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Jasmine’s eagle sparks momentum at Royal Troon

Aug 22. 2020Jasmine SUwannapura (right) and her caddie (Credit to SwingDish)

Two-time LPGA champion Jasmine Suwannapura fired a brilliant eagle on the sixth hole to trail leader Dani Holmqvist of Sweden by two strokes after round two of the at the AIG Women’s Open on Friday.

Jasmine or Thidapa hit a 72 for a two-day total of one over-par-143 which saw her as the best Thai in the tournament with Ariya Jutanugarn (147) and Moriya Jutanugarn (150) all making it to the weekend rounds.

“A lot of things happened today,” said  Jasmine.  One double, three bogeys, two birdies and an eagle on No. 6, the hardest hole of the tournament, kept Jasmine n contention and two shots out of the lead at +1 overall. Though a rollercoaster of a round, the eagle was definitely a highlight of the Thailand native’s round.

 “I had a really lucky on the par 5, it’s like 142 yards and then hit 5-iron and one bounce and go in for eagle. I’m like, I don’t know, I didn’t see the ball but people say it’s in the hole. Yeah, so a lot of up-and-downs and you have to be really patient,” said Jasmine , who on Thursday made double bogey on the same hole.

Jasmine said she’s been confident in her game as of late. She’s made the cut in each start since the Tour’s resumption in Toledo, Ohio, and most tied for 51st at last week’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open. This is only her second appearance in the major championship, finishing in a tie for 57th last year at Woburn, but she knows what to improve on to conquer what Royal Troon has to offer this weekend.

“I just know that I can play this course. To be honest, if you know your game, you will do pretty good here because I think I know my game enough to like hit this kind of shot and expect it to be here, there, but again, you never know what’s going to happen,” Jasmine. “I had a lot of three-putts yesterday, three-putts on three holes and today, two holes. That showed that I can hit the green, but just have three-putts. So if I could stop making three-putts, it might be better.”

DANI HOLMQVIST LEADS MIDWAY THROUGH AIG WOMEN’S OPEN

With a brilliant 1-under 70 that belied the day’s difficult weather conditions, Sweden’s Dani Holmqvist vaulted up the leaderboard and holds the lead at -1 heading into the weekend at the AIG Women’s Open. Holmqvist has a one-stroke advantage over American Austin Ernst, who matched Holmqvist’s second-round 70, and Germany’s Sophia Popov.

 As rain and wind swept across Royal Troon, Holmqvist carded four birdies and three bogeys on Friday to hold the lead for the first time in her LPGA Tour career. After missing much of the 2019 season due to a back injury, the extra rehab time delivered by the coronavirus-related stoppage of play worked to Holmqvist’s advantage.

“Obviously, I think we are all itching to get back out there playing. Especially in front of all the fans, too, which is unfortunate that we can’t right now,” said Holmqvist, who has never finished better than 28th at a major championship. “But you know, for me, it was good personally just with the injury just to give me some time off, not to travel so much, and just be home and doing rehab a little bit more and just getting stronger so I can be out here to perform again.”

Ernst had four birdies and three bogeys on Friday to move into major contention, while Popov birdied 18 to cap a round of 1-over 72. Like Holmqvist, both players are looking for their first major victory.

Five players are tied for third at +1 – two-time major champion Lydia Ko; LPGA Tour winners Minjee Lee and Jasmine Suwannapura; Emily Kristine Pedersen, who was in a playoff at last week’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open; and Lindsey Weaver.

First-round leader Amy Olson had a disastrous day on Friday, following her first-round 4-under 67 with a 10-over 81 that included six bogeys and two double bogeys. She dropped to +6 overall and is tied for 33rd.

The cut came at +9, tied with 2009 at Royal Lytham and St Annes for the highest cut in AIG Women’s Open major history, with 73 players advancing to the weekend. Notable players to miss the cut include Rolex Rankings No. 7 Brooke Henderson (+10), 2013 AIG Women’s Open champion Stacy Lewis (+11) and defending champion Hinako Shibuno (+12). Shibuno became the fourth winner since the AIG Women’s Open became a major in 2001 to miss the cut.

AUSTIN ERNST AIMING FOR WIN NO. 2

Ten days from today is the sixth anniversary of Austin Ernst’s only LPGA Tour victory, a playoff win at the 2014 Cambia Portland Classic. If the South Carolina native has her way, she’ll celebrate that anniversary by adding a second win to her tally. Ernst shot a second-round 1-under 70 on Friday and sits in solo second at Even heading into the weekend of the AIG Women’s Open.

“I figured a few things out the last few weeks. I’ve been a little rusty with the start, but it’s been really close to being really good,” said Ernst, who had four birdies and three bogeys on Friday. “I feel like last week helped me playing in a little bit of wind, playing links golf and figured out a few things kind of that I needed to work on and I took that the beginning of this week and I felt like at the start of this week my game was definitely trending in the right direction.”

Since that win in 2014, Ernst has been searching for the next step in her LPGA Tour career. She made her Solheim Cup debut for USA in 2017 but has not notched a top-10 finish since a tie for 10th at the 2019 Honda LPGA Thailand. She has never finished better than 56th in her seven previous AIG Women’s Open appearances.

REJUVENATED DANI HOLMQVIST LEADS AIG WOMEN’S OPEN

In a year where the only things missing so far are locusts and a frog plague, the mantra for 2020 has been: control what you can, accept what you can’t and adapt on the fly.

A microcosm of that philosophy has been the first two rounds of the AIG Women’s Open, where conditions at Royal Troon have included tropical-storm-strength winds mixed sporadically with a cold, north, sideways rain that hits the skin like pellets from a Gatling gun. Hanging on was the order of the first two days. And no one did that better than Sweden’s Dani Holmqvist, who enters the weekend at 1-under par after a solid round of 70. 

“I grew up playing the British Am, and also played the Helen Holm (Scottish Women’s Open Amateur Championship) at this course, only one round at this course, though, but at the property,” Holmqvist said after a four-birdie, three-bogey round that included some solid par saves in the worst of the wind. “This (setting and weather) is different, very different, but I enjoy it.”

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KTM top as we begin another Red Bull Ring rodeo

Aug 22. 2020

The Austrian factory split the spoils with Ducati on Friday, but it’s Pol Espargaro quickest out the blocks in Styria

