for P5, relegating the Queenslander to sixth. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), meanwhile, took a superb P7 despite a long-lap penalty served for his Aragon mistake, and the South African regains a points advantage in the battle for Rookie of the Year after Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crashed out. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) lost more ground in the title race after a P8 finish, but the Italian beat fellow Ducati rider Zarco by 0.7 seconds after the Frenchman’s pace dropped off in the latter stages. Ducati Team’s Danilo Petrucci completed the top ten, the Italian gaining an impressive eight places. Morbidelli’s Sunday was a contrasting one to Teruel.  A difficult day and P11 for the Italian sees him drop to 45 points behind Mir in the title race after a tough weekend on the whole for Yamaha. Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team) crossed the line 12th after another good ride from the HRC test rider, just ahead of Viñales who, despite his pitlane start, was just over a second behind the German. Quartararo took the flag in P14, his opening lap crash putting a serious dent in his title chances. He remains second overall, however, and looking to hit back against Rins too. There are still 50 points in play… Tito Rabat (Esponsorama Racing), Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) crashed out, riders ok. And so the curtains come down for another week, with another chapter safely filed in the annals of history. Valencia will host again as the paddock returns to action next weekend, and everything will now be on the line as the first match point appears on the horizon. Nine winners, five first timers, and one of them on the roll of his life. Can Mir make it a coronation? With a 37-point safety net, all he needs is a podium. MotoGP™ podium 1Joan Mir –Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki 41:37.297 2 Alex Rins –Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki +0.651 3 Pol Espargaro –Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM +1.203 Joan Mir: “It’s amazing. I don’t have words to describe the moment, it’s amazing that the victory came at the perfect moment. Obviously I would have liked to win in Austria too but it wasn’t the day. Today was the day! I’m happy but I was already happy before the race because we did a super good weekend. On Friday we worked on the bike, on Saturday I found something good in the rain to have a good qualifying in those conditions. It was pretty good, I made an improvement, and then in Warm Up we worked so well and the pace was not bad! That was the key to the victory today, I had something more than the others and I could show it. I’m also especially happy for the team, Suzuki, first and second is amazing. I have no words.” Bezzecchi wins, Lowes crashes as Moto2™ takes another twist in Valencia The Italian bounces back in style ahead of Martin and Gardner as more Championship shockwaves hit the intermediate class Sky Racing Team VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi bounced back in style after a double DNF at MotorLand Aragon by taking a second career Moto2™ victory at the Gran Premio de Europa. It was a race filled with drama, with Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) locking out the podium but many a headline focused on the title fight: Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) now leads the World Championship once again, the Italian fighting through to fourth as former points leader Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) crashed out. Petronas Sprinta Racing’s Xavi Vierge made a dream start from pole position but immediately had Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing) attacking him at Turn 4. The Tennor American Racing rider went wide on the exit, the Spaniard taking him back at Turn 5. It didn’t stay that way for long, however, with Roberts storming back through moments later to hold the lead at the close of Lap 1. But then disaster struck, Roberts suddenly sliding out at Turn 2 and the Californian unable to re-join. That allowed Marco Bezzecchi to take the lead, but the Italian was under severe pressure from Gardner. Sam Lowes, meanwhile, avoided some early drama with a vital save at Turn 4, as Bastianini got well stuck in battling from 15th on the grid – up to sixth in five laps. It was a few more laps before Lowes decided to pounce on Gardner for second, but it didn’t last long with the Aussie finding an immediate reply. The World Championship leader hit back only a few seconds later though, this time making it stick. The knock on effect of that saw Bastianini push on again, taking fifth place from Vierge with ten to go. There was a change in the fight for third too as Martin managed to squeeze through on Gardner, demoting the Australian off the podium for the moment. And then came the shockwave. Suddenly, Lowes’ weekend was over as the Brit crashed out at Turn 6, his title lead going up in smoke as Bastianini swooped through into fourth and consequently the lead of the World Championship. The FlexBox HP 40 duo of Lorenzo Baldassarri and Hector Garzo began to put Bastianini under pressure though, Baldassarri making a move on his compatriot and a vital couple of points at stake for the ‘Beast’. That was motivation enough if any was needed, and the number 33 hit back to reclaim fourth. At the front though, it was all about Bezzecchi. The Italian was back on the top step in style after stamping some real authority on Sunday, also keeping himself in title contention after starting the weekend 48 points down – and ending it 29 off. Martin made it two podiums in three races as he backed up his third place finish in the Aragon Grand Prix with second in Valencia and Gardner collected his third podium finish of the year after a fifth top five finish in six races. Bastianini was able to hold off Baldassarri for what could be a pivotal fourth place finish, putting the ‘Beast’ six points clear of Lowes in the World Championship with only two rounds left of 2020. Sky Racing Team VR46’s Luca Marini took sixth for a solid result, proving he is far from out of the title chase too. His was a last lap move on Garzo moving him to within 19 points of the top of the Championship. Garzo’s seventh nevertheless equalled his best so far. Federal Oil Gresini Moto2’s Nicolo Bulega clinched eighth after getting the better of poleman Vierge, who eventually drifted back to ninth, before HDR Heidrun Speed Up’s Jorge Navarro rounded out the top ten. Another seismic shift hits Moto2™, with Bastianini now back on top and six points ahead. Can Lowes bounce back next time out? Time will tell, but not much of it as we get back on track on Friday. Moto2™ podium 1 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex 40:06.441 2 Jorge Martin – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex +1.941 3 Remy Gardner – ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team – Kalex +3.553 Marco Bezzecchi: “It was a difficult race, very long, but also wonderful. I started well, even if Gardner and Lowes were closing the line, in the middle I could overtake outside in the first corner. I risked a bit because it was still wet but I tried. Fortunately I was there. Then I passed Vierge on the straight and in braking, and when Roberts was in front I saw he was risking a lot and I thought I had to stay calm because I thought I could ride cleaner. Then unfortunately he made a mistake, I was in front and I was very focused to try to make my rhythm, so I started to ride as clean as I could, and I was gaining a bit; not much, losing a little bit; not much, there was a short distance between me and second. Then on the last three laps when I had a quite good advantage I started to feel something wrong on the bike, a problem I also had on Friday in Free Practice. In acceleration there was no power in second gear, I don’t know why, so I was scared but I started to speak to the bike and said please don’t give up now… fortunately she made it to the end! Very good, the team did an incredible job and this is for them and my family.” Moto2™ podium L-R: Martin, Bezzecchi and Gardner   Flawless Fernandez takes his first win as chaos reigns for key title contenders Vietti crashes, McPhee crashes and Arenas ends the day with a 0 – as Ogura gains big with a return to the podium Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) put in a stunner to take the lead early in the Gran Premio de Europa and then pull away, staying calm and collected to take to the top step for the first time in Grand Prix racing. Behind him a three-way battle royale raged on the final lap, with 2019 Valencia GP winner Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) coming out on top to take second ahead of Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia). The podium for Ogura boosts him up to within three points of the Championship lead as huge drama ripped through the standings for the majority of the other key contenders. Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) took the holeshot from the front row as poelsitter John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) lost out, and early doors there was a group of four heading away… but the drama was quick to hit. First off, a crash for Vietti saw Alonso Lopez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) unable to avoid and get tangled up, both going down in the first Championship shockwave as the Italian lost serious ground. The incident also scattered the pack and left Fernandez out front after the Spaniard had taken the lead just before the crash. The incident also caught Albert Arenas (Valresa Aspar Team Moto3) just enough to cause some damage, which then became apparent as the number 75 was upright but going backwards. Arenas eventually