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Rising star Kanaya and Ishikawa amongst eight Japanese golfers primed for ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD

Oct 11. 2020

 All eyes will be on newly minted professional, Takumi Kanaya, when he competes in the star-studded ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD from October 22-25, 2020 and seeks to emulate the success of Hideki Matsuyama on the PGA TOUR.

The 22-year-old Kanaya, ranked No. 1 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking and winner of the 2020 McCormack Medal, joined the play-for-pay ranks last week and will be amongst eight Japanese golfers in the US$8 million ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP.

The talented youngster will compete against the likes of defending champion Tiger Woods, reigning FedExCup winner Dustin Johnson, World No. 2 Jon Rahm and 18-time PGA TOUR champion Rory McIlroy, who placed tied third in the inaugural ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP in Japan last October.

Apart from Matsuyama, who is a five-time PGA TOUR winner and exempted through his 2019-20 FedExCup ranking, other Japanese golfers gaining entry into the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP through the Japan Golf Tour include two-time Japan Golf Tour No. 1 Shugo Imahira, Rikuya Hoshino, Mikumu Horikawa, Naoki Sekito and Ryo Ishikawa, a 17-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour and a former PGA TOUR regular. Satoshi Kadoira, a one-time PGA TOUR champion, will also feature in the tournament via a sponsor’s exemption.

Thai duo Jazz Jane Wattanananond and Gunn Charoenkul, South Africa’s Shaun Norris and American Chan Kim round up the exemptions from the Japan Golf Tour, which is a co-sanction partner of the event.

Kanaya’s career rise has closely mirrored Matsuyama’s ascension in the world of golf. Both players attended Tohoku Fukushi University and won the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship – Matsuyama in 2010 and 2011 and Kanaya in 2018. Interestingly, Matsuyama won the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters in 2011 as an amateur which Kanaya achieved the feat last November with an eagle on the 72nd hole.

“I’m extremely grateful for the invitation to participate in the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP,” said Kanaya.

“I’d like to first express my sincere gratitude to the organizers and all the people involved in making this tournament possible during such a difficult time. I am very honored to have such a valuable opportunity to play immediately after turning professional. I look forward to competing in such a strong field and will do my best to play well and stay competitive,” added Kanaya, whose amateur accolades include runner-up finishes in the 2018 Asian Games and individual category of the 2018 World Amateur Team Championships and making the halfway cut at the Masters Tournament last year.

Ishikawa, once dubbed the Bashful Prince for his dashing good looks and youthful exuberance, is undoubtedly one of Japan’s leading stars with 17 career wins. He featured on the PGA TOUR for several seasons before a back injury cut short his stint in 2017. In 151 career starts on TOUR to date, the 29-year-old enjoyed 11 top-10s including two runner-up finishes. He also placed T51 at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot last month and was T51 as well in the inaugural ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP last year.

With the tournament moving from Japan to the U.S. for this year only due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ishikawa hopes to put on a good showing for fans in Japan now that he is injury-free. “It’s unfortunate we cannot have the tournament in Japan this year, but I would like to thank ZOZO for still hosting this event. I’ll do my best to make use of this opportunity.”

For 30-year-old Korean-American Chan Kim, who attended Arizona State University and is a four-time winner in Japan, a second appearance in the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP is another chance to test himself against the best in the world.

“This event means a lot to me because of the opportunity we are given to compete with the world’s best golfers. I am very thankful for this amazing opportunity for some of the Japan Tour’s best to showcase our talent on the big stage. I can’t wait for the event,” said Chan, who placed T30 in last year’s tournament.

The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD will be broadcast in the United States on the Golf Channel from Oct. 22-25 at 5pm to 8pm (ET). In Japan, fans can tune in to the live broadcast on GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR, NHK BS1, and Golf Network from Oct 23-26, 6am to 9am JST (broadcast times may be extended) and a 2-hour highlight broadcast on Oct 26, 6pm to 7:54pm on BS Asahi. Fans can also tune into Featured Group coverage on GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR from Oct 23-26, 1:45-9am JST. The latest broadcast schedule can be found on the official tournament website.

Sherwood is a Jack Nicklaus Signature designed golf course and was the venue for Woods’ tournament, the Hero World Challenge, from 2000-2013. Woods has a terrific record at Sherwood where he won his own event five times (2001, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2011) and finished runner-up on five other occasions, thus raising anticipation that the 2020 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD could produce an unprecedented 83rd PGA TOUR title for Woods.

The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD will feature 78 professionals, including the leading players from the 2019-20 FedExCup points list, players designated by the Japan Golf Tour Organization and sponsor exemptions.

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Torres takes the reins after dramatic Race 1 at Le Mans

Oct 11. 2020

 The Spaniard wins and is now the points leader by some margin as drama rips through the first FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup race in France

Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) is now not only an FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup race winner, he’s also now the Cup leader by some margin after huge drama in Race 1 at Le Mans. The Spaniard escaped the chaos to lead the majority of the race and defend from home hero Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), who took an impressive second, with Niki Tuuli (Avant Ajo MotoE) completing the podium and back on the box after a tougher season for the first ever MotoE™ race winner. But the drama… It began from the off as the first start was Red Flagged due to a crash for Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse), the Italian losing his chance to fight for the Cup early on. He was up and ok, but the bike was left stricken on track and the race was stopped. After the re-start, it would be a five-lap super sprint to the finish with everything on the line. It was the man ahead going in who got the holeshot, Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE), with everything briefly going to plan until disaster struck and the Italian suddenly crashed out – leaving Torres, Di Meglio and more to avoid. And behind that, even more drama was changing the landscape of the standings  as a huge, domino-effect incident saw Xavier Simeon (LCR E-Team) and teammate Niccolo Canepa going down, and second overall Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) caught up in it. The field scattered, the riders scrambled to get back on and Torres kept it pinned at the front. Aegerter was the only one who managed to get going but far off the rest of the field – and Torres was in the driving seat. The Spaniard, by then, was well in the clear but Di Meglio was on a march, the Frenchman making his way through to second and then able to reel Torres in, chunk by chunk. Tuuli was up to third too, having navigated his way to the front through the chaos, and the Finnish rider kept pace with the Frenchman as the two managed to home in on Torres and drop Josh Hook (Octo Pramac MotoE) from the podium fight. Onto the final lap, Di Meglio was right on Torres, the gap gone and the Frenchman looking menacing. Would he go for a lunge to taste home turf glory? And Tuuli, in third, remained within striking range. The three thundered round Le Mans for the final time but ultimately, the answer was no. Torres defended to the line and was able to take his first ever MotoE™ win in some style, the 25 points also putting him well clear in the standings… and the result meaning he starts from pole in Race 2. Di Meglio said it was better to finish second than crash and that he did, back on the box on home turf, and Tuuli seemed somewhat surprised by third and a podium result. The Finn was a huge chunk faster than in Free Practice to set the fastest MotoE™ lap of Le Mans and earn the rostrum, however, getting some pay back after a tough year affected by injury. Di Meglio and Tuuli now start second and third on Sunday, too. Hook took his best ever MotoE™ result at a track he knows well – having shared the top step with Di Meglio as teammates in the 24h endurance race at the track earlier this year – and the Aussie had some solid time in hand ahead of Tommaso Marcon (Tech 3 E-Racing) as the Italian bounced back from a dramatic Misano Race 2 and grid penalty. Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) was sixth and not far off Marcon, the Brazilian banking some good points. Maria Herrera is classified seventh after a track limits penalty for teammate Alejandro Medina switched the order of the two Openbank Aspar Team riders, Medina is forced to settle for eighth. Alessandro Zaccone (Trentino Gresini MotoE) was ninth, with Lukas Tulovic (Tech 3 E-Racing) completing the top ten despite his recent surgery, the German putting in a superhuman effort to end the race only six tenths off Zaccone. Xavi Cardelus (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) was next up ahead of another superhuman performance in the form of Alex de Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE). The Sammarinese rider had a huge crash in E-Pole on Saturday morning but made it through the race to score points, with now only one race left of his career before he retires. Jakub Kornfeil (WithU Motorsport) took P13, also taking a penalty but his a time addition. Finally, after the 13 men ahead of him, Dominique Aegerter crossed the line. The second huge bout of bad luck for the Swiss rider cut his chances at the Cup, but the effort was a valiant one as he nevertheless salvaged two points and kept going. Now, it all goes down to Sunday. Torres sits on 104 points heading into the last race of the year, and the Cup would appear his to lose as he also starts from pole. Ferrari is 18 points adrift and Aegerter 20, but both start further back after the drama on Saturday, with Race 1 deciding the grid for Race 2. Can Torres wrap it up? Tune in from the later time of 15:40 (GMT +2) on Sunday as MotoE™ races for the final time in 2020! MotoE™ Race 1 podium 1 Jordi Torres – Pons Racing 40 – Energica – 8:43.391 2 Mike Di Meglio – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Energica – +0.116 3 Niki Tuuli – Avant Ajo MotoE – Energica – +0.557 The grid head out on Lap 1 after the restart Ferrari tumbles out of the race and the lead Casadei’s crash Tuuli (front) set the fastest ever MotoE™ lap of Le Mans on his way to the podium Two angles of THAT crash… With Aegerter caught in the middle Torres on top: the Spaniard is now in prime position to take the Cup on Sunday…