He’s done it again: seven days after topping Friday in the Austrian GP, Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) returned to the top of the timesheets on Day 1 of the BMW M Grand Prix of Styria, giving KTM yet more to smile about in Spielberg. The Spaniard was two tenths clear at the top courtesy of his FP2 best, with Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) slotting into second from his fastest effort in the morning. Fresh from the top step of the Red Bull Ring podium, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) completed the top three – an infinitesimal 0.004 off Miller. FP1 It was Miller who took to the top of FP1 as action began again, but the Australian retained the shadow he’d had for much of his time in the lead of the Austria GP, with Dovizioso just that aforementioned 0.004 off the Aussie’s best. The timesheets in FP1 were so tight that the top five – completed by Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – were covered by just 0.102. Not, that’s not a typo. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) extends it to five manufacturers in the top six as he was next up on the FP1 timesheets, just a couple more tenths down, ahead of a much improved Friday for tookie Brno winner Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in P7. Fellow rookie KTM rider Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) picked up with the form he’d left off with too as he was eighth, ahead of Austrian GP polesitter Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT), who completed the top ten in the morning. With sunny skies and not much sign that will change any time soon, FP1 saw a little less of a rush than this time last week and there was only one crasher in the session, Tito Rabat (Esponsorama Racing), as the Spaniard took a tumble at Turn 4 – rider ok. FP2 FP2 saw Pol Espargaro hit back, and by the end of play he was the only rider able to dethrone Miller and Dovizioso’s FP1 efforts, courtesy of a 1:23.638. With pace all the way through the Austrian GP weekend before the race ended in disappointment in a crash, the Spaniard remains a force to be reckoned with at the Red Bull Ring. Nakagami was the closest man to him in the afternoon but could only home in to within two and a half tenths, with Mir just 0.003 off the Japanese rider to take third.  Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – another looking for a comeback after a crash on Sunday – was a tenth behind his teammate despite his continued recovery from his shoulder injury, with Viñales completing FP2’s top five. Overall, the headlines remain in KTM’s court as Pol Espargaro keeps his hold on Friday honours in Styria from that FP2 lap, with Miller and Dovizioso’s FP1 times putting them in hot pursuit, fresh from the podium. Oliveira’s FP1 best makes it two KTMs in the top four as the Portuguese sophomore – and Austrian factory – continue to impress. Nakagami was once again top Honda as he completed the top five courtesy of his fastest effort in FP2, and the Japanese rider says they’ve improved braking stability and front end feel – sounding very positive about his prospects on Sunday. Mir and Rins, meanwhile, stack the Suzukis up in P6 and P7 as the Hamamatsu factory continue their warning shots for the field. Viñales emerges from the Friday shuffle in eighth as the fastest Yamaha, but not by much as Morbidelli ended the day just half a tenth in arrears. The final man set to move through as it stands is Binder, who was P10 overall. Last Friday the rookie said he’d struggled to manage even one decent lap, but what a difference a week – and a fourth place in the Austria GP – make. Lecuona was just 0.050 off the South African too as he took 11th, missing out but keeping that strong form after a tougher start to his MotoGP™ career. Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), despite fifth in the Austrian GP, ended the second Friday in Styria in P13 and will want to move forward and grab a place in Q2 – and Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) most definitely will as he ended the day just behind the ‘Doctor’. Last weekend it was braking that caused some drama for the Frenchman, this week he says it’s more the drop in pace that’s bothering him… but the weekend remains young and Quartararo has finished two Fridays outside the top ten and two within it so far in 2020. FP3 starts at 9:55 (GMT +2) as the likes of Rossi, Quartararo and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) saddle up to try and move through. But with the weather forecast looking positive, there wasn’t the same mad Friday dash this weekend – so plenty can change ahead of qualifying. Saturday morning is also expected to welcome Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) back on track as he was passed fit to ride from FP3 on after his recent scaphoid surgery. Stat attack: the Frenchman has never ridden with an injury before, and isn’t sure what to expect… Q1 starts at 14:10, before the top 12 places on the grid are decided just after in another stunning Q2 shootout at 14:35.. Click here for combined timesheets MotoGP™: the five fastest on Friday 1 Pol Espargaro – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM – 1:23.638 2 Jack Miller* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – +0.221 3 Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati – +0.225 4 Miguel Oliveira* – Red Bull KTM Tech 3 – KTM – +0.260 5 Takaaki Nakagami* – LCR Honda Idemitsu – Honda – +0.266 *Independent Team rider Lowes pips Gardner by just 0.016 on Friday The top four end Friday within 0.081, with the Briton coming out on top after another show of pace

Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) has repeated his Friday heroics on take two as the Briton topped the combined timesheets on Day 1 of the BMW M Grand Prix of Styria. It was far from lonely at the top though, with Austrian GP polesitter Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) just 0.016 down and most recent race winner Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the top three… still within 0.060. As ever, the intermediate class is close!

FP1

Lowes topped the sunny FP1 session despite some late threats from those just behind him, the Brit putting in a 1:28.733 to get the better of the competition. Gardner and Martin took second and third with those tiny gaps to the top, and fourth? Fourth was still within a tenth of Lowes’ best, with Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) 0.081 down. Championship leader Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) was fifth, just over a tenth in arrears.

There were two incidents in the session, one a Turn 1 crash for Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing), rider ok, and the other a run off for Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP). Schrötter headed through the gravel but kept it upright and rejoined. 

FP2

The weather remained sunny in FP2 but no one could quite get in the ballpark of the morning’s best laptimes. Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) topped the session in the 1:29s, with Gardner again close – this time just 0.042 off – and Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) third, two tenths off Bezzecchi. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40) both put in top sessions in the afternoon to end FP2 in P4 and P5 respectively.

Impressive rookie Aron Canet (Openbank Aspar Team) had a blip in FP2 and was the sole crasher in the afternoon after he went down at Turn 1 – rider ok. 

Looking through the fastest 14, most of the riders heading through – provisionally – to Q2 after Friday set their best in FP1, with Lowes, Gardner, Martin, Bulega and Marini the top five. Sixth went the way of Augusto Fernandez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) as his improved form of late continues, with Bezzecchi in seventh overall.

Despite his crash, Canet’s FP1 time is enough to put the rookie in eighth, the Speed Up rider the only non-Kalex in the top ten, with former points leader Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) slotting into ninth. Austrian GP podium finisher Schrötter completes that top ten despite his morning run off.

Currently, the final four set to move through are Marcos Ramirez (Tennor American Racing) – who had one of his best Fridays in some time – Navarro courtesy of his FP2 time, Tom Lüthi (Liqui Moly Intact GP), and Garzo… leaving the likes of Brno podium finisher Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing) outside the graduation zone in P17, and Qatar GP winner Tetsuta Nagashima (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in P20.

Can they make it through when the field head out for FP3? That’s their final chance to move straight through to Q2, and it begins at 10:55 on Saturday morning. Qualifying then starts at 15:10. Click here for combined timesheets Moto2™: the five fastest on Friday 1 Sam Lowes – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Kalex – 1:28.733 2 Remy Gardner – ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team – Kalex – +0.016 3 Jorge Martin – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex +0.060 4 Nicolo Bulega – Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 – Kalex +0.081 5 Luca Marini – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex +0.117 Vietti takes command in Styria  The Italian throws down the gauntlet after just missing out on the podium in the Austrian GP

Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) is the fastest man on Friday in the BMW M Grand Prix of Styria, setting the only 1:35 of the day in FP1 and no one able to depose him in the afternoon. Championship leader Albert Arenas (Valresa Aspar Team) is second, three tenths down by virtue of his FP1 time too, with Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in third from his fastest lap in FP2.

FP1

Vietti was the fastest out the blocks, topping the first session of the weekend with a 1:35.997 and the only man in the 1:35s then and, ultimately, all day. That said, he also crashed at Turn 1 the end of the session, rider ok. Championship leader Arenas was second quickest as he is overall, three tenths down, ahead of Kömmerling Gresini Moto3’s Jeremy Alcoba as the reigning Moto3™ Junior World Champion took third in the morning.

Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team), Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing), Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power), Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) and Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) completed the top ten – which is pretty much the front group from the Austrian GP…

John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing), who is second in the Championship heading into the Styrian GP, suffered an early spill at Turn 10  and ended the session in P11, rider ok.

The other crasher was Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), who finished the session in P17.

FP2

Suzuki took over in the afternoon to head the timesheets, quickest in FP2 ahead of Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) but by just 0.011. Arbolino was third, still within 0.060, with McPhee turning the tables on key rival Arenas to beat the Spaniard to fourth.

In typical Moto3™ style, much of FP2 was spent with many in the field seeming to almost be racing a little early – with one big group out on track putting on an impressive but slightly premature show. With the slipstream so important for a laptime in Spielberg, the riders were certainly searching for it.

Alonso Lopez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) was the sole crasher in the afternoon session, rider ok. 