pulled into pitlane at the end of the lap, blowing the title fight wide open once again. And although he did manage to get back out, it was with a significant gap to the front and one that would haunt the Spaniard later. And so Fernandez led, gassing it to over two seconds clear as the second group battled it out. And then even more drama hit. McPhee crashed out at Turn 1, likely ending his charge for the crown, and only a few laps later, Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) took a tumble too. That left Arbolino – the man leading the chase to catch Fernandez – and Ogura as the two key challengers near the top, joined by Garcia. And the gap to Fernandez was coming down ever so slightly… Arbolino, Garcia and Ogura pushed on to catch the Red Bull KTM Ajo machine in the lead, but soon they would have even more to contend with than just the two-second gap to the front as well. Arenas was back out on track and soon the second group were on the scene, creating another little. Things got close and the number 75 was shown the black flag not long after, having got a little too into the battle despite being laps down.  That left Arbolino and Ogura as the two key men with something big to gain. With six to go, Arbolino had got the gap to Fernandez more than just a little below two seconds as Garcia and Ogura duelled just behind the Italian. The countdown was on for Fernandez, although the Spaniard looked solid. could he hang on? He could. Despite some late nerves about a possible bike problem, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider kept it clean to complete his impeccable day at the office in style: on the top step. The battle behind went down to the final lap, as ever in Moto3™. Arbolino had a twitch at Turn 1 and Garcia was up the inside of the Italian and into P2. Then Ogura picked Arbolino’s pocket at Turn 6 and the Italian, after a fair bit of leg work to lead the trio throughout, was now off the podium. Garcia had broken the two title contenders and kept a little breathing space to the line to take his first first podium of the season, bouncing back from some tougher outings. Behind him, the duel stayed close but Ogura kept the door slammed shut at the final corner to get back on the podium for the first time since the Emilia Romagna GP. That cuts the gap in the Championship to just three points, with Arenas’ margin seriously cut. Arbolino was forced to settle for fourth and remains 23 points down on Arenas, although he did gain, with Vietti’s 0 leaving him only three points ahead of Arbolino. Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power) had another solid ride to a top finish as the South African came home in fifth, unable to quite get back the ground lost earlier in the race but taking more solid points. Carlos Tatay (Reale Avintia Moto3) duelled the number 40 late on, but was forced to settle for sixth. The next group up was led over the line by Stefano Nepa (Valresa Aspar Team) as he charged up to seventh, beating Jeremy Alcoba (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) and Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team). Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) was next up after storming through from P26 on the grid, with Riccardo Rossi (BOE Skull Rider Facile Energy), Andrea Migno (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Romano Fenati (Sterilharda Max Racing Team) completed that group down to P13 – Fenati having had to take two long laps for track limits. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) wasn’t too far back either, with Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) – another who did a Long Lap – completing the points scorers. A huge day for the Championship comes to a close with the margin back at just three points, and it’s everything on the line once again. Don’t miss the Valencia GP next time out – more drama awaits! Moto3™ podium 1 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM 38:29.140 2 Sergio Garcia – Estrella Galicia 0,0 – Honda +0.703 3 Ai Ogura – Honda Team Asia – Honda +1.005 Raul Fernandez: “It’s the first time victory and I’ll never forget it here in Valencia. I remember in 2016 I got my first victory here in the Junior World Championship, maybe it’s the track! I like MotorLand and Valencia, they’re my bets tracks. I want to thank my family one year ago was a difficult moment, a difficult family situation, and in those moments you know who your family and friends are. The people who help you in the difficult moments. I want to say thanks to my family and my team, it was difficult at the start of the season I had a lot of pressure and Aki helped me, especially with pressure, now I don’t have pressure and I enjoy it more and I want to say thanks because he helped me in every aspect, as a rider and person and I want to say thanks. I have no words, I want to enjoy this victory with my family and team.”