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Muay Thai ace Sam-A proves unstoppable in One: Reign of Dynasties

Oct 10. 2020Sam-A Gaiyanghadao (left) maintains his title. One Championship made a triumphant return to the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday night with the One: Reign of Dynasties held audience-free and behind closed doors.

In the main event of the evening, reigning One strawweight Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao of Thailand successfully retained his Muay Thai world title with a near-flawless performance against ISKA K-1 world champion and number one ranked contender Josh “Timebomb” Tonna of Australia.

Sam-A appeared composed and relaxed to start the bout, delivering a volley of fast boxing combinations and high round kicks in the first round. In the beginning of the second, Sam-A dropped Tonna with a bullet-like left straight, sending the Australian to a mandatory eight-count. Sensing he had his opponent hurt, Sam-A poured on the pressure and dropped Tonna two more times en route to a technical knockout victory.

Former One world title challenger and current fifth-ranked flyweight Reece “Lightning” McLaren of Australia may have boosted himself up the divisional ladder based on his most recent showing. The Gold Coast native drew up a dominant performance, knocking out three-time IBJJF No-Gi European Champion Aleksi “The Giant” Toivonen of Finland in the first round.

McLaren was lightning fast to start the contest, staggering his opponent with a thudding right hand that sent Toivonen to the canvas. Against the fence, McLaren connected on a well-placed knee to the midsection, sending Toivonen back to the mat for good, writhing in pain to force the finish.

Former One world title challenger Amir Khan of Singapore authored a stunning knockout victory, stopping Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju of India in the first round.

Khan looked comfortable with his striking and appeared more than ready for a war as soon as the two men began to trade. Raju was able to close the distance on a few occasions, taking Khan down to the mat. The Singaporean, however, made it back up to his feet easily each time and began to wear on Raju with his pressure. Against the Circle fence, Khan connected on a slicing elbow that sent Raju crashing to the mat. A torrent of ground strikes then ended matters abruptly in the first round.

Multiple-time Indonesian national wrestling champion Eko Roni Saputra put forth a spectacular performance, dominating One Championship newcomer Murugan “Wolverine” Silvarajoo of Malaysia to earn a first-round finish.

At the sound of the opening bell, Saputra quickly chased Silvarajoo across the Circle. The Indonesian unloaded a series of powerful boxing combinations against the fence, as Silvarajoo covered up. Taking the Malaysian down to the mat, Saputra smoothly advanced to the bout-ending submission, using his feet to tweak Silvarajoo’s shoulder in a highly-technical joint lock manoeuvre to force the tap shortly after.

In a strawweight mixed martial arts contest, China’s “Wolf of the Grasslands” Hexigetu scored a huge victory over Muay Thai legend and former One world champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke of Thailand, showcasing his superior wrestling for three rounds.

The two athletes exchanged blows constantly on the feet, with Dejdamrong stalking Hexigetu while the Chinese athlete picked his spots. The “Wolf of the Grasslands” would take his opponent down consistently in every round, which weighed heavily on the judges’ decision. In the end, Hexigetu did just enough to earn the split decision victory on the scorecards.

Rising Indian flyweight star Roshan Mainam put together a solid all-around performance, blasting opponent Liu Peng Shuai of China with combinations on the feet before finishing him off in the second round. Mainam and Liu spent a few moments trading strikes at the centre of the Circle in the first. But as soon as action hit the mat, Mainam immediately went to work, taking Liu’s back and then sinking in a rear-naked choke. With the choke in deep, the Chinese athlete had no choice but to tap out.

Results

One Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship: Sam-A Gaiyanghadao beat Josh Tonna via technical knockout at 2:30 of round 2;

Mixed Martial Arts – flyweight: Reece McLaren beat Aleksi Toivonen via knockout at 4:18 of round 1;

Mixed Martial Arts – lightweight: Amir Khan beat Rahul Raju via knockout at 4:47 of round 1;

Mixed Martial Arts – catchweight (63.5kg): Eko Roni Saputra beat Murugan Silvarajoo via submission (shoulder lock) at 2:29 of round 1

Mixed Martial Arts – strawweight: Hexigetu beat Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke via split decision after three rounds;

Mixed Martial Arts – strawweight: Roshan Mainam beat Liu Peng Shuai via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:27 of round 2.

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Miller takes the reins on a tricky Day 1 at Le Mans

Oct 10. 2020

 The Australian tops Friday in France by a tenth and a half ahead of Viñales, with Quartararo, Dovizioso and Rossi outside the top ten on Day 1

It was a mixed bag greeting the grid on Day 1 at the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France, with a wet FP1 giving way to a dry-ish FP2 and that presenting an interesting set of challenges for the grid. The man on top by the end of play was Jack Miller (Pramac Racing), with the Australian demonstrating his by-now characteristic mastery of tricky conditions to grapple to the top of FP2. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) wasn’t far off in second, a tenth and a half down, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) completing the top three but a good three tenths off the top.

FP1

In contrast to the intermediate and lightweight class sessions, MotoGP™ FP1 actually went pretty smoothly without incident. In the wet, cold morning conditions it was Bradley Smith (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) who struck late to take to the top, the Brit a tenth and a half clear. Overnight rain and a continued light mist of dampness and rain kept it wet, but by the end the laptimes were coming down.

Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was quickest in the early stages before Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) took over at the summit, with Jack Miller then taking P1 with just under 25 minutes to go despite a small scare when entering pitlane. Teammate Francesco Bagnaia next made it a Desmosedici 1-2-3, before Maverick Viñales went fastest. Wet weather specialist Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) was next up as he took over by nearly two tenths, before compatriot Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) hit back with around 15 minutes to go.

With eight minutes left, Miller and Petrucci exchanged fastest laps before Viñales ruined the Borgo Panigale party, but ultimately, it would be Smith who rose to the fore to claim a memorable P1. Home hero Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) then impressed to take second on his last flying lap.