Overall, it’s Vietti who heads the provisional Q2 graduates ahead of Arenas, both courtesy of their FP1 times. Suzuki, Rodrigo and Arbolino’s best laps in FP2 see them complete the top five in that order, ahead of Alcoba and Fernandez in P6 and P7, respectively. McPhee beats Masia to eighth overall, with Deniz Öncü completing the top ten.

Foggia, Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team), Binder and Sasaki are currently the final four set to move through, but with better weather forecasts this weekend, it remains anyone’s game in FP3. That’s what Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) will certainly be counting on, as he ended Friday in 16th and with title rivals Arenas and McPhee well ahead of him.

Tune in again to see the lightweight class jostle for a position in Q2 on Saturday morning, before qualifying from 12:35. Click here for combined timesheets Moto3™: the five fastest on Friday 1 Celestino Vietti – Sky Racing Team VR46 – KTM 1:35.997 2 Albert Arenas – Valresa Aspar Team – KTM +0.306 3 Tatsuki Suzuki – SIC58 Squadra Corse – Honda +0.401 4 Gabriel Rodrigo – Kömmerling Gresini Moto3 – Honda +0.412 5 Tony Arbolino – Rivacold Snipers Team – Honda +0.461

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“We try something new every time we race”: riders get set for more in Styria

Aug 21. 2020

The pre-event Press Conference welcomes the paddock back to the Red Bull Ring for another stunning showdown

Take two! As the paddock remains at the stunning Red Bull Ring, it’s time to reset and reload for the BMW M Grand Prix of Styria. Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was joined by Austrian GP winner Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), rookie Brno winner Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in the pre-event Press Conference to debrief last weekend and look ahead to the next chance to attack the Austrian track, which will also be the 900th premier class race!

FABIO QUARTARARO: “It was a pretty frustrating race last Sunday but like you say it was a strange Sunday after the big crash. Main thing is everyone was safe. In the first race I went straight into the gravel, i had a front brake like a clutch which wasn’t the best feeling. So we decided to change a lot of things from the front brake to try to improve but on the second lap of the second race I couldn’t be behind someone. Even alone I was struggling to stop the bike. We had problems on the pads into the callipers so that happened. Really frustrated because our pace was quite good, not for the victory but for the top five.  

“For me it’s wide open but again to have a second race in Austria, Andrea is super fast here and in all the next tracks, of course I think he’s one of the main contenders but many manufacturers are there. I think the top five were four manufacturers so everybody is there and I think it’s quite fun. We will try to make our best this weekend, we had good pace last weekend so we want to work a little bit better so we are fighting with the podium guys.” 

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO: “It was very strange after the race, but more I think because there were no fans and none of my friends at the race, more so than because of my future, which I’m really relaxed about, and especially about this season. I am focused on that so this is not the point.  

“We try something new every time we do a race. You can understand a lot of things, more so than the practice sessions, so it’s normal for everyone. I think that we showed really good speed in the race, but I still don’t feel good mid-corner and on exit. We have to be better, and especially because we can bring that to upcoming tracks. Some competitors will be stronger this week because they couldn’t get the result last time and so they will be hungry and like everyone they will have seen things in the race. For sure, the weather will decide things. I think it will be hot tomorrow and Saturday, maybe Sunday not so much, but I think it will be a different weekend.

BRAD BINDER: “Jeez, the Friday was a complete mess. I spent more time on the access roads I think. But I kind of expected it because very time I’ve come to a new track its been super tough to find all the markers, stop the bike wheelie-ing and where to go and how to do it properly. Also the weather and not riding in some of the sessions didn’t help because it made it difficult to make the steps forward. Saturday wasn’t good qualifying 17th, but Sunday morning I felt much better and made a small step compared to what I did in qualifying and for the race I knew starting so far back would be super tough. After getting an alright start I just tried to start chipping my way through and see what the other guys were doing. I learnt a lot in these two races, to finish fourth was a shock for sure. I think when I was in eighth place I didn’t pass anyone again… so it was a strange race for sure. The good thing is we really know now after this race; we know the points I need to improve on, and I expect I can do a better job from the beginning this time around.  

“I think the most important thing is I can really use the laps wisely now. When I’m on track I have a good base to work from and we can try and improve from there. Last Friday it was chaos, if I ended up doing 10 clean laps during the whole day that was is. But it’s always like this after a race for everyone though. I expect everyone has found something, seen where they need to improve and I’m looking forward to a good race in Austria.”

VALENTINO ROSSI: “It was a very difficult moment, yes, because it was very scary. During the crash, fortunately from the bike I saw just the bike of Zarco flying over Maverick, but sincerely I didn’t see that of Franco Morbidelli because it was too close and too fast. We were very lucky because neither bike touched us. It was a difficult situation and a very difficult restart. In the end, maybe you don’t have a lot of chances. So, restarting  on the bike wasn’t so bad in the end, but yeah, it was a difficult moment.

“For us, here, this track is difficult; we have to suffer a bit. Our pace is not fantastic enough to fight for a podium or a victory. But, in the second half of the race it wasn’t so bad. I was able to be consistent and keep a decent pace and take some points. It’s always strange to make another race at the same circuit but we have a lot of data so we need to start from a better point and try to improve and try to stay with the top group. 

JACK MILLER: “Yeah after the previous two Grands Prix after crashing out of a decent spot in Jerez and never finding our feet in Czechia, we needed that little shot in the arm. All weekend seemed to be pretty good and we were able to capitalise on Sunday. Despite the restart, despite having the changed tyres and all that, I kept level headed and went out and did my work. The bike is working really well here, I can’t fault it. Much of the same this weekend hopefully. All the other boys will be faster again so we’re going to have to find something extra.  

“For sure we’re always looking at each others’ data and whatnot. Dovi is definitely the man to beat around here at the minute. But to put it down to one thing I don’t know, we’ll see what we can do this weekend.”

JOAN MIR: “The truth is that last weekend we did a really good job. I think it was my best weekend. Finally we got a good result after searching always for good results but for some reasons and bad luck we couldn’t get a result. Anyway, I’m happy for this and let’s see if i can be here a couple more times.

“We have a good base, a competitive bike, but we lost a bit in sector 1 and sector 2 and then in 3 and 4 we recovered a little bit of time. I was behind the Ducatis a lot of laps and I was able to study the strong and weak points and for sure I have good info for this race!”

Here we go again! It’s time to reset and reload to attack the Red Bull Ring once again, with MotoGP™ heading out for FP1 at 9:55 (GMT +2) on Friday before the race starts on Sunday at 14:00. DON’T MISS IT!

 

Modifications made to Turn 3

Following the incident in the Austrian GP between Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) that brought out the Red Flag, Race Direction have overseen modifications to the inside of Turn 3 at the Red Bull Ring in order to minimise the risk of a similar incident reoccurring.

A new wall has been built to make sure nothing can run on and re-enter the track. The wall is constructed of FIA fencing, tyres and an air fence.

Top photo: Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta (right, foreground) looks on as the changes are made to Turn 3. In the centre are FIM Grand Prix Safety Officer Franco Uncini (L) and MotoGP™ Safety Officer Loris Capirossi Hopkins and Roberts lap the Red Bull Ring

It’s 20 years since John Hopkins crossed the pond to come and race in Europe, and 20 years since he first rode the Red Bull Yamaha that he would later go on to compete with in the 2002 MotoGP™ season. Now, ‘Hopper’ is the Rider Coach and a mentor to Tennor American Racing, and the team celebrated the milestone in Styria.

Tennor American Racing’s Joe Roberts, who took his first podium at Brno not so long ago, joined Hopper for two laps of the Red Bull Ring on Moto2™ machinery on Thursday – ending in a classic stand up wheelie for both. The two also had a photo opportunity with the very Red Bull Yamaha Hopkins rode in 2002, which is on display at the track!