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Pole for Pol! Espargaro heads Rins and Nakagami as a tenth covers the front row in Valencia

Nov 08. 2020Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pol Espargaro Rins second, Mir fifth, Morbidelli ninth, Quartararo 11th, Dovizioso 12th and Viñales in pitlane sets us up for a rollercoaster race day

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pol Espargaro picked up a phenomenal second pole position of 2020 after mastering the wet conditions in Q2 at the Gran Premio de Europa, the Spaniard slamming in a late 1:40.434 to head a front row covered by less than a tenth. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) starts second as the top title challenger, just 0.041 back, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) claiming the final front row slot despite a late crash. The grid is a fascinating one ahead of lights out, with Championship challengers scattered throughout and, of course, Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) also starting from pitlane due to exceeding his engine allocation.

First, FP4 pacesetter Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and FP3 leader Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) emerged through the Q1 shootout on top in wet but drying conditions. The sun was shining for Q2 but the asphalt still wet; a dry line appearing but nowhere near dry enough to risk slicks. High stakes, anyone?

Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) pulled straight back into pitlane after his out lap, a tyre change on for the Italian, but it wasn’t to slicks. Rins then set a 1:42.420 and the first time of the session, but that was going to be beaten fairly quickly as some of the Q1 contenders dipped into the 1:41s, already dialled in. The number 42 Suzuki did then set a 1:41.714 to extend his lead though, and teammate Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was next up as he went quicker by a tenth to sit on provisional pole.

The Suzuki stranglehold was then beaten by Nakagami as Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) peeled into the pitlane despite being on a great lap, but the lead then changed again. Morbidelli was back on top, but Rins was on a roll and topped the session for the third lap in a row; the Aragon GP winner in fine form.

Nakagami was then on another flyer. The Japanese rider was 0.3 seconds faster at the second split and over half a second up through Sector 3, coming round the final corner and firing his RC213V to the line to take over by seven tenths – goalposts well and truly moved. Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) was the first man trying to respond, the Australian straight down to business to take P2 despite waiting to head out, but a mistake at the final corner cost him time.

Meanwhile, Mir then improved his time to go P3 as Dovizioso’s next time was only good enough for P12 as the wet weather form book seemed to take a hit. There was time left yet though and Rins was through the third split 0.041 up, the number 42 just pipping Nakagami by 0.005 seconds over the line. The Japanese rider then crashed at the final corner though, so that was his session over…

In the end, it all came down to a tense final minute. Rins was once again going faster and  faster, 0.079 seconds under and looking set to challenge, but there was a flying KTM about to join the party at the top: Pol Espargaro. The Spaniard, who picked up both his and KTM’s first MotoGP™ podium at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in 2018, crossed the line to take provisional pole and show yet more wet weather mastery. Could Rins ruin KTM’s afternoon? Not quite – but it was close. 0.041 was the gap between the two and next attention turned to Zarco, because the Frenchman was flying.

0.196 up through Sector 3 looked like it might be the two-time Moto2™ World Champion’s time to shine, but a mistake at the final corner then saw the Ducati man lose time. Just enough, although it was only covered by a tenth, to lose out on the front row. The number 5 went fourth, and it all came down to Rins. Could the Suzuki rider make one last ditch attempt to snatch pole? Not quite. It was another good lap but the Spaniard had to settle for P2, the search for premier class pole continuing.

And so, another breathless wet qualifying session ends with Pol Espargaro and KTM on top. The number 44 earns his second pole position of the season as Rins claims his second consecutive front row, and that can also be said for Nakagami. Three manufacturers in the top three positions, and all three are looking strong in Valencia. Two could also become the ninth different winner of 2020 on Sunday…

So could Zarco, who was unlucky to miss out on the front row but after negotiating Q1, heading up the second row is a solid Saturday afternoon. Championship leader Mir will launch from P5 after some good work on home soil, and he’s another big candidate to become that ninth winner. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) completes Row 2 and that’s the Aprilia rider’s best Saturday afternoon outing since his P4 at the Czech GP earlier this year, and Aprilia’s best at Valencia in the MotoGP™ era.