Zarco became the first of a Ducati armada completing the top five, with Petrucci, Miller and Dovizioso making it four out of five for the Bologna bullets near the top. Viñales was sixth ahead of Morbidelli and Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) pipped Pol Espargaro to P9.

So where are the top two in the Championship? Leader Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was down in P18, and closest challenger Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in P13. Mir, however, was just behind teammate Alex Rins as both Suzukis put in high 1:44s.

FP2

As the riders emerged for FP2, track conditions were still very tricky but most definitely improving. Valentino Rossi was first out on slick tyres but nearly four seconds slower than early pacesetter Mir, the Spaniard completing two flying laps on wets tyres to set a 1:43.515. Miller and Quartararo were two of a few riders who went out on slick tyres early on too, but they immediately came back into pitlane; risks seemingly outweighing rewards at that stage.

Zarco was then lapping on wets over five seconds quicker than Rossi, confirming that track conditions weren’t good enough for slicks just yet. Zarco had got his time down to a 1:40.943  though, nearly three seconds quicker than Bradley Smith’s FP1 pace, but a brave Australian was about to move the goalposts. In a classic Miller move, the Pramac rider headed out on slicks again in iffy conditions… and started setting red sector times. The Aussie slammed in a 1:39 and then got down to a 1:37.738 to go two seconds quicker than Zarco, proving it could well be slick tyre territory with half an hour of Friday action to go.

Miller was soon well into the 1:36s and lapping over three seconds quicker than anyone else. This, of course, convinced many to try the same. Mir slotted into second, but 3.2 seconds adrift of the Ducati man, although by 20 minutes to go the Suzuki rider had chopped Miller’s advantage down to under two seconds. Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech3) then shot up to P2 with an impressive 1:36.967, just half a second off Miller.

All the riders were then out on circuit and the times just kept tumbling. Nakagami demoted Miller to P2 before Alex Rins took over at the top, but the Japanese rider then became the first rider to dip into the 1:35s and hit back. With around 10 minutes left, the riders were starting to push. Some, too much. Aprilia duo Smith and Aleix Espargaro were down at Turn 12 and Turn 3 respectively, Smith suffering a nasty-looking highside but rider ok, and then Dovizioso crashed. We don’t say that too often, but the Italian slid into the gravel at Turn 3, rider ok.

In the meantime, Rossi had slotted himself into P4 behind Nakagami, Rins and Lecuona,  with early hero Miller shuffled down to P5. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) then found himself at the summit, but it wasn’t for long for the Brit. First Morbidelli and then Miller again beat the British rider’s time, the Australian 0.8s clear at the top to move the goalposts again.

Viñales then cut the gap to half a second despite running off and into the gravel a lap earlier at Turn 8, before Petrucci and then Nakagami pipped the number 12. The conveyor belt of faster laps looked like it would continue too as with a minute to go, Nakagami set three red sectors. Alas, the Japanese rider then suffered a small tip-off at Turn 11 – rider ok but out of the battle for the top on Day 1, also bringing out the Yellow Flags and that causing a couple of late cancellations for those behind him…

That included Miller as an even quicker lap from the number 43 got cancelled, but the Aussie retained his place at the top. That coupled with a P4 in FP1 sees Miller on form in France; a venue where Ducati have never won. Viñales, who has won at Le Mans, took second overall by a tenth and a half, moving up from P6 on Friday morning. Nakagami completed the top three despite the late incident.

Petrucci ended the day P4 to make it a good Friday for the Italian, he leads fifth place Crutchlow as the duo claim double top 10s in FP1 and FP2 to head into Saturday’s in good shape. Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) went well to claim P6 in FP2 and overall on Day 1.

Morbidelli and Pol Espargaro  finished P7 and P8 respectively, another two riders to be inside the leading 10 riders in both the wet and dry-ish conditions. Mir was ninth on the opening day to finish just over a second off Miller’s time, ahead of Zarco in P10. The Frenchman lost a lap in the aftermath of Nakagami’s crash, but he edges out Championship leader and compatriot Fabio Quartararo as ‘El Diablo’ ends Day 1 in P11.

The man in 12th suffered the same fate, Rossi losing his last lap, and Alex Rins was shuffled down to P14 overall. Dovizioso, after his crash, ends Friday in 19th and with an even bigger mountain to climb.

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashed in the latter stages at Turn 7 – rider ok.