JOHN HOPKINS: “It was 20 years ago I first rode the bike, the MotoGP bike, as a 16 year old kid on the Red Bull Yamaha! I’ve got a lot of experience, in this paddock and other Championships for the last 20+ years so I’m just trying to pass on all my knowledge and experience to a young talented American I know can be a World Champion one day. Being able to pass on that knowledge is extremely rewarding, seeing Joe going out and getting on the podium in Brno and having the success he’s having this year is almost more rewarding than I ever had in any of my racing career. It’s good to pass that on!”

JOE ROBERTS: “It’s like John said, for me it’s incredible to have him on board, he’s been a huge hero of mine ever since I was a kid. I remember he came out to a go kart track to watch one of the mini Championships I grew up riding, and he grew up riding! He’s always been a person I looked up to, and seeing that Red Bull Yamaha brought back a lot of memories for me as well! It was inspiring to see what he did back then. I watched the movie Faster and they showed that whole process for him. It’s something I wanted to do! To have him here, he’s so vital and I’m excited for our future relationship and what we’ll bring to the sport.”

Top photo: Hopkins (L) and Roberts (R) on track Riders connect with fans via Virtual Green Carpet event

Ahead of the BMW M Grand Prix of Styria, the riders headed down to a Virtual Green Carpet event at the Red Bull Ring to connect with a few fans via video call.

The experience becomes an even more valuable one as the grandstands must currently remain empty, and from 12:20 – 14:15 the MotoGP™ grid talked their way down the Green Carpet line and met a few of the people who will most definitely be tuning in for another stunning race on Sunday.

Top photo: the KTM squad, with Binder flanked by Tech 3’s Iker Lecuona (centre) and Oliveira (right)

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Sangmanee aware of Kulabdam’s enhanced power in 4-ounce gloves

Aug 21. 2020

By THE NATION

It’s going to be an explosive showdown between Thailand’s rising Muay Thai global superstars as seven-time Muay Thai World Champion “The Million Dollar Baby” Sangmanee Klong SuanPluResort meets countryman and two-time Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion “Left Meteorite” Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai in the ONE Championship ring.

Sangmanee and Kulabdam are scheduled to square off in the main event of ONE: NO SURRENDER III, a closed-door, audience free event set for broadcast on August 21 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Fans are getting ready for what is expected to be an action-packed three round contest, with neither man willing to take a step backward.

Sangmanee, for one, knows just how dangerous his opponent is. Nevertheless, “The Million Dollar Baby” feels extra confident in his abilities, and believes he has enough to claim victory in one of the toughest bouts of his career.

“Kulabdam is a very strong fighter. He has very powerful punches and he’s going to be even more dangerous now with smaller gloves. However, I’ve studied his fights and I think he has a few weaknesses. He runs out of power and stamina as the fight goes on,” said Sangmanee.

The highly-anticipated matchup is a semifinal bout in the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament. The winner of this bout will go on to face Saemapetch Fairtex in the final round.

The overall winner of the tournament will then earn the chance to challenge legend Nong-O Gaiyanghadao for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship. 

Needless to say, the stakes are very high in this one, and Sangmanee is being extra careful not to be too confident.

“Even though I have a lot of experience, I don’t consider it a huge advantage. Anything can happen in the ring, especially in 4-ounce gloves. I will never underestimate my opponents,” said Sangmanee.

Against Kulabdam, Sangmanee is facing a worthy opponent with prodigious power in his left straight and a penchant for scoring impressive knockouts. He is considered one of the most dynamic young talents in the striking world.

Sangmanee doesn’t want to predict what happens when they finally meet in the center of the ring, but he promises fans he is more than ready to put on a show.

“He should come in the best condition possible. I don’t know how this fight will end but I will try my best. Kulabdam, please sharpen your weapons and show me on the biggest stage in the world,” said Sangmanee.

“I’m happy that I can compete in ONE Championship again after staying at home for the past few months. Now, I’m a hundred percent ready to fight.”

ONE: NO SURRENDER III is the third iteration of the high-profile event series in Bangkok. It features a mashup of compelling Muay Thai and mixed martial arts bouts.

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Olson at the top after 18 holes at AIG Women’s Open

Aug 21. 2020

Thursday saw sun, wind and rain to Royal Troon Golf Club and at the end of the day, only three players in red numbers. 

Amy Olson shot a 4-under 67 and holds a three-stroke lead over Sophia Popov and Marina Alex after the first round of the 2020 AIG Women’s Open.

After a bogey at No. 3, Olson returned birdies at 4, 6, 11, 14 and 16 to pull clear of the field after 18 holes. With winds gusting up to 40 mph, Olson was understandably proud of her performance at Royal Troon, with a three-stroke advantage that is tied with Juli Inkster (2006) and Mirim Lee (2016) for the largest 18-hole lead in its major history.

“That was the best ball-striking day of my life. I kept the trajectory on every shot what I wanted,” said Olson, who had never returned a round in the 60s in her previous three AIG Women’s Open starts. “My start lines were really good, which was especially important those first nine holes going out into the wind, and my distance control was really good, which can be really tough to judge on a day like this.”

Olson has never tasted LPGA Tour victory, notably double-bogeying the 72nd hole to lose the 2018 Evian Championship after stepping to the tee with a one-stroke lead. The 28-year-old learned so much from that experience and now finds herself one round closer to perhaps finding that elusive first win.

“I seriously love major championship golf. I love the difficult conditions. I just really feel like the cream rises to the top,” said Olson, whose 20 collegiate victories at North Dakota State University are the most in NCAA women’s golf history. “You can’t get away with anything, honestly, and so it requires every part of your game to be sharp, and I love that challenge. I relish it. It is a marathon.”

A group of 10 players are tied for fourth at even, including 50-year-old Catriona Matthew, the 2009 AIG Women’s Open champion and the leading Scot through 18 holes.

Rolex Rankings No. 2 Danielle Kang, the highest-ranked player in the major field, survived a rollercoaster day on the links. Sitting 9 over through 15 holes, Kang eagled the par-5 16th and closed birdie-birdie to finish at +5. She sits tied for 71st, where she is joined by defending champion Hinako Shibuno and last week’s winner Stacy Lewis.

POPOV CONTINUES STRETCH OF QUALITY GOLF AT THE #AIGWO

Sophia Popov has been on a roll, and she doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon. After caddying for friend Anne van Dam during the LPGA Tour’s resumption at the Drive On Championship in Toledo, Ohio, Popov went on to tie for ninth the following week at the Marathon LPGA Classic, becoming one of 10 qualifiers through the event for the AIG Women’s Open. Instead of journeying across the sea for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open for some extra practice on the links before the major championship, Popov played the Symetra Tour’s Founders Tribute event in Mesa, Ariz., finishing in a tie for second.

“A couple people said, why aren’t you leaving earlier, you’re playing the Women’s Open, and I said, you know what, honestly for the status I have this year, I need to play Symetra events and I need to make sure I’m doing well with those, and so I didn’t want to miss too many events,” said Popov, who recorded a first-round 70 at the AIG Women’s Open. “The Women’s Open to me is a bonus event essentially. I just said, I’m okay with the one practice round. I knew it was only going to be one. I said links golf is links golf, and the conditions change so much anyways that you have to adjust accordingly.”

Popov was one of only three players under-par on the day. Her boyfriend, Max Melhes, flew to Scotland to caddie for her, making her feel even more comfortable as she took on Royal Troon in treacherous weather conditions.