After showing strong pace all weekend, Miller was forced to settle for P7 and the head of the third row, ahead of Oliveira. The Portuguese rider was the last man within a second of Pol Espargaro after improving on his last lap. Next up is top Yamaha rider Morbidelli in ninth and the Italian has some work to do on Sunday afternoon, with Mir and Rins ahead of him. Crucially, however, there are three title contenders behind him…

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) rounds out the top 10, the South African just over a tenth faster than one of said title challengers: 11th place Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT). It wasn’t the ideal Saturday for the man second in the standings but thankfully for El Diablo, Sunday looks like it will be dry – he’ll likely be hoping so. Dovizioso’s Q2 didn’t go to plan either, the Italian well adrift of Pol Espargaro by the flag and set to start P12.

And then, in terms of the top six in the standings, there’s Viñales. The Spaniard will start from pitlane on Sunday, looking to do some damage limitation. His returning teammate Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) starts from P17 too… so what can they each do?

The scene is set with a grid that promises another truly stunning Sunday. Will it be a ninth winner? More Championship drama? Another maiden winner? Some history-making is entirely possible, with Pol Espargaro, Nakagami, Zarco and Mir all starting in the top five and on the verge of some serious stats. Tune in for the MotoGP™ race at 14:00 local time (GMT+1) on Sunday for another unmissable twist in the tale of 2020!

MotoGP™ front row

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Washington football Week 9 preview: Trying to stop Daniel Jones as critical NFC East stretch begins

Nov 08. 2020New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is 3-0 against the Washington Football Team as a starter and 1-17 against everyone else. Washington Post photo by Toni L. Sandys. 

By The Washington Post
Sam Fortier

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has crushed the Washington Football Team in his young career. Like, 3-0 against Washington as a starter and 1-17 against everyone else-level of crushed. This is despite Jones’s turnover-heavy style of play and lack of noticeable improvement this season.

For Washington, the blueprint to beating Jones goes beyond generating turnovers and sacks. It must close the pocket quickly because, under pressure, Jones goes from an average quarterback to one of the league’s worst. Facing a good rush, Jones completes 44.1 percent of his passes and has taken 23 sacks, third-most in the league, according to Sportradar. They must also, Coach Ron Rivera emphasized, stop Jones on the ground.

Asked on Friday about the threat of the Giants’ power-run game, Rivera said they are “struggling” to run the ball due to injuries at running back. He pointed out “probably the biggest threat to run is their quarterback.” Three weeks ago, Jones pulled the ball on an option against Washington and sprinted 49 yards, and a week later, he took off on a now-famous, 80-yard run against the Philadelphia Eagles.

“The biggest thing is we’ve got to make sure we’re gap-sound and we are playing our techniques,” Rivera said. “If you’re assigned the quarterback, you’ve got the quarterback.”

No matter how Jones plays, Giants Coach Joe Judge has told reporters he won’t bench him. The Giants won’t do what the Football Team did to Dwayne Haskins, who was picked nine spots after Jones went sixth overall in 2019, because they believe they must endure Jones’s growing pains for a fuller evaluation. Washington will counter with Kyle Allen and continue to chase the division.

The next four games are critical in Washington’s push for the NFC East. Washington’s opponents – the Giants, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys – are a combined 8-22-1 with a point differential of minus-184. Washington, at 2-5, trails the 3-4-1 Eagles by a game and a half for first place, so it must win at least two to set up a serious challenge.

In December, Washington plays at Pittsburgh, at San Francisco and hosts Seattle and Carolina. Overall, The Eagles have a somewhat more difficult schedule as well as concerns about quarterback Carson Wentz, who leads the NFL in turnovers (16).

It remains possible for Washington to play a winner-take-all game at Philadelphia in Week 17. But first, if this push for the division is to get serious, Washington must take advantage of a soft upcoming schedule.

