Moto2™ testing continued at Jerez on Sunday but after a damp start to the day, conditions then worsened further in the middle of testing after a midday downpour – putting paid to any improved laptimes. That means Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) remains quickest after his Saturday best, followed by Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), but it’s Steven Odendaal (NTS RW Racing GP) who mastered Sunday.

The South African put in a 1’46.704 to top the third day, getting ahead of MV Agusta Forward Racing’s veteran Dominique Aegerter by a couple of tenths as the Italian marque had a good showing in the wet on their return to the Grand Prix paddock. It was EG 0,0 Marc VDS pairing of Alex Marquez and Xavi Vierge who did the most laps in the tougher conditions, however – a good few more of the next most prolific at the test, Xavier Cardelus (Angel Nieto Team). Cardelus ended the day third quickest, just ahead of rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio (Speed Up Racing). Dimas Ekky Pratama (Honda Team Asia), Lukas Tulovic (Kiefer Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech3) were next up, with Philipp Öttl (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Vierge and Andrea Locatelli (Italtrans Racing Team) completing the top ten on Sunday.

Now it’s winter break time for the intermediate class, with the new era of Triumph power next firing up for an Official Test on the 20th-22nd February at Jerez.

Thailand were handed the first goal through a mistake from Singaporean Irfan Fandi in the 12^th minute before 19-year-old Supachai Jaided produced his third goal of the tournament in the 23^rd minute.

SCG Muangthong’s  Adisak Kraisorn then scored his eighth goal of the Cup  in the 88^thminute as Thailand completed their last round-robin game on a clean sheet.

Thailand with three wins and one draw moved into the knock-out stage as the group leader with 10 points. Philippines who drew a 0-0 with Indonesia came at second in the group with seven points and will play Vietnam, Group A leader, on December 2.

Thailand will play the first leg of the semi-finals against Malaysia, Group B runner-up,  in the away game on December 1.

Childhood friends Pieters and Detry, who started the day with a five-shot advantage, continued their formidable partnership as they closed with a four-under-par 68 in the final round foursomes to cap a winning total of 23-under-par 265 at The Metropolitan Golf Club.

The talented duo fended off fast-charging Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith of host nation Australia, who carded a second straight 65 to share second place with Mexicans Abraham Ancer and Roberto Diaz, who fired three birdies in their closing five holes for a commendable 66.

Korean talents Byeonghun An and Siwoo Kim settled six shots back of Team Belgium following a battling 70 while India’s Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar matched the day’s efforts of Team Korea to settle for a share of 10th place at the prestigious US$7 million event.

Team China’s Li Haotong and Wu Ashun closed with a 67 to take 13th place on 277 while Thai duo Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Prom Meesawat marked their best round of the week with a 66 to finish a further shot back in tied-14th.

Malaysia’s Ben Leong and Gavin Green slipped to 22nd place following a disappointing 74 while Hideto Tanihara and Satoshi Kodaira took 23rd place for Japan after posting a 72.

 Once again this year’s event takes place at the stunning beach town resort of Pattaya, Thailand where participants will enjoy two days of two-wheeled activities. The energy-charged weekend focuses on rides of 30KM to 62KM, and in addition there are slower paced options for those wanting to enjoy less rigorous rides. The Bangkok Bank CycleFest 2018 takes place on the scenic, closed-road circuits around Siam Country Club, one of Thailand’s most renowned international sporting event venues.  This beautiful location will further enhance the experience for the riders.

Participants have a variety of rides to choose from including: timed rides, challenging off-road rides, fun rides, and a team time trial, with so many choices, there’s indeed “A Ride for All”. Besides races, riders can enjoy quality downtime with family and friends at the Festival Village, which will feature a range of F&B outlets, kids activities, booths selling a range of cycling equipment as well as  sponsored activities plus a welcome chance to rest and recharge in our lounge area.

In addition to the fun, the Bangkok Bank CycleFest also places a focus on community and will raise funds for the event’s official charity, the Pattaya-based Father Ray Foundation, which takes care of 850 orphaned, abused and disadvantaged children and students with disabilities. All 720,000 baht raised from the entry fees from the Fun Ride category will be donated to the Father Ray Charity. Individual riders are also offered the opportunity to kindly offer a contribution of their own.

“Bangkok Bank is very pleased to support the bicycle sport in Thailand. We are delighted to see many cyclists in Thailand and from abroad taking to their bikes on this wonderful weekend. We are genuinely committed to helping drive the growth of Thailand’s lively cycling scene in a safe way while also giving as many people as possible the chance to enjoy an activity that so many of us appreciate,” said Director and Executive Vice President of Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited, Dr. Thaweelap Rittapirom. “The Bangkok Bank CycleFest is an exciting example of how we continually strive to fulfill our corporate social responsibilities, with the goal of enhancing the quality of life and sustainability for society. Bangkok Bank also wants to help enhance cycling as a sport in Thailand and promote the country as a major destination for sports.”

The event makes a great contribution to the sense of community spirit, Dr. Thaweelap added, for allowing people of all ages to experience the thrill of racing. “With the new category of ‘Off Road Race’ this year, we challenge cyclists who participated last year and new participants as well to test their limits and see how far they can go. This new category adds a whole new category of fun to the BANGKOK BANK CYCLEFEST.”