“Usually I’m pretty humble about my game, but today I honestly just made a lot of really good shots. Especially on the front nine, it was really important with the wind into off the right. It was very tough, and I just picked good spots if I did miss the greens. Other than that, just hit a lot of greens in these conditions, actually,” said Popov. “When I was on the first tee box this morning, I said, oh, my God, anything — even remotely close to par today is going to be an incredible round. I said, if I can keep it under 5-over par then this is going to be great, and

so yeah, I mean, just with the wind blowing in our faces on No. 1, I honestly didn’t think I was going to come off the 18th green shooting 1-under par, so I’m extremely happy.”

MARINA ALEX FEELING “AWESOME” AFTER STRONG FIRST ROUND

Marina Alex knew Royal Troon would be a challenge. With gusts forecasted to blow more than 30 mph during the day, Alex knew she had to fight hard against the Scottish temperamental weather. She had five straight pars to open her round but double-bogeyed the par-5 sixth after barely carrying a cross bunker about 170 yards out from the hole. That was the only blemish on her card and she more than made it up by the end of the day, adding three birdies to sit at -1 after 18 holes at the AIG Women’s Open, tied for second heading into Friday.

“I was able to take advantage of a couple breaks in the weather. I felt like it was super windy and raining but then there were lulls here and there. It just played so different, obviously, than the practice days and different than what we would have even expected it to play under I think like a normal prevailing wind,” said Alex. “So it’s funny, the easy holes played very challenging and the holes that are mentally super difficult were short, so it’s just kind of trying to manage that and taking advantage of the fact that the challenging holes were birdieable in some ways today.”

Alex said she is appreciative of the opportunity to play at such an historic venue that has hosted The Open nine times. It only motivates the American to continue her strong play through the next couple of days, despite what the weather may throw her way.

“There’s been so many years where we’ve been trying to get on the same – I would just say the same level as men’s golf and it kind of starts with the golf courses in my opinion and just seeing what the women are capable of on the same venues I think just really helps bring the level of our sport up a notch, and it’s important that we’re playing here,” said Alex. “The announcement that we had, I think it was yesterday or the day before, for the upcoming five years was so cool. I think it’s just we’re all kind of like reinvigorated about this whole championship, and I think it’s going to be great moving forward.”

ALENA SHARP MAKES THE MOST OF GETTING UP EARLY

A 6:30 a.m. tee time makes for a painful wake-up call, but Canadian veteran Alena Sharp certainly made the early alarm worth her while. Playing in the first group off at the AIG Women’s Open, Sharp carded an even-par 71 and is tied for fourth after 18 holes at the season’s first major championship.

“I hit my first shot out of bounds and made a double on the first hole and it’s not obviously the way I wanted to start the day,” said Sharp. “But it actually woke me up a little bit and started playing some good golf shots after that and made a few putts and just grinded my way.”

Sharp is making her 11th AIG Women’s British Open start, with a best finish of T23 at St Andrews in 2007. She feels an extra kinship to Royal Troon thanks to her Scottish ancestry, perhaps giving her extra luck as she continues her quest for the first title of her 16-year LPGA Tour career.

“I was so ecstatic to see that we were going to get to play Royal Troon and it wasn’t going to get canceled. We are lucky we get to play some of these amazing courses,” said Sharp. “I have like ancestry from here. My grandmother was born in Greenock and my uncle was born in Glasgow. I feel like they were watching over me today and giving me a little help out there.”

EXPERIENCE IS KEY FOR CATRIONA MATTHEW

In 2009, Catriona Matthew became the first Scot to win the AIG Women’s Open when she captured the title at Royal Lytham and St Annes, just 11 weeks after giving birth to her daughter Sophie. Fast forward to 2020 and Matthew seemingly has not lost a step. The 2019 and 2021 European Solheim Cup captain birdied three of the closing four holes at Royal Troon to finish at even-par 71 and heads to the second round in a tie for fourth.

“Obviously delighted with my round. You know, I played well. I drove the ball well,” said Matthew. “I don’t think I missed a fairway today, which gives you just the opportunity to try and hit the greens.”

Matthew is playing in her 26th consecutive AIG Women’s Open, dating to 1995. As a native Scot and one of the most experienced players in this field, she was not fazed by today’s gale-force winds and tomorrow’s storm forecast. She can’t control that, so she can’t focus on it.

“Throughout the years we have had some pretty horrific days, and it’s just to go out there, I think, with the mentality that you just need to hang in,” said Matthew. “You might get the odd bad break, you might get a few good ones. But I think just hang in and just try and give yourself putts for par.”

KATJA POGACAR GETS LATE PLAYING OPPORTUNITY AFTER JESSICA KORDA WITHDRAWS

Rolex Rankings No. 18 Jessica Korda, the fourth-ranked American in the world, withdrew prior to the first round of the AIG Women’s Open. She posted the following statement to her social-media channels: “Unfortunately, due to medical reasons that are not COVID-19 related, I’ve had to withdraw from the AIG Women’s Open. I hope to tee it up soon.”

Slovenia’s Katja Pogacar then got the call that every first alternate hopes to receive – she was in the 2020 AIG Women’s Open field. Teeing off early at 7:36 a.m., Pogacar carded a 4-over 75 on a wind-swept Royal Troon and sits tied for 53rd going into the second round. This is her second AIG Women’s Open appearance, after missing the cut in her debut in 2019 at Woburn Golf Club.

PLAYER NOTES

Rolex Rankings No. 55 Amy Olson (67)

• Olson’s 67 was the lowest career round at the AIG Women’s Open; her previous best was a 70 in the second round in 2018
• She hit 10 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens, with 29 putts
• Olson is in her seventh year on the LPGA Tour; her best finish is second at the 2018 Evian Championship and the 2020 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open
• This is Olson’s seventh event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is second at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open
• This is Olson’s fourth appearance at the AIG Women’s Open; her best finish is a tie for 28th in 2018
• Olson is a 2013 graduate of North Dakota State University, with a degree in Accounting; she is also a Certified Public Accountant
• While at North Dakota State, she broke the NCAA record for most career victories with 20, a mark previously held by Juli Inkster, and was a First-Team Capital One Academic All-America selection in 2012 and 2013

Rolex Rankings No. 28 Marina Alex (70)

• Alex hit 12 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens, with 29 putts
• Alex is in her eighth year on the LPGA Tour; her best finish is a win at the 2018 Cambia Portland Classic
• This is Alex’s fifth event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is T4 at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open
• This is her seventh appearance at the AIG Women’s Open; her best finish is a tie for ninth in 2014
• Alex was a member of the 2019 U.S. Solheim Cup team, with a 1-1-2 overall record
• She was twice named SEC Player of the Year while playing at Vanderbilt University and was selected as a NGCA First-Team All-American (2010 and 2012) 
• As a sophomore, she was the individual winner at the 2010 SEC Championship and was runner-up as a senior
• Inducted in the 2015 class of Vanderbilt’s Hall of Fame

Rolex Rankings No. 304 Sophia Popov (70)

• She hit 12 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens, with 32 putts
• Popov has 2020 Symetra Tour Membership; she tied for second at last week’s Founders Tribute at Longbow Golf Club in Arizona
• This is Popov’s second event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season; she tied for ninth at the Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana
• This is Popov’s second appearance in the AIG Women’s Open; she finished 67th in 2011

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Ironman Im leads Asia’s magnificent 7 in chase for FedExCup glory

Aug 20. 2020Hideki Matsuyama (Credit Getty Images)Korea’s Sungjae Im heads into THE NORTHERN TRUST starting on Thursday with a spring in his step as he chases his dream of becoming Asia’s first winner of the PGA TOUR’s ultimate prize, the FedExCup.

The 22-year-old has continued to blossom as one of the most exciting stars in the game and enters the first week of the Playoffs at TPC Boston ranked fifth, and in prime position to challenge for a slice of golf history in what has been an abbreviated PGA TOUR 2019-20 Season.