How will FP3 change the game? The final session to decide the direct entrants to Q2 begins at 09:55 local time (GMT+2). Will it be dry? Can the field improve their times? Quartararo, Rossi, Rins and Dovizioso will all have their eyes on the sky on Saturday morning, before qualifying then starts at 14:10 and the grid for the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France gets decided. Click here for combined timesheets MotoGP™: the five fastest on Friday 1 Jack Miller* – Pramac Racing – Ducati Team – 1:34.356 2 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – +0.144 3 Takaaki Nakagami* – LCR Honda Idemitsu – Honda – +0.501 4 Danilo Petrucci – Ducati Team – Ducati – +0.6985 Cal Crutchlow* – LCR Honda Castrol – Honda – +0.795*Independent Team rider Dixon tops Day 1, Marini suffers monster highside The Brit pips Jorge Martin by just 0.049 in mixed conditions as Championship leader Luca Marini suffers a huge highside in France Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) put in a superlative performance on Day 1 at the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France to top the timesheets, pipping Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) to the honour as Yellow Flags caught the Spaniard out on a late charge. Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) completed the top three, although it was his teammate and Championship leader Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) who stole the headlines for different reasons. The number 10 suffered a huge highside early on in FP2, heding to hospital for a check up but ultimately declared fit. FP1 Kasma Daniel (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) took to the top near the end of a crash fest Moto2™ FP1, the Malaysian impressing to take the reins ahead of Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40) and teammate Lorenzo Baldassarri, the latter only another 0.003 in arrears.  Fourth went to American Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing), an oft-quick presence on the timesheets in the wet, with that also something to be said of the man just behind him: Jake Dixon, who ended the session 0.572 off the top. The Brit was leading until some late charges, getting shuffled down thereafter. Jorge Martin was sixth in the morning ahead of Bezzecchi and Le Mans specialist Tom Lüthi (Liqui Moly Intact GP), with Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and Hafizh Syahrin (Inde Aspar Team) completing the top ten, the latter the early leader in the session by some whopping margins before Bulega had hit back mid-way through. Incident wise, the first to go down was Championship leader Marini as he exited pitlane and then promptly slid out at Turn 3 for his first crash of the day. Andi Izdihar (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) then went down at Turn 14, before the same happened to Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) as both highsided. Termozeta Speed Up’s Jorge Navarro then came a cropper at Turn 9, before Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team) at Turn 14 and Somkiat Chantra (Idemistu Honda Team Asia) at Turn 8 – the three incidents in the space of 40 seconds. NTS RW Racing GP’s replacement rider Piotr Biesiekirski crashed not long after at Turn 14, before early leader Syahrin hit the deck at Turn 3. Kasma Daniel then crashed at the same place five minutes later, although he’d go on the bounce back in some style. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Termozeta Speed Up) next went down at Turn 14, and Izdihar had a second crash there soon after. Finally, Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) crashed at Turn 9 and Joe Roberts at Turn 4. Di Giannantonio and Biesiekirski will be assessed ahead of FP3 to see if they are able to take part in the rest of the Grand Prix. FP2 The conditions were much improved by the time it came round to FP2, making the session timesheets effectively also the overall standings. The session still started with plenty of drama on a drying track, however, with FP1 pacesetter Kasma Daniel suffering a highside at Turn 11 before we then witnessed Marini’s huge crash coming over the brow of the hill at Turn 5. The Italian was absolutely launched off his bike and the machine then slid through the wet grass and back onto the circuit, bringing mud onto the racing line. That brought out the Red Flag as Marini limped away with the help from the marshals. The Italian was transported to the medical centre immediately thereafter, and then had a check up at hospital before being declared fit to continue. Back on track after the Red Flag, Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) was top of the pile first off before Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) took over, with Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) then setting the fastest time of the day. The times were tumbling all the time though, and the ever-improving Dixon sat quickest late on. There he would stay, ultimately, as Martin was slamming in a serious laptimes – but it was deleted for Yellow Flags in one sector of his lap. That leaves sophomore Dixon fastest in the intermediate class on Friday, and after finishing FP1 in P5. Martin takes second overall ahead of old Moto3™ foe Bezzecchi, who went from seventh in the wet to third overall. Lowes is once again up at the sharp end after Day 1 at Le Mans, up to P4 on the combined timesheets from his P19 finish in the tricky FP1 conditions. Lowes’ teammate Augusto Fernandez makes it two EG 0,0 Marc VDS machines in the top five as he too found the going a little less tough than FP1, with Termozeta Speed Up’s Jorge Navarro another rider who moved much higher up the timing screens in the dry, the Spaniard finishing FP2 and the day in P6. Rookie Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team Moto2) claims P7 on Day 1 at Le Mans, under two weeks from right arm pump surgery, after ending FP1 in P26. Lüthi managed to get the better of teammate Schrötter as the Liqui Moly Intact GP squad ended the day in P8 and P9, with Vierge rounding out the top ten. Chantra, Roberts, Stefano Manzi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) and second in the Championship Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) are the final four currently set to move through to Q2, but everything can still change in FP3… See how that very FP3 shuffles the entrants to Q2 at 10:55 (GMT +2), before qualifying for Moto2™ begins at 15:10! Click here for combined timesheets Moto2™: the five fastest on Friday 1 Jake Dixon – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Kalex – 1:37.713 2 Jorge Martin – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – +0.049 3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex +0.304 4 Sam Lowes – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Kalex – +0.442 5 Augusto Fernandez – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Kalex – +0.472 Salač denies Fenati to top mixed Friday in France The Czech rider strikes late to take over at the top by just 0.039 as a wet morning gives way to a dry and busy FP2 Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team) got the best measure of the drying but still cool and difficult conditions in FP2 at the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France, the Czech rider’s final lap in the afternoon proving enough to see him end the day on top and overhaul an ominous half-second gap previously enjoyed by Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team). The Italian was left 0.039 in arrears in FP2 and overall, with John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) completing the top three. FP1 FP1 was characterised by one thing: crashes. By the end of the wet and chilly session there had been 17 incidents, and it was 2019 winner McPhee who emerged on top as he beat fellow veteran Andrea Migno (Sky Racing Team VR46) to the honour by two tenths. Another experienced runner took third, with Championship challenger Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Team) completing a top three split by four tenths. The crashes – not crashers as some riders suffered more than one incident – were the biggest headline, however. The first to go down was, surprisingly, wet weather master Fenati when he crashed at Turn 4, before Jason Dupasquier (CarXpert PrüstelGP) went down at Turn 3 as he started his first flying lap. Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Deniz Öncü became the third rider to crash before five minutes had even been completed. SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Niccolo Antonelli also crashed at Turn 3, as did Khairul Idham Pawi (Petronas Sprinta Racing). Alonso Lopez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) suffered a nasty-looking crash at Turn 2, before both Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Carlos Tatay (Reale Avintia Moto3) then crashed at the by-now ominous Turn 3. Sky Racing Team VR46’s Celestino Vietti had his first crash at Turn 4 not longer after, before World Championship leader Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) went down at the same place just over ten minutes later. Next up it was a second incident for Antonelli and a first for Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) as they hit the deck at Turn 14 a few minutes apart, before Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) ended up in the gravel trap at Turn 10. In the closing stages, Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) was the final man to go down at Turn 3 before Stefano Nepa (Gaviota Aspar Team) highsided at Turn 2 and Dupasquier went down again at Turn 14. After that shuffle, Salač kept it upright for fourth on the timesheets, half a second clear of Fernandez in fifth. Leopard Racing’s Jaume Masia was 1.667 seconds adrift of Migno but up in sixth, with Garcia and Nepa seventh and eighth despite their crashes. Rounding out the top ten were impressive rookie Yuki Kunii (Honda Team Asia) and veteran compatriot Kaito Toba (Red Bull KTM Ajo). FP2 By the end of play, the quickest lap in the afternoon was 11 seconds quicker than McPhee’s morning masterpiece, making FP2 and the combined timesheets interchangeable. Salač vs Fenati was the duel at the top for much of the last half hour of the day, but the Czech rider’s 1:44.820 means he ultimately leads the provisional Q2 entrants. Fenati is forced to settle for second but had a good consistent run at or near the top, with McPhee retaining a place in the top three overall after backing up his FP1 pace with some serious speed in the afternoon too. The Scot also spent some time on track with teammate Khairul Idham Pawi as we saw some Petronas Sprinta Racing formation running in FP2 Jaume Masia was on a charge late on, duelling McPhee at the top for a while before ending up P4 overall, with Migno completing the top five on Friday and proving another with consistent speed in both conditions. The number 16 was also the last man within a second of Salač’s timesheet-topping scorcher, if scorcher is the word for it at a very cool Le Mans. Pawi slots into sixth overall as the Malaysian got back into the mix in the top ten after a tougher time of it of late, ahead of Championship leader Ai Ogura as the number 79 pipped Celestino Vietti by just 0.006. Niccolo Antonelli was only another few hundredths off in ninth, with rookie Yuki Kunii impressing once again as he completes the top ten overall following a P10 in FP1 to boot. After 17 incidents in FP1 – and a few names crashing twice – the afternoon was comparatively docile, with no one taking a tumble at all and that, as well as the laptimes, testament to the improved conditions. Will they improve again for FP3 or are Friday’s fastest 14 heading through to Q2? If no one can go quicker on Saturday morning it’ll be Gabriel Rodrigo, Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), Albert Arenas and Sergio Garcia joining the top ten in heading straight through – but anything can still very much change overnight… Tune in for FP3 at 9:00 (GMT +2) to see if the pack shuffles, before qualifying begins from 12:35. Click here for combined timesheets Moto3™: the five fastest on Friday 1 Filip Salač – Rivacold Snipers Team – Honda 1:44.820 2 Romano Fenati – Sterilgarda Max Racing Team – Husqvarna +0.039 3 John McPhee – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Honda +0.525 4 Jaume Masia – Leopard Racing – Honda +0.616 5 Andrea Migno – Sky Racing Team VR46 – KTM +0.991 Viñales was second fastest and has already won in France… Nakagami impressed on Day 1 despite a small crash

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Di Meglio pips de Angelis to the top on home turf

Oct 10. 2020

 The Frenchman tops the timesheets as the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup heads into territory unknown

Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) staked an early claim on home glory at Le Mans on Day 1, the Frenchman topping Friday practice for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup at the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France. It was a close-run contest at the top, however, with Alex de Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE) just 0.041 off as the Sammarinese rider completed his last Free Practice sessions before retirement. Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) was third quickest and the fastest of the top four Cup contenders. The day was a tale of two halves for the electric class, with a wet FP1 giving way to a dry FP2 – and the latter therefore becoming even more vital, as Saturday’s forecast for E-Pole and the race looks to be dry. In the wet morning session though there was data and experience to be gained, of the venue and the machinery in the wet for some, and everyone headed out. De Angelis was the fastest by far: 0.451 clear, the Sammarinese rider was in a class of his own in the wet. Xavier Simeon (LCR E-Team) was second, with reigning Cup winner Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) just under a tenth in further arrears as he completed the wet-weather FP1 top three. Casadei crashed at Turn 7, rider ok. Once the sun had almost returned and the track dried out, there was another shuffle on the timesheets and the FP2 times became the combined times as everyone improved. Di Meglio more than most, the Frenchman moving from P11 in the morning to fastest overall. De Angelis completed his consistent Friday in second as he found even more speed in FP2, with Casadei moving up from P9 in FP1 to complete the top three – although he did suffer another tip off, this time at Turn 4. Simeon showed good speed overall on Day 1, taking fourth overall and only 0.035 off Casadei, with the timesheets remaining tight thereafter. Ferrari was just 0.049 further back in P5, with Niccolo Canepa (LCR E-Team) slotting into sixth only 0.011 off the points leader. Josh Hook (Octo Pramac MotoE) was seventh by less than a tenth, the Australian having had some success in the 24h race at the venue and his MotoE™ speed also impressive on Day 1, with Cup contender Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) down in eighth. Niki Tuuli (Avant Ajo MotoE) put in a solid day’s work to end Friday less than a tenth off Torres, in ninth, and the Finn was a whole 0.381 ahead of the man in tenth: Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP). Aegerter is only four points off leader Ferrari in the standings and the Swiss rider will want more on Saturday. He’ll also be heading out in E-Pole – with the fastest on the combined timesheets going out last – a little earlier than he’s used to, which could make for a nail-biting session. Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) is another further down than expected as he ended the day in P11, so qualifying will be a stunner. The stage is set for the final E-pole of the season, with plenty on the line at the earlier time of 11:45 (GMT +2) on Saturday morning. That decides the grid for Race 1, with the lights going out for that first race of the weekend later in the day at 16:20. Will we crown a Cup winner on Saturday? We’re about to find out! Combined timesheets MotoE™ fastest on Friday 1 Mike Di Meglio – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Energica – 1:44.141 2 Alex de Angelis – Octo Pramac MotoE – Energica – +0.041 3 Mattia Casadei – Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse – Energica – +0.295 De Angelis began his final weekend before retirement just hundredths off the top Casadei began the season finale in third overall

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Navy football faces another team playing its season opener in Temple

Oct 09. 2020ANNAPOLIS, MD – SEPTEMBER 7: Navy quarterback Dalen Morris (8) throws under pressure during action against Brigham Young at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Photo by Jonathan Newton /The Washington Post) 

By  The Washington Post · Kareem Copeland · SPORTS, FOOTBALL
Chaos has ruled throughout the 2020 college football season as each program has dealt with the far-reaching effects of the global coronavirus pandemic in their own way. The Navy Midshipmen have faced a new challenge each week, though Coach Ken Niumatalolo tries not to fret as he acknowledges, “it’s chaotic for everybody.”

For the second game in a row, Navy is preparing for an opponent that has yet to play a game, which leaves the Midshipmen without any tape to scout the latest iteration of Temple football on Saturday.

“Our guys are resilient,” Niumatalolo said. “There’s things you’d not like to have to face, but it’s reality. It is what it is.”

The first five weeks of football has been a bit brutal for the Mids. Navy lost its opener to BYU by 52 points after mostly avoiding live blocking and tackling during the preseason. Starting quarterback Dalen Morris was benched during that opener and lost the job afterward, but backup Perry Olsen then decided to enter the transfer portal after not being assured the starting job.

Freshman Xavier Arline started against Tulane and the Mids fell behind 24-0 at halftime. Morris guided the comeback for a 27-24 victory, but couldn’t play the next game against Air Force in Colorado because of an undisclosed medical condition. That left Tyger Goslin as the starter under center and made Navy the only FBS program to start three different quarterbacks in the first three games this season. Oh, and the Falcons had yet to play, so there was no scouting tape, and they were missing 30-40 players and still won 40-7.

The biggest positive heading into this week is the quarterback position, which seems to be settled with Morris the starter for the foreseeable future.

“They can come out in who knows what on defense, we’re just going to have to be ready to play,” Morris said. “Definitely having three starting quarterbacks in three games, it can kind of get things jumbled in the backfield. I plan to be the starting quarterback for the rest of the year. I plan on being the guy and have to assert myself in practice as the leader of this team. I plan to do that and bring a little consistency to the position and the offense.”

The game against Temple was originally scheduled for Sept. 26, but the Owls requested to move the date because of practice issues stemming from safety guidelines imposed by local government. Temple Coach Rod Carey explained that his team could only work in groups of 50 and that included all coaches, support staff and trainers. He didn’t feel it was physically safe to play football without the proper preparation. Navy found itself in that situation against BYU and Carey used that as an example of what could happen.

Temple has been practicing since July, in one form or another, but it was only cleared for full contact three weeks ago.

“It’s the world’s longest fall camp and they’re excited, to say the least,” Carey said. “You’ve got to practice football if you’re going to play football.”

The Owls feature seven returning starters on offense, including quarterback Anthony Russo, running back Re’Mahn Davis and wide receivers Jadan Blue and Branden Mack. The offensive line will have new starters at center and right guard. Russo ranks in the top four in every major passing category in school history. The defense was hit hard with only three returning starters, but Carey said the unit has been ahead of the offense in practices. That’s not abnormal for any team that has yet to play a game.

Regardless of the bodies available, Carey acknowledged there’s some built-in advantage this week.

“Obviously we have had a ton of time to prepare for this one, going all the way back to March,” Carey said. ” . . . We have some more information now on Navy, which is a good thing for us with them playing three games. Certainly will put that information to good use.

“From a preparation standpoint, there’s no question that we have an advantage there because we’ve seen three game films of theirs and we haven’t played, so they don’t have any of ours. How does that transition into competitive advantage? I don’t know yet.”

There is both optimism and concern in Annapolis. There’s hope that Morris settles the offense and the operation can find some consistency after scoring a combined 10 points against BYU and Air Force. Defensively, the 39.7 points allowed per game ranks 57th out of 74 teams in the nation.

Temple is known for being a physical program and Navy did not fare well against that style in the season opener versus BYU. The Midshipmen just had their first in-person meetings this week after previously conducting those virtually, so there’s hope that improves communication on the field.

“I was encouraged by our practice, we still have to produce on the field,” Niumatalolo said. “It’s not the team we want to be playing after the game we had last week, getting beat the way we did. . . . They’re an impressive team on defense. They can run. Physical. It’s going to be a tough challenge.

“Everybody’s mad. Everybody’s upset. Everybody’s embarrassed. But you have to move on. That’s where we’re at.”

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Competitive, focused, consistent and fast in French MotoGP

Oct 09. 2020

 Riders sit down to talk to the media as Le Mans gears up for the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France

The Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France is ready to go and ahead of track action, it was pre-event Press Conference time at Le Mans. Championship leader – and home hero – Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was joined by closest challenger Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Catalan GP podium finisher Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Pramac Racing’s Francesco Bagnaia, home hero Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) and newly-announced 2021 MotoGP™ rider Jorge Martin, riding in Moto2™ with Red Bull KTM Ajo.

Here are the key quotes from those present, with Quartararo up first as he gears up for home turf.