This is an important opportunity for Washington’s defensive line, which will face a quarterback prone to bad decisions and a struggling offensive line. Judge has a rotation of three guards and tackles each, and has told reporters he plans to stick with it. This includes left tackle Andrew Thomas, who was the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft and is off to a slow start.

After a fast start, rookie defensive end Chase Young has just two-and-a-half sack for Washington. Carla Young, his mother, jokingly graded his performance through six games a “C-plus” because he “wasn’t leading the league in sacks.” The coaches have praised Young’s work ethic, saying the numbers will come. He and the rest of the line – Montez Sweat, Jon Allen and Daron Payne – could help the unit validate its preseason hype with a big game Sunday.

“It’s having the impact that you would envision,” Rivera said of the defensive line this season. “But to be honest, I think it could be better. I really do.”

After frustrations boil over, Giants receiver Golden Tate might not play Sunday. This week, after Tate wasn’t traded at the deadline, he liked posts on Twitter that criticized his role in the offense, and his wife complained on Instagram about the team “killing his stats.” The Giants disciplined their third-leading receiver, who has 22 catches for 226 yards and two touchdowns this year, by holding him out of practice Wednesday. The 11-year veteran wore a scout team pinnie Friday, No. 17 to imitate Washington receiver Terry McLaurin. Some Giants reporters have surmised that its possible Tate will be inactive.

Giants reserve receiver C.J. Board, who suffered a concussion and sprained neck three weeks ago against Washington, is expected to return Sunday. He was a full participant in practice this week, and Jones needs every weapon he can get.

Injury report: Left tackle Geron Christian (knee) listed as doubtful. This is an important year for the third-year pro to show he should be part of the team’s future, but he’ll likely miss his second straight game. Veteran swing tackle Cornelius Lucas, with whom Rivera was “very, very pleased” after the Week 7 win over the Cowboys, would start instead.

No. 2 receiver Dontrelle Inman (hamstring) is also doubtful. This hurts less thanks to a rejuvenated receiving corps, which includes the return of Isaiah Wright (shoulder), the addition of Robert Foster and the potential activation of Steven Sims (toe) from injured reserve.

The Giants will be without running back Devonta Freeman (ankle) and No. 2 cornerback Ryan Lewis (hamstring). The rushing attack will likely be a committee of Wayne Gallman, Dion Lewis and Alfred Morris. The open cornerback spot will be filled by Isaac Yiadom.

– – –

The Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala contributed to this report.

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World champ’s ‘Brazen’ comeback stuns unbeaten American Nakashima

Nov 07. 2020Kiamrian “Brazen” Abbasov of Kyrgyzstan Reigning One welterweight world champion Kiamrian “Brazen” Abbasov of Kyrgyzstan delivered a sensational come-from-behind technical knockout victory over previously unbeaten contender James Nakashima of the United States in Friday’s main event as the One Championship returned with another action-packed event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The One: Inside The Matrix II, a previously recorded event broadcast globally on Friday, witnessed the world’s top mixed martial artists showcase their incredible skills.

In the main event, Nakashima connected with a massive punch that damaged Abbasov’s nose in the first round, and the reigning world champion was forced to overcome adversity the rest of the way. In the second round, Nakashima began targeting the nose and attempted takedowns that were defended well by Abbasov. In the third round, Nakashima finally landed a successful takedown after multiple tries and worked from top position.

Nakashima appeared to be in full control of the action and cruising to victory. The tables were turned in the fourth round, however, when Abbasov staggered Nakashima with a knee as the challenger was attempting another double-leg. With Nakashima rocked, “Brazen” closed the show behind a flurry of strikes that forced the referee to halt the contest.