Asia has been waiting to celebrate its first FedExCup champion since the season-long race top prize was inaugurated in 2007 and Im will have for company six other representatives from the region, comprising of Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, Korea’s Byeong Hun An, Sung Kang, K.H. Lee, Si Woo Kim and Xinjun Zhang, the first mainland Chinese golfer to qualify for Playoffs.

Im, who won The Honda Classic in March and has six other top-10s, finished tied for ninth at last week’s Wyndham Championship which was a welcome and timely return to form. He had uncharacteristically missed three cuts in his previous seven starts when golf made a return in June following a three-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I haven’t finished very well since the end of the Charles Schwab Challenge (in June), so it feels great to have my swing back,” said the Korean, who earned the nickname “Ironman Im” after he played in 35 events last season en route to becoming Rookie of the Year.

“I would, of course, like to win the FedExCup, but there are so many strong competitors. If I were to win, I don’t think I could even put into words what it would mean to me. It would definitely be a turning point in my career. As everyone knows, you can’t be too greedy in this game. I just want to take it one tournament at a time and give it my best to let the results speak for my game.”

Straight-shooting Hideki has been one of Asia’s star performers over the past few seasons where he has not finished lower than 16^th position on the final FedExCup standings since 2015. He enters THE NORTHERN TRUST this week ranked 18^th, with four top-25 finishes since the Return to Golf in June and an full anticipation of hitting top form in the next three weeks.

A five-time winner on TOUR but not since 2017, Hideki remains modest and insists he is still learning in the game which is loaded with talents from the U.S. and around the globe.

“I still have so much more to learn and a lot of work ahead to achieve the goals I have set for myself which include playing in the TOUR Championship every year, winning on the PGA TOUR and of course winning a major tournament,” said the 28-year-old Japanese star, who holds four top-10s this season.

Like Im, An also featured in his first Presidents Cup last December and has continued to flourish. Hooking up recently with putting guru Brad Faxon seems to have given the powerful 28-year-old new zest on the short grass.

“This has been a good year with a few top-10s. I want to keep it going and play in the FedExCup and get into (my first) TOUR Championship, which is my goal. That’s why I played in a few events at the start of the season and the benefits that come with getting into TOUR Championship is great, so that’s the goal. As to winning, it is the ultimate. Winning will be a dream.”

He has accumulated five top-10s, all achieved prior to golf’s suspension in March, but a tied 12^th outing in the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational earlier this month where he was in contention could be the spark needed for An to launch a legitimate challenge in the Playoffs and emulate Im by securing a breakthrough victory on TOUR.

“I’ve played long enough and I want to win as anyone else. Sungjae is a countryman and everyone knew he’s a great player and he was going to win. I want to see more Koreans winning on TOUR which is nice and I hope it would be me next. It’s hard to win out here.” said An, who has three career runner-up finishes.

One of the feel-good stories in the Playoffs belongs to 33-year-old Zhang, who grew up in a village in China and worked as a security guard at a golf club before becoming the first golfer from mainland China to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs, limited to the top-125 players from the points list. He has enjoyed three top-10s including a recent share of 10^th place at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide.

“I am so excited to compete with the best golfers and accumulate experiences. This means a lot to me,” said Zhang, who enters the week in 70^th place which is the cutoff for players to progress into next week’s BMW Championship, the second of three legs in the Playoffs.

“Trying to win (a tournament) is the objective of every player, and it’s the same for me. A small step leads to a thousand miles and what I can do is to focus on every tournament and every swing. I am closer and closer to becoming a PGA TOUR champion.”   

The Playoffs finale is the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club outside Atlanta, Georgia and limited to the top-30 golfers. The champion will lift the FedExCup and pocket a winner’s cheque of US$15 million.

American Justin Thomas starts the Playoffs ranked No. 1, followed by rising star Collin Morkawa and Webb Simpson in third position. Reigning FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy is in eighth position while Tiger Woods, a two-time winner, is also in TPC Boston this week where he starts in 49^th position.

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Kulabdam hopes to tame Sangmanee inside the distance

Aug 20. 2020Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai

By The NationTwo of Thailand’s most prominent young athletes, “Left Meteorite” Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai and “The Million Dollar Baby” Sangmanee Klong SuanPluResort are set to lock horns in the ONE Championship ring this Friday night in Bangkok.

Their bout is the main event of ONE: NO SURRENDER III, a closed-door audience-free extravaganza scheduled for broadcast this 21 August. It’s also a semifinal in the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament, a two-bracket single elimination ladder to determine the number one contender for Nong-O Gaiyanghadao’s ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title.

Kulabdam is excited to showcase his unique skills in the ring, and possibly inch himself closer to his ultimate goal.

“The goal I set for myself in ONE Championship is to become the champion,” said Kulabdam. “It’s an aggressive style. I walk at them, I kick their legs, and I punch them. My style is quite risky.”

Against Sangmanee, Kulabdam faces one of his toughest tests to date. “The Million Dollar Baby” is a highly-decorated seven-time Muay Thai World Champion and one of the most dynamic and exciting young talents in the sport today.

Kulabdam is aware of his opponents many strengths, and feels honored to be able to share the stage with a man he recognizes as his ‘brother’.

“Brother Sangmanee has a skillful fighting style with a high IQ,” said Kulabdam. “The scariest tactics of Sangmanee are his left foot and his elbows. They are very scary. I do feel somewhat worried, but I am happy to fight someone of his caliber.”

With both men looking for spectacular finishes, fans don’t expect this bout to last until the final bell. Kulabdam is confident he can end matters early. He trusts in his power and ability to knock Sangmanee out, if and when he connects cleanly.

A victory here brings him one step closer to the World Title.

“I am confident in the power of my punches. If I hit him, it will be enough for sure,” said Kulabdam.

“If I win this fight and beat brother Sangmanee, then I will have a bright future ahead of me. Maybe I will even be able to compete for the championship.”

ONE: NO SURRENDER III is the third iteration of the high-profile event series in Bangkok. It features a mashup of compelling Muay Thai and mixed martial arts bouts. Catch all the action on Thairath TV 32, this 21 August at 10:40pm local time.

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Can anyone dethrone Ducati in Styria? 

Aug 20. 2020

It’s now five in a row for the Bologna bullets at the Red Bull Ring, but can that become six this weekend? Their rivals will be gunning to make sure it won’t…

From a worst ever qualifying for Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and tough race day in Brno, it seemed unlikely that Ducati would be able to keep their 100% winning record at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday, but keep it Dovizioso did. Giving the Borgo Panigale factory their 50th MotoGP™ win, the Italian turned the screw lap by lap to cross the line with a little breathing space, writing himself another chapter in Ducati lore and moving back up to second overall in the standings. The devil is in the details and that’s what Dovizioso cited as the secret – the work done over previous visits – to the turnaround from Brno. That won’t be going anywhere, so the number 04 must remain the favourite heading into the BMW M Grand Prix of Styria. Which is automatically another milestone for whoever wins, because it will be the 900th premier class race.

Although Dovizioso won, it was Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) who initially led on Sunday and the Australian could prove both a dark horse and another who threatens to keep that Ducati record intact as we take on the Red Bull Ring again. Ending the race so close to second, he could be ruing his tyre choice on the restart – Dovizioso even said point blank he should have stayed on the medium front, not changed to the soft – and there are a few more things for the Queenslander to mull over too. If he can bring those together, can he threaten? Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) will be hoping to move forward as well; already a race winner on Borgo Panigale machinery but struggling with a tougher 2020 so far. 