FABIO QUARTARARO: “Finally it was a great moment to have my third win in Barcelona and I think that was the most important. We had some difficult moments in Misano, Brno and Austria. It was great to be back at a track that I really like. Last year here was really positive, the result was not that great but in the race we showed our pace was really fast, if we check the lap time we had the pace for the podium. That’s really good, we hope for the same this year. I’m really confident, the weather doesn’t look that bad so I’m happy and confident to be here.”

Why did he not ride at the Portimão Test?

“First of all it was to avoid any kind of injury, I think it was a bit risky two days before doing three races in a row. I was there six years ago and also we have a long FP1 and FP2 when we’re there so that’s the reason I didn’t go to Portimao and also it was a different bike.”

On Joan Mir as a teammate back in Moto3™:

“For sure we are in a much better position than back then. That year, less for Joan, but for me it was a total disaster. It’s great that we keep a relationship since then and right now we are 1-2 in the championship, we were rookies last year and now we fight for the championship so it’s a cool story.”

Mir was asked about that first, too:

JOAN MIR: “Yeah, it’s so nice, I remember that year really well because it was not easy at the beginning because it was my rookie year. We both struggled a lot the first half the season and then at the end it was a bit better and my season was not bad for the first. But yeah, it is nice that both of us are fighting for the championship and I’m really happy.”

What’s his focus? Winning races or the title?

“Honestly, I think in the World Championship we are really close but to fight for the Championship you need to win races and that is a fact. At the moment we are competitive, focused, consistent and fast, but we don’t have a victory yet. I am fully focused on that, fully focused on trying to get my first victory. Meanwhile it is important to score points and continue this way and like I said, just focus on the victory.”

And finally, on Suzuki getting two machines on the podium last time out:

“It was so nice especially because both of us were on the podium and the celebration was all the team, so it was special like you said some funny moments and I expect to repeat it this weekend.”

Rins picked up from there…

ALEX RINS: “Yeah for sure it was super nice for both Suzuki riders to finish on the podium, then all the team were super happy because as you know, this doesn’t come from the work we’re doing now, it comes from the work they’ve done since they were racing. It was super nice to do a double podium in Montmelo. To celebrate with Ken, Davide and all the team it was super. In Suzuki the relationship is quite nice, it’s like a family.”

Next up, the Spaniard talked about his ongoing recovery:

“For sure the podium in Montmelo gave me extra motivation and power. About the shoulder, I would like to say I’m at 100% but still not 100%. I’m happy to not feel pain on the bone but with this sort of injury you have to stop and recover for 2-3 months to be perfect. We didn’t stop with this season full of races, on the bike I’m not feeling enough muscle on the right arm. So we need to finish this season and fully recover for next season.”

Bagnaia was first asked about his 2021 move to the factory Ducati team:

FRANCESCO BAGNAIA: “Very good! I’m happy I think I deserve this position because the races I have finished I have been strong and in front. We have done a great job this season. We have had a bit of bad luck with the broken leg and the engine failure so we are not in the position we deserve but I think our potential is very high, our bike is very strong, and we can be happy with the work we are doing. We need to be more consistent and finish the races, but we are there.”

And last time out?

“I’m not happy with the result because it was my mistake, Friday I was struggling with the conditions and it was my mistake not to adapt to the conditions. I started to move the settings on the bike too much. That Saturday I tried something different on the bike but it didn’t work and Sunday when I decided to go back to my standard bike I was strong in the race. Not in the first part because we already know Suzuki and Yamaha were better in the first part of the race because they heated the front tyre before and for us it was a little bit more difficult. And then in the last laps I closed the gap to the front. I think 3 seconds. So, we can be happy about the race but not happy with the weekend. My leg at the moment is riding at 100% but walking less.”

Zarco also began by talking about his 2021 machinery:

JOHANN ZARCO: “It makes me feel good to know where to go next year and on a winning bike. I still have many things to learn on the Ducati and from the last races, the work was good but clearly on Sunday I didn’t get good results. I still need to put things together but I believe I’m on the good way and thanks to Ducati, all the things I’ll do this season, will be useful for next season. I’m also happy for Pecco that with these three races that he did, he showed the factory team was for him. I have this step with the bike, getting a new bike but similar for next year. Happy and fully motivated, one year ago this was not the situation in October, I know where I’m going and that makes my target really clear.” How’s his injured wrist healing? “The injury on the wrist was quickly getting well but then there are some ligaments that are still giving pain. I think it doesn’t disturb when riding but for the opinion of the physio, it’s disturbing a little bit the body is adapting and trying to compensate in another way. I think the not good results in the last races weren’t due to the wrist and still, as Alex said, when you have an injury you should stop for a few months but with our work you can’t. I’m feeling ok, still really taking care of it.” And finally, is there any home pressure? “At the French GP, the pressure is for Fabio I think, not for me. I have everything to win, we have 5,000 people here on Sunday which is better than nothing and it will give us some good energy. We will see the weather, not think too much and try to perform!” First on Martin’s agenda was also 2021, when he’ll be moving to partner Zarco at Pramac.  JORGE MARTIN: “Super excited. After a long career I have finally arrived to MotoGP. It’s great, I’ve been racing with some of these guys in the past and I know them. I think it was the moment, I felt quite strong in Moto2 so I think it was the right moment to make the jump and I think going into MotoGP was my best option.” So what’s the target for the rest of 2020? “I think I have nothing to lose. I will try to win or be on the podium every race. I don’t have the pressure to make a mistake because my future is decided. I have the potential to win, not the Championship as I’m 71 points away, but for sure the top three is there and I will try to get into it.” That’s a wrap for the Press Conference au Mans! Tune in for FP1 at 9:55 (GMT +2) on Friday, and make sure to set your reminders for the earlier MotoGP™ race on Sunday at 13:00 (GMT +2).  Top photo L-R: Zarco, Mir, Bagnaia, Quartararo, Martin and Rins

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“Everyone starts from zero”: MotoE™ set for the season finale

Oct 09. 2020

 The final weekend of the 2020 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup kicks off with the pre-event Press Conference – plus a special announcement from Alex de Angelis