In the co-main event, ranked lightweight contenders Timofey Nastyukhin of Russia and Pieter “The Archangel” Buist of The Netherlands competed in a back-and-forth contest that served as a One lightweight world title eliminator. The hard-hitting Nastyukhin was aggressive early, uncorking a series of haymakers as Buist used his length to keep the distance. In the second round, Nastyukhin complemented his impressive striking with a wrestling showcase, taking Buist down to the canvas with a couple of powerful slams. Buist showed signs of life in the third, landing a number of power shots from range. However, time ran out for “The Archangel,” and the final bell rang to give Nastyukhin a hard-earned unanimous decision victory.

Earlier in the evening, Japanese spitfire Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu added yet another one-punch knockout to his highlight reel, stopping South Korea’s Kim Kyu Sung in the final minute of the opening round. Wakamatsu came out of the gates with fiery combinations, stalking Kim aggressively across the Circle. The South Korean athlete from Evolve MMA tried to use his reach advantage to stave off Wakamatsu’s attacks, but the Japanese stalwart was intent on ending the night early. Towards the end of the round, Wakamatsu timed a well-placed right hand as his opponent was coming in, shutting off Kim’s lights before he hit the ground.

Indonesia’s Eko Roni Saputra once again authored an impressive finish, submitting three-time Filipino Kyokushin karate champion Ramon “The Bicolano” Gonzales via rear-naked choke near the end of the first round. Saputra shot in for a double-leg almost immediately after the bout began, using his chain wrestling to bring matters to the canvas. The Indonesian star proved unstoppable on the ground, advancing his position until he took Gonzales’ back and sunk in the choke. Gonzales had no choice but to tap.

Kicking off the day’s action was No. 2-ranked atomweight Meng Bo of China, who put together an explosive first-round knockout victory over two-time wushu world championship medalist Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol of Indonesia. After the opening bell, Meng immediately backed Lumban Gaol up against the Circle Wall, looking to push the pace and set up the finish. After carefully gauging the distance, Meng parried a punch with her lead hand and then connected with a powerful right hand down the middle, ending the bout just past the one-minute mark.

One: Inside The Matrix III, a previously recorded event for global broadcast on November 13 will, in the main event, see former One bantamweight world champion and current No. 1-ranked bantamweight contender Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon of the Philippines take on No. 5-ranked contender John “Hands of Stone” Lineker of Brazil.

Official results of One: Inside The Matrix II:

One welterweight world championship: Kiamrian Abbasov bt James Nakashima by technocal knockout (strikes) at 3:27 of Round 4;

Mixed Martial Arts – Lightweight: Timofey Nastyukhin by Pieter Buist by unanimous decision (UD) after three rounds;

Mixed Martial Arts – Flyweight: Yuya Wakamatsu bt Kim Kyu Sung by KO (punch) at 1:46 of Round 1;

Mixed Martial Arts – Flyweight: Eko Roni Saputra by Ramon Gonzales by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:07 of Round 1;

Mixed Martial Arts – atomweight: Meng Bo bt Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol by KO (Punch) at 1:26 of Round 1.

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Miller fastest, six factories in the top six on a tricky Friday in Valencia

Nov 07. 2020

 A full house of MotoGP™ manufacturers, a pitlane start for Viñales and Independent Team riders locking out the top four made for an intriguing Day 1

Fastest in the morning and fastest in the afternoon: Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) is the master of Day 1 at the Gran Premio de Europa. A wet morning followed by a drying Circuit Ricardo Tormo saw the Australian set a best time of a 1:32.528 to take to the top, 0.092 ahead of second fastest Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini). Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was two tenths off Miller in FP2 to take third, fastest of the top six in the title fight. Friday also saw all six manufacturers represented in the top six, and the top four all hailed from Independent Teams.

Some drama hit for title challenger Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) though. The Spaniard will have to start the race from pitlane on Sunday, five seconds after the green light at pit exit, for an engine allocation infringement.

FP1

Miller was the fastest man in a rain-soaked start to the GP, heading Morbidelli by half a second by the end of FP1. Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team) was third quickest, ahead of Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) and Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), who completed the top five despite a crash.