The real dark horses on Sunday were Suzuki and KTM, however. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) took his first premier class podium as the Hamamatsu factory – not traditionally having been a threat at the Red Bull Ring – emerged as serious contenders. After some tougher races for Mir it will have been a welcome return to the front, and nothing could be better than returning to the venue to try and do it again. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) too, despite still recovering from his shoulder injury, showed some serious speed and even took the lead – before sliding out – but the Suzukis will be cause for concern for many hoping to take to the rostrum…  

So too will KTM, despite the fact that Sunday didn’t quite turn out to plan. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) seemed the favourite on FP4 pace alone, and he led on the first start before the Red Flag came out. After that it was a tougher prospect, and ultimately it ended in disaster as the Spaniard and fellow KTM rider – Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) – came together and both crashed out, an incident about which there will be hearings with the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards on Thursday. But both were quick, and second time around they will be expecting to be frontrunners again.  

That role for the Austrian factory was left, after that incident, to Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). 17th on the grid for the first start, it had been a tougher weekend for the rookie after his stunning ride to victory in Czechia. But he was unflappable, moved up before the Red Flag, made the most of a better starting position second time round and came home in an incredible fourth place – with a whole host more experience of the track on a MotoGP™ machine that he’ll now be looking to put to good use a week later. Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) will want to do the same in terms of what he’s learned from the track too, having taken his best finish yet in the Austrian GP. 

For Yamaha, it’s still somewhat difficult to tell what will await them this weekend. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) qualified on the front row and then – even aside from the shock of the huge crash at Turn 3 that dominated the headlines – also suffered a mechanical problem early on the restart and a run off in the initial race, respectively, giving them both more of an uphill struggle once the lights went out for the second time. But both impressed to make the best of it, with Quartararo steadily heading forwards and Viñales initially forced backwards by his problem before slicing back through half the field by the flag. 

Impressive is also a word for Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), who is a little behind in the title fight after his DNF in the first race at Jerez, but whose consistency since is starting to really rack up. He came fifth and was top Yamaha, so even as we await eagerly what they can do in the race against the rest, it was also be an interesting one to see who comes out on top for the Iwata marque too. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT), one of the riders involved in the crash that brought out the Red Flag, was also still very much in that battle near the top at the time – so what can he do second time around at the Red Bull Ring? 

Honda will be asking the same question, with the second race at the same venue likely a positive for them. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) was the lead Honda, taking sixth for yet another solid performance as he makes his presence felt in 2020, and the experience is even more valuable for rookie Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and test-rider-turned-reigning-Champion-replacement Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team). Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) will want more too as he recovers from a broken scaphoid, and that’s something that will also be affecting Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) now. 

The Frenchman was one of the riders, along with Morbidelli, involved in the crash that brought out the Red Flag – and both will be having hearings with the Stewards on Thursday. But for Zarco focus will first be on his broken scaphoid discovered after the crash, for which he’ll have surgery ahead of the event. Crutchlow raced under similar circumstances so it’s possible, but it will likely dent the Esponsorama rider’s chances of being in the same place in the battle at the front second time around. What can he do? 

Finally, can Aprilia move forward? Both Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and teammate Bradley Smith scored points in the Austrian GP, which was a key positive, but on paper the track should be a better prospect for them. Will that see them take a step forward in the BMW M Grand Prix of Styria? We’re about to find out. 

Ducati remain undefeated, Dovizioso undaunted and the Red Bull Ring the near-perfect layout for the Borgo Panigale factory. But MotoGP™ is as unpredictable as ever in 2020, so can anyone dethrone Ducati this weekend? Find out as FP1 starts on Friday at 9:55 (GMT +2), before the lights go out for the race at 14:00 on Sunday.  MotoGP™ Championship Standings 1 Fabio Quartararo – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – 67 2 Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati – 56 3 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 48 4 Brad Binder – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM – 41 5 Valentino Rossi – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 38 Will Martin turn the screw or can the field fight back? A big points lead was lost in the blink of a dramatic eye in the Austrian GP, and we had a new intermediate class Grand Prix winner The moment of the Moto2™ race – for dramatic rather than positive reasons – was most definitely the crash for former points leader Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) that, along with the aftermath, brought out the Red Flag. No one was seriously injured and the race was restarted for a 13-lap sprint, but Bastianini’s position as Championship leader evaporated as he couldn’t restart. His key rivals could, and one especially took the opportunity: Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46). New points leader Marini was battling a more difficult grid position before the restart, when the work he’d put in before the Red Flag then repaid him with a front row for the second lights out. That put him straight back in contention for the win, and although he couldn’t take the full 25 points, he took a valuable second place to take over at the top overall. Can Bastianini bounce back from that crash and turn the tables? Or will another name again manage the same? The winner of the Austrian GP is most definitely the favourite heading into the second race at the Red Bull Ring, at least to take the the top step: Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo). He’d looked threatening at times so far in 2020 despite not taking a victory in Moto2™ until Sunday, but when he did, it was in ‘traditional’ Martin style: bolting from the front and able to pull clear with incredible pace and precision. Was that a turning point? His rivals will be looking to make up the gap with time to analyse the data, but Martin’s advantage over the line was such that it will be a hard slog to do so. In only 13 laps he pulled out over two seconds… and that was just to Marini. Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) was another 2.6 seconds down the road in third. The three on the podium will certainly be hoping to fight for it again, but can they keep that pace? Will a longer race actually play into the hands of those not able to stay with Martin’s bolt off the line? The likes of Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) will hope so after their mammoth battle for fourth – won by the Briton – and Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team), who started from pole initially but then crashed out, will be another looking for more. Tetsuta Nagashima (Red Bull KTM Ajo) too – the Japanese rider needs to bounce back from some tougher races… Martin was a force to be reckoned with in the Austrian GP. Now it’s time to reset and reload for the BMW M Grand Prix of Styria, with the Spaniard looking to do it again and move even further up the standings – but plenty eager to stand in his way. Moto2™ Championship Standings 1 Luca Marini – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 78 2 Enea Bastianini – Italtrans Racing Team – Kalex – 73 3 Jorge Martin – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 59 4 Sam Lowes – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Kalex – 59 5 Tetsuta Nagashima – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 55 Race to win or play the long game? With such a sizeable advantage, that’s the decision for Albert Arenas in the BMW M Grand Prix of Styria Do not adjust your sets: it may look similar to a little earlier in the season, but there has been plenty of incredible track action between now and then in the Moto3™ World Championship. And yet, it remains Albert Arenas (Valresa Aspar Team) ahead of the game, with the Spaniard now 28 points clear at the top. Why? He won, again. In style, again. Normally odds would say that makes him a clear favourite for a repeat this weekend, but Moto3™ have never played nice with predictions. The experienced Spaniard certainly is a title favourite and a name in the hat for the win if not every win, but it will be far from easy. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) – the former the winner from some late penalties for track limits in Austria, and the latter one of the losers – showed they have some serious pace and will be threats, as will Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) as he was back on the podium and very nearly on the top step on Sunday… The names don’t stop there. Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) is another who, although the dice didn’t quite fall his way, knows he has pace as we prepare to race at the Red Bull Ring again, and there were three more vital protagonists at the front in the Austrian GP fray: Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power) and Red Bull KTM Tech 3’s Deniz Öncü and Ayumu Sasaki. For Binder, it’s becoming somewhat of a calling card to suffer a tougher Saturday and then blast through the pack on race day with almost no visible clue that he started outside the top 20. The South African fought it out at the front with typical gusto too; then classified lower than where he crossed the line but with chance to ‘right’ that on Sunday. Öncü, meanwhile, didn’t lose out to a penalty but was by far the quickest we’ve seen from him in the World Championship so far, leading a lightweight class Grand Prix for the first time and then finishing eighth. His teammate Sasaki also showed a fresh flash of pace before he was another to fall foul of the stewards and receive a Long Lap Penalty. That dropped him outside the top twenty with only three laps to go, but the Japanese rider kept it pinned thereon out and managed to come home in the points. Both will surely proves shots of confidence for the Tech 3 squad. The likes of Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team), polesitter Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), after fighting at the front, will also want more, and there are the experienced guns like Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) to keep an eye on too, as they went a little under the radar. For Fenati, the 2019 Austrian GP winner, there will be a clear objective this time around: set a solid lap in Q2, as the Italian had his one real push for glory deleted for track limits last weekend. Arenas remains the favourite, but Moto3™ retains its beautifully chaotic reputation as we head into the BMW M Grand Prix of Styria. The number 75 makes it look easy on paper, but the reality is a classic showdown every weekend – and this will be no different. Tune in on Sunday at 11:00 (GMT +2). Moto3™ Championship Standings 1 Albert Arenas – Valresa Aspar Team Moto3 – KTM – 95 2 John McPhee – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Honda – 67 3 Ai Ogura – Honda Team Asia – Honda – 65 4 Tatsuki Suzuki – SIC58 Squadra Corse – Honda – 50 5 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM – 43