The countdown is almost over! At this weekend’s Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France we’ll find out who will be the 2020 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup winner, with the season finale prepped and ready to race at the French classic venue of Le Mans. In the pre-event Press Conference, points leader Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) was joined by second overall Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP), third Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40), next man up Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse), home hero Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and Alex de Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE). De Angelis started the Press Conference with an emotional announcement that he’s retiring from competition after this weekend, before talk returned to the two races ahead. Here are the key quotes about the weekend, with more on de Angelis’ announcement below. Matteo Ferrari: “I’m happy to be here because for the second year I’m first in the standings and I can fight for the victory. So thanks to my team because they continued to believe in me this year and we improved the laptimes a lot, in Misano, and in the test we were very fast. So I’m happy to be in front and I’ll try to do my best this weekend. And also it will be good for me because there are a lot of fast riders in MotoE this year so we can fight a lot until the end. “It will be different because this is a new track but last year in MotoE all the tracks were new! So for me it’s not a problem, I have good experience on new tracks with MotoE. Tomorrow will be very important because we only have two free practices and not many laps to try and ride the bike. And of course the weather will be big news tomorrow… we will see the conditions but I’ll try to do my best.” Dominique Aegerter: “Here I know the track from the past in 125 and in Moto2. I was a bit unlucky in the second race in Misano and got crashed out so I lost the lead but we’re ready to fight again here, I prepared well at home and I’m looking forward to riding here in Le Mans. We’ll try to be fast and fight again with the top group. And like Matteo said, we don’t have so many laps to learn the track and set up the bike. Maybe the weather will be half-half so we’ll see. But the team do a great job and I’ll try to ride well. “I think here we will have the same advantage as everyone because they have no data from last year so everyone starts from zero. For sure those who rode here last year or in the past on this track, they know the track well. The other thing is when it’s wet – I don’t have any wet practice with the MotoE bike so that will be new for me. But in the past I was fast in the rain and I think with these Michelin tyres we will have a lot of grip.” Jordi Torres: “100% this weekend! We need to put everything on the table and try to fight, be aggressive, for our goals it’s not possible to finish second or third. Like anyone we’ll try and win the Cup. We’ll see what happens here! We’re excited to see this weekend, for the weather and in the wet because we never tried it in the past. Maybe it’ll be very different compared to standard bikes in the wet. We’re excited for this because we have high motivation to fight here, to be with the top guys. “There are zero things in my mind – only fight, push harder and make some great overtakes. Do everything to be fast here. We don’t know anything about Le Mans, zero MotoE experience here and my last ride here was in 2014 – very long ago! I think tomorrow could be wet, we’ll see how wet conditions are, and then maybe E-Pole in the dry could make it a disaster weekend or make some great points in the standings!” Mattia Casadei: “My dream is to win the Cup but it’s not easy! The other guys go very so fast, I’ll try to do my best and we’ll see what happens on Saturday in the first race and Sunday in the second. I want to win a race in my season because I took third and second but haven’t won, so this weekend I’ll try to win one race. “I remember in the race in Austria last year in the wet I wasn’t so strong. But it’s the same conditions for everyone and I’ll try my best!” Mike Di Meglio: “It’s very special to be here, with no public I hope on Sunday we can see some flags because it’s special to see the French flag. It pushes me to be stronger, I hope to do a nice weekend. I like this track, I’ve done many laps here but with MotoE it will be different. I’ll try to enjoy it for the last two races. “The feeling compared to last year isn’t perfect. I think I lost some aggression in the gas with my big highside in Misano! But the feeling is getting back step by step. In Misano I was getting better from Race 1 to the second week, I pushed too much because I had Tulovic crash in front of me and I had to start at the back for the second race but fortunately managed to finish sixth “Here is a special track I know well but with MotoE you need to adapt. Tomorrow it will be fun if it’s raining and then E-pole is dry, I think every rider will be stressed and have to do a strong warm up lap to arrive fast for one lap! But it’s the same for everyone. We need to manage it well and try and arrive in a good position.” Alex de Angelis: “The plan is the same. When a rider goes on track, closing the visor… you want to do your best and try and get the best results. I will make the same strategy being a professional rider! I don’t know what exactly can happen in my head during this weekend because now for sure it’s different but I want to get the best result of the season. Even in Misano, even if I didn’t tell anyone, I knew in my heart it was the last Misano of my career and I tried to push like crazy… and I had the record lap on the track. So I want to finish in the best way – being fast.” That’s a wrap from Thursday! Tune in for another stunning E-Pole session earlier than normal on Saturday at 11:45 (GMT +2), before Race 1 gives the contenders their first chance at taking the Cup at 16:20. The final race of the season then begins at the later time of 15:40 (GMT +2) on Sunday.

Alex de Angelis announces retirement Sammarinese rider set to hang up his leathers after the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup finale at Le Mans

Before the Press Conference got in gear, Octo Pramac MotoE’s Alex de Angelis took to the floor to make a special announcement: he’s retiring from professional competition. Over the past two decades the rider from San Marino has raced in almost every category there is, and been a race winner or podium finisher in most. The MotoE™ season finale will be his last event as a rider.

Alex de Angelis: “You don’t just like to be a rider, you love to be a rider, and it’s not easy to understand when you have to stop being it. Today is the day. Le Mans will be my last weekend as a professional rider. I’ve spent 20 years in the paddock and the paddock is my home and family. I’m lucky because all the people working with me didn’t just teach me to become a good rider but also they taught me how to be a man, and this is what I am today.

“As I’m doing too many jobs right now; I’m lucky to be doing so many jobs around motorcycling. So I’ll stop being a professional rider but I’ll still be in the motorcycle world. I’m a pit reporter for Sky, I’m an instructor and I have my own team in the Italian championship for young riders and especially I want to dedicate more time to them to transfer my passion, knowledge and my secrets of motorcycling. I have to say thanks to everyone and especially to Pramac who have given me the chance to also ride in MotoE.

“I’ve practically ridden every bike and every category and I’ve really enjoyed these two seasons in MotoE. They told me the bike was ready for me next year but in that moment I really understood the decision I took comes from my heart, I don’t stop because I have no bike or no contract but simply because for me it’s time to change direction. That’s it, and thanks to everyone.

“I’m full of nice memories, but the first one was in Imola in 1999 I did my first wildcard in the World Championship. I was very young and on Friday morning when I went on track, next to me were the riders that before I’d just watch on TV and I was one of them. That feeling I will never forget and I hope many other riders can get the same feeling. And then my first podium, first victory, and I think my best was the podium I got in MotoGP with Nicky Hayden. I’m very lucky I had a really nice career with so many good moments, and I hope many riders can have the same career or even better.”

Some of the riders present alongside de Angelis in the Press Conference also had a few words to add.

Matteo Ferrari: “First of all I want to say it was an honour to ride with Alex. I saw him during my career and it was an honour because he’s a very fast rider and I rode with him on track. He was very quick and for me it’s unexpected news because he’s fast now – we saw in the last race in Misano he did a very fast lap. So it’s unexpected but It was an honour for me to ride with him.”

Jordi Torres: “I wanted to say to Alex, what you said in the past when you rode in your first race and saw some guys in front of you or behind you that you’ve only seen on TV – I felt the same with you! I saw you on TV at home or when I was in the Spanish Championship and I never thought I would be here with you in the World Championship. And after a few races I was here and saw you – I saw the ass of Alex de Angelis! And I’d always only seen you on TV. I was like ‘I’m behind Alex De Angelis!’ It’s hard to describe this but I had the same feeling with you.”

Mike Di Meglio: “I’d like to congratulate Alex. He was strong all his career. For sure he’d like more wins – but he tried many times and was very aggressive, and very fast in Phillip Island like me. He beat me once to pole position by almost nothing! Congratulations to him on a very good career.”

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30395856?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

Khan wants to honour ailing father in next bout with spectacular performance

Oct 08. 2020Amir Khan Singaporean lightweight veteran and former ONE World Title challenger Amir Khan will be fighting for more than just a victory when he steps into the Circle this Friday night at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. 

The 25-year-old national Muay Thai champion wants to dedicate his next performance to the man responsible for bringing him into this world, his father Tajudeen, who was diagnosed two months ago with Stage IV brain cancer. 

Doctors gave Tajudeen at least three months left to live, which means this could be the last time he could watch his son perform.

“He started trembling,” Khan told ONE Championship, recalling how his father collapsed and suffered a seizure.

“We called the ambulance, and once we got to the hospital, he regained consciousness. The doctors did tons of scans – CT scans, brain scans, MRIs. And then after a few weeks, he went for a biopsy.”

Khan remembers how his entire family waited anxiously for the test results, although his mother who works as a hospital nurse, knew it could potentially be a brain tumor or cancer. Nevertheless, Khan was absolutely devastated by the findings, despite already having an idea of his father’s plight.

“I felt lost, destroyed,” Khan says.

“The doctors gave him three-to-six months, but they don’t know, right? That’s a rough estimation. They said he might not have long to live.”

People diagnosed with late-stage lymphoma of the brain have a life expectancy of 45 days if the illness is left untreated. But even if proper treatment was administered, the outlook is often bleak.