Of the other top six title challengers, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) ended FP1 in P9 just ahead of Viñales in P10. Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins was in P13, whereas Championship leader and his teammate Joan Mir. The man second in the standings, Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT), was last on the timesheets after a tougher morning.

Throughout the session, many eyes were on Garrett Gerloff (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) as the American headed out on track for the first time subbing for Valentino Rossi on Day 1. The performance was exemplary, the WorldSBK podium finisher ending the session in P16 – right ahead of Championship leader Mir and only a second and a half off the top.

Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) crashed unhurt at Turn 2. 

FP2

With the rain halting for the time being in Valencia, a few of the riders headed straight out on slicks. A dry line had appeared by the end of the Moto3™ session but there were still plenty of ominous-looking clouds hovering over the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, despite track temperatures holding at a steady 20 degrees Celsius.

On his first flying lap, Championship leader Mir set the fastest lap of the weekend – a 1:41.581, four tenths faster than Miller’s FP1 time in the wet. But the number 36 then had a moment on his second flying lap and that proved good warning that the track was still very treacherous, and the stakes high. The riders were pushing though and the red sector times were everywhere, vital track time on slick tyres ahead of what could be a wet FP3 – so crucial for an automatic place in Q2.

Despite the slight scare though, Mir was still setting the pace early doors – before Miller set a 1:37.029 to go top. From there the Championship leader was bumped down and further down to find himself in P16 with 28 minutes to go, such were the improving conditions. Meanwhile Bagnaia was feeling no ill effects from his Turn 2 crash this morning to slot into P2 midway through FP2, making it a Pramac Racing 1-2, before Gerloff stole a little more limelight.

The American enjoyed an incredible FP1 and it only continued in the afternoon. In the mixed conditions, he shot up to P5 with just under 20 minutes to go – continuing the impressive display at a track he’s never raced before. With the news that Rossi will be able to compete in the rest of the weekend confirmed on Friday, Gerloff most certainly made the most of the two sessions he was on the bike.

Meanwhile, Alex Rins had taken over at the top from Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) as the rain held off. Mir then shot up to P3 as the riders headed out on soft tyres in a pretty important final 12 minutes, with rain potentially disrupting FP3 on Saturday morning. The times were being made to count and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) took over in P1 with a 1:33.229 as Miller moved back into P2, but then Pol Espargaro upped the ante even further with a 1:32.952. That was the benchmark with eight minutes to go.

Morbidelli and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) then took turns as nearest challenger, and drama hit for Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) as he crashed at the final corner – completing the lap at a brisk jog, back into pitlane on foot. Unfortunately, the effort to get back was in vain as his second bike wasn’t ready to head out for the final couple of minutes.

In those final couple of minutes, rather crucially, Championship leader Mir was P12. His teammate Rins popped up into P8, before Mir then went P6 just before the chequered flag came out to get back into that all-important top ten. Quartararo was still lingering in P17, but that changed on his final lap as the Frenchman shot up to P6 – and Morbidelli took over at the top. It wasn’t over yet, however, as Miller then produced a late time attack masterpiece to claim P1 for the second time on Friday. Finally, Aleix Espargaro demoted Morbidelli and slotted his Aprilia into second – which also dropped Mir down to 11th. For the moment…

Behind the top three, Nakagami holds P4 overall as the Japanese rider finishes less than a tenth ahead of Pol Espargaro, with Rins’ P6 that final glorious piece to make it six manufacturers inside the top six on the combined timesheets. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) landed a last lap good enough to put the South African P7 too, the rookie finishing just ahead of Dovizioso and Quartararo. The two title contenders are joined by Championship leader Mir in the top 10 after all, however, with a lap cancelled for Crutchlow due to a yellow flag infringement and that dropping the British rider to P12. Viñales splits Mir and the Brit, P11 overall, but the number 12 knows he has to start from pitlane.