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https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30393189?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

Capitals bounce back, stave off elimination with Game 4 win over Islanders

Aug 19. 2020Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin 

By The Washington Post · Samantha Pell · SPORTS, HOCKEY
TORONTO – Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin raced down the ice, driving wide on an odd-man rush early in the third period. With the fake crowd noise pumped into Scotiabank Arena escalating from a murmur to a roar, Ovechkin sniped the puck past New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov and let out an emphatic yell that could be heard up in the 300 section as his teammates engulfed him in celebratory hugs. 

Ovechkin’s second goal of the night was ultimately the dazzling game-winner in the Capitals’ 3-2 win Tuesday in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series, finally giving Washington the spark it had been looking for all postseason. 

The Capitals narrowly avoided a sweep after finding themselves in a 2-0 deficit in the opening 10 minutes and have forced a Game 5 on Thursday. After the Capitals dropped the first three games of the series when strong starts devolved into slow, undisciplined later periods, Washington played its best hockey all postseason Tuesday after digging itself an early hole. 

The win came without Nicklas Backstrom, who missed his third straight game in the NHL’s concussion protocol after Anders Lee’s late hit in the first period of Game 1. Coach Todd Reirden said Backstrom took part in Tuesday’s morning skate, but the center was still unable to suit up and instead watched the game from the stands. 

Without Backstrom in the lineup, the team’s other veteran stars filled the void. 

Evgeny Kuznetsov got the Capitals on the board 3:35 into the second period after carrying the puck all the way in from his own zone, and Ovechkin tied the score at 2 with a power-play goal from his office in the left faceoff circle at 5:29. 

The Capitals started to get sustained pressure in the middle period and finally looked like a team that could jolt itself awake. The team did just that, proceeding to have its best period of the series, winning one-on-one battles, making the second effort and finding extended offensive-zone time. And while the Capitals were unable to light the lamp again in the latter half of the second period, Ovechkin made sure to take care of business 3:40 into the third to keep the season alive. 

It all made up for the slow start, during which Jean-Gabriel Pageau tipped a point shot past Braden Holtby 3:50 in the first period. By the 7:20 mark of the opening frame, the Islanders had 16 shot attempts and the Capitals merely one. 

The Islanders weren’t done yet. Mathew Barzal scored his second goal in as many games 9:16 into the period to give New York a two-goal advantage. And while the Capitals started to show a little more life toward the end of the period, they still couldn’t break through before intermission. 

The Capitals were struggling, and with their season on the line they were showing no real sense of urgency. As both teams went to their locker rooms, there was a sense this Capitals team had no fight left. 

Then, all of a sudden, the Capitals were right back in it. 

Kuznetsov struck during a four-on-four situation to cut the Islanders’ lead in half. Finally, there was a glimmer of hope. 

The Russian center skated through the neutral zone, to the outside and cut hard to the net, beating Varlamov for his 27th playoff career playoff goal and his second of the series. His first came in a similar manner in Game 3, when he scored on the power play to tie the score at 1 only four minutes into the second period. The Capitals failed to capitalize on the momentum and ultimately lost. 

It was a different story Tuesday. 

The Capitals struck again with Ovechkin’s 69th career postseason goal and his fourth of the series. He moved past Gordie Howe and Sidney Crosby for 18th place on the NHL’s all-time postseason scoring list and is one shy of Steve Yzerman for the 17th most in playoff history.

When Ovechkin scored again in the third, it marked his ninth multi-goal postseason game. 

The Capitals held on from there, and Holtby finished with 24 saves to become the 21st goaltender in NHL history to record 50 postseason wins. 

Despite a tense finish, the Capitals finally headed down the tunnel to their room smiling after a game for the first time in a week. While they still face an uphill climb, the Capitals finally have some life in the Toronto bubble. 

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https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30393165?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

Shannon holds Pinca in high regard as they square off in ONE Ring

Aug 19. 2020

 ONE Championship veteran and top Thai mixed martial arts talent Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai is looking to get his career back on track while searching for a much needed victory. The 31-year-old Circle veteran is feeling reenergized and refreshed after spending an extended period in lockdown, sharpening his skills.

“OneShin” is scheduled to return to action against France’s Fabio Pinca in a three round mixed martial arts contest at ONE: NO SURRENDER III, a closed-door, audience free event set for broadcast on 21 August in Bangkok, Thailand.

For Wiratchai, facing Pinca in the ONE Championship ring is an honor, and an opportunity to face one of the Muay Thai fighters he has followed since he began training in the sport nearly a decade ago.

“It’s always great to get back in the ring to compete. I’ve been training and staying ready for five months now, and I’m so happy I can get back to doing this again,” said Wiratchai.

“I started Muay Thai about 10 years ago, and Fabio Pinca was a foreign Nak Muay coming out of nowhere, becoming champion in his first Thai fight. I don’t know about anyone else, but Fabio Pinca is one of my all-time favorite Muay Thai athletes.”

The 32-year-old Pinca is a multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion and one of the most decorated Frenchmen to ever step into the ring. He has competed all across the globe, going from Europe to the United States, China, Japan, and even Thailand. 

Among Pinca’s list of accolades include a European Kickboxing Championship, two-division WBC Muay Thai World Championships, and even a Rajadamnern Stadium World Championship. Against Wiratchai, however, Pinca is in uncharted territory, making the transition to mixed martial arts for the very first time.

But while Wiratchai knows his opponent is a tremendous striker, he also believes Pinca has worked extensively on his ground game enough to be a threat from all angles.

“For sure, his striking will definitely be on point. Although he has proven to have great kicks in Muay Thai, he also has bombs in his hands. I need to be careful that I don’t get hit by them,” said Wiratchai.

“I’ve heard his grappling is also very good, so I think I may have to catch him on the transition. This is MMA, and anything can happen.”

ONE: NO SURRENDER III is the third iteration of the high-profile event series in Bangkok. The headline bout features a ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament Semifinal showdown between Muay Thai athletes Sangmanee Klong SuanPluResort and Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai.

The event is scheduled for global broadcast to over 150 countries, and Wiratchai wants to put on a show, not just to claim victory which he badly needs, but also to inspire the world with his performance.

“Hopefully, I can knock him out somehow. But I will be doing my best to mix up my game, and looking for any opportunities to take advantage of,” said Wiratchai.

“This event isn’t just important for Thai people, but also the whole world. It will show everyone just how strong humans can be during these hard times, and how we can overcome this pandemic together.”