Less than 30 percent of patients are able to go on living for another five years, which includes regular chemotherapy sessions and the dreaded side effects that come with it.

Khan’s father ultimately decided against chemotherapy, because he didn’t want to have to suffer through the pain associated with the treatment.

“He decided not to get the chemo because the procedure is painful,” said Khan. 

“He doesn’t want to live his last moments suffering. So, we’re respecting his wishes and trying to make the best of it.”

Khan is set to appear in a lightweight mixed martial arts contest against India’s Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju at ONE: REIGN OF DYNASTIES, which broadcasts live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium this Friday, 9 October.

The Singaporean star wants to put on an exciting show, and is dedicating this fight to his ‘biggest fan.’

“Whenever I’d compete, I’d bring him backstage with me and take him along for fight week. Nothing made him happier than me getting a spectacular KO. Whenever I had a good performance, he’d be the proudest dad in the world. He’d tell his friends and our family members, so I would just try to replicate that in every fight. I will always cherish those moments together,” said Khan.

“I want to get a good win for my father. Not only get a win, but finish [Rahul] because I know that will make him proud and happy. That feeling of me making him happy and seeing the joy in his eyes is the ultimate happiness for me because I care and love my dad.”

Despite the dire circumstances, Khan chooses to remain optimistic. He says his father doesn’t want him to go on living depressed, or be affected by the current situation. The family remains hopeful that Tajudeen might be able to live longer.

No matter what happens, however, Khan says he will always remember the biggest lesson he learned from his father — and that is to never give up.

“Every time I wanted to give up, I looked at him and he was there to cheer me up. He gave me the strength to continue,” said Khan.

“My goal is still to be a World Champion. And I hope he’s here to see me achieve that goal.”

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30395797?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

Thai e-sports get their very own awards ceremony

Oct 08. 2020From left Kla Tangsuwan, CEO of Wisesight (Thailand) Company Limited, Alistair David Johnston, AIS’ Managing Director of New Business and Rungtip Jarusiripipat, Head of game business management unit 

By THE NATION

Mobile operator Advanced Info Services (AIS) has teamed up with internet analyst Wisesight to hold the first awards ceremony for e-sports in social media.

The Thailand Zocial AIS Gaming Awards will recognise excellence in social media of games and e-sports throughout the previous year. The awards aim to raise Thailand to the next level as a Southeast Asian e-sports hub.

“Games and e-sports are growing so rapidly and have become the most important digital content in the global content industry. This has delivered growth for all stakeholders in the ecosystem, whether creators, publishers, casters, or players. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, this year the e-sport market has continued to grow and develop without difficulty, because it is 100 per cent digital content,” said Alistair David Johnston, AIS managing director of New Business.

AIS is thus providing a forum to promote industry stakeholders via awards reflecting excellence and different capabilities.

Grading that excellence is Wisesight.

“We have developed Gaming Metrics to measure the efficiency on social media of games and e-sports. … This is another important part of reviving and driving Thailand’s digital economy to grow both strongly and sustainably,” said Kla Tangsuwan, CEO of Wisesight (Thailand).

The Thailand Zocial AIS Gaming Awards 2020 will present 33 awards in seven categories:

1. Most popular game publisher

2. Most popular game creator

3. Most popular game creator by platform

4. Most popular e-sport player and club

5. Most popular game caster

6. Most popular game devices & gadget

7. Special Awards

The finalists of all 33 awards are also revealed for the first time today. The top three with the greatest achievement are detailed below: *ordered alphabetically, not by score

Group 1 : The most popular game publisher: 13 awards

1. MOBA (The most popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Game 2020)

DOTA 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, ROV : Arena of Valor

2. FPS (The most popular First Person Shooting Game 2020)

Call of Duty, CS:GO, Valorant

3. RPG (The most popular Role Playing Game 2020)

Final Fantasy VII Remake, The Seven Deadly Sins Grand Cross,

The Witcher 3

4. Battle royal (The most popular Battle Royal Game 2020)

Apex Legends, Free Fire, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)

5. Action (The most popular Action Game 2020)

Dead by Daylight, Identity V, THE LAST OF US Part ll

6. Strategy (The most popular Strategy Game 2020)

Astral Chronicles, Rise of Kingdoms, Seven Knights

7. Card game (The most popular Card Game 2020)

Hearthstone, Legends of Runeterra, MARVEL duel

8. Sports (The most popular Sports Game 2020)

FIFA 20, Fifa Online 4, eFootball PES 2020

9. MMORPG (The most popular Online Role Playing Game 2020)

Dragon Raja, Exos Heroes, Ragnarok Online

10. Simulation (The most popular Simulation Game 2020)

Animal Crossing, Minecraft, Roblox

11. Fighting (The most popular Fighting Game 2020)

JUMP FORCE, Street Fighter, Tekken 7

12. The most Popular Game of the year

Free Fire, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), ROV : Arena of Valor

13. The most Popular Thai Game

Home Sweet Home, Mist Survival, Timelie

Group 2 : The most popular game creator: 2 awards

1. The most popular game creator 2020

FIFA TarGrean, Heartrocker, Zbing z.

2. The most popular game celebrity 2020

Antione Pinto, Golf Pichaya, Oat Pramote

Group 3 : The most popular game creator by platform: 2 awards (announced on 3 November 2020)

1. The most popular game streamer on Twitch 2020

2. The most popular game streamer on Facebook Gaming 2020

Group 4 : The most popular e-Sport player and e-Sport club: 8 awards

1. MOBA (The most popular Multiplayer online battle arena game player 2020)

FirstOne (Sanpett Marat), ReMix (Sirichai Sukpan), Wanoiz (Norabed Karnchanalongkorn)

2. FPS (The most popular First person shooting game player 2020)

CigaretteS (Patiphan Posri), JinNy (Sarindhorn Wanothayarnchai), Viperdemon (Siwet Kruavit)

3. Battle royal (The most popular Battle royal game player 2020)

Ezqelusia (Wasu Surapakornniti), Minoru (Dechatorn Leksathan), Tanx (Pornpawit Suntornsong)

4. Fighting (The most popular Fighting game player 2020)

Talon|Book (Nopparuj Hempamorn), ShinAkuma (Ratchawin Tanasoontornkoon), Uncle Ben (Phuwit Jitthamwong)

5. Strategy (The most popular Strategy game player 2020)

KomCorx (Chatchapol Junthong), Strike (Pichayut Prasertwit)

6. Card game (The most popular Card game player 2020)

Disdai (Werit Popan), Patoyao (Aukit Kittikrairit)

7. Sport Game (The most popular Sport game player 2020)

JETKOY (Ekkasit Ratchatathammasit), Michael04 (Sorawit Rotjanasinlapin), TDKeane (Teedech Songsaisakul)

8. e-Sports Club (The most popular e-Sports club 2020)

Buriram United Esports, Evos TH, MiTH

Group 5: The most popular game caster: 1 award

1. The most popular game caster 2020

Dossier Channel, KirosZ (Weerasak Boonchu), Mikasa (Chaianan Thawatwong)

Group 6: The most popular game devices & gadget: 5 awards

1. The most popular gaming phones 2020

iPhone 11, Realme 6, Samsung Galaxy A71

2. The most popular gaming PC & notebook 2020

Acer Nitro, ASUS TUF, Lenovo Legion

3. The most popular gaming Mouse 2020

Logitech , Razer, Steelseries

4. The most popular gaming keyboard 2020

Cougar, Logitech, Razer

5. The most popular gaming earphone 2020