This year the Bangkok Bank CycleFest is proud to welcome Andy Schleck, former professional rider and Tour de France winner.  The event’s international ambassador and Luxembourg National will be on hand to interact and support participants, sharing with them his personal journey of what are takes to go the distance. The bright star on the pro biking circuit won his first race, the Giro d’Italia in 2007, followed by the Liège–Bastogne–Liège two years later. In 2010, his pedal power propelled him to claim the grandest of all bicycling championships, the Tour de France, in which he was competing under the young rider classification for the third consecutive year.

“I am delighted to support this super cycling festival event here in Thailand,” said Schleck. “In the last few years, more Thais and expats here are joining in the global biking trend. While cycling sports continue growing more popular in Europe, that region was already highly developed as a cross-border cycling community. It is here in Asia that the really phenomenal growth in biking is taking place. Of course this is welcomed, but it also means that we need to ensure people are educated about safe cycling and the safety of particular roads and biking environments.”

“In reaching my greatest achievements as a professional racer, I can definitely say that patience and self-control were key to success,” continued the champion cyclist. “If you want to win, you must keep on improving yourself, telling yourself every day that you are capable of attaining the greatest goals. I strongly believe that cycling is a sport promoting equality. Whether you are young or old, rich or poor, and whatever your nationality is, when you’re cycling, everyone is a friend along the same route and someone to whom you can talk freely. I hope that this event will inspire passion in cycling not just as a sport but also a part of everyday life.”

Other event ambassadors include actors “Nut” Devahastin Na Ayudhya, “Varnvarn” Aroonnapa Panichjaroon and “Mint” Wanicha Kanchanaapirak. Bangkok Bank executives and their ambassadors would like cyclists to remember the charitable aspect of the event, which can add that extra little something to keep riding when you start to feel tired.

“The event concept ‘Ride for All’ is well reflected in the great variety of categories that the Bangkok Bank CycleFest offers participants,” saidSenior Vice President, International Strategic Partnerships of Endeavor, Robbie Henchman. “We’re proud of the collective effort and support from participants, sponsors and partners as we work together to make the event accessible to all levels of cyclists.  Moreover, a crucial part of the Bangkok Bank CycleFest is the ability to run a CSR program that supports a worthwhile organization, while showing our support for the greater Pattaya community. We would not be able to offer this ride to the cycling community of Thailand or benefit the Father Ray Foundation without the strong support of Bangkok Bank and all our sponsors including our premium partners Daikin and GS Battery. We would like to warmly extend a big ‘Thank you’ to all our sponsors and supporters, who continue to make this event possible.”

Besides the races for a good cause and fun activities, all registrants in the Bangkok Bank CycleFest 2018 will be entered in a lucky draw with the top prize of two airline tickets to Paris, four nights accommodation and great spectating opportunities for the Tour De France 2019. The names of the winners will be announced on the Bangkok Bank CycleFest website (http://www.BangkokBankCycleFest.com) and Facebook on 3 December 2018.

The Bangkok Bank CycleFest is being organized by IMG, an Edeavor company and global leader in professionally organized mass participation events.The event is sponsored by Bangkok Bank with premium partners Daikin, GS Battery, gold sponsors Aero Media, Garmin.

The 22-year-old Jazz, who cruised to a four-shot triumph in July after a birdie blitz on the final day, will set his sights on becoming the first Thai player to retain the title at the US$500,000 event.

He will be among the strong Thai contingent gunning for the prestigious trophy at the Legacy Golf Club, including Tirawat Kaewsiribandit, Rattanon Wannasrichan, Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Phachara Khongwatmai.

Jazz first entered the winner’s circle in 2017 when he claimed his maiden victory in Banglasdesh. He enjoyed a fruitful start to the 2018 season, with a tied-fourth finish in Singapore that earned him a coveted spot to The Open Championship.

The young Thai is in fine form, with two top-10 finishes in his last three starts. He will be hoping to secure his first multiple-winning season with the support of his family and the advantage of home soil.

“It’s exciting to be playing in Thailand again and in front of a home crowd. My family will be there to support me. This will also be the first time I will be coming to an event as a defending champion. The field looks good and a lot of Thais are playing this event so hopefully we will keep the trophy at home,” said Jazz, who is ranked 13th on the current Habitat for Humanity Standings.

“I grew up watching Thongchai (Jaidee) play and I have always looked up to him as my golfing idol. He has one of the best work ethics on Tour and I strive to be like him and follow in his footsteps,” added Jazz.

Three-time Asian Tour number one Thongchai is relishing the opportunity to assume responsibility of hosting an event which is held in honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, after doing so on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) for three seasons.

“It is an honour to host a tournament back home, especially the Queen’s Cup which is one of the most popular events in Thailand and it is exciting that Jazz (Janewattananond) will be coming back to defend his title,” said Thongchai.

The 13-time Asian Tour winner also hopes a successful event will draw attention to his foundation that was launched in 2009, with the aim of giving back to the under-privileged golfers in his hometown as well as providing more playing opportunities for the region’s rising stars.

“With the Asian Tour season coming to an end, the schedule is very tight and everyone is busy but I look forward to seeing a good field play next week. This tournament will be hosted by my foundation for the first time and hopefully we will run it well so that it will continue to be a regular event on the Asian Tour,” said the 13-time Asian Tour winner.

Korea’s Sanghyun Park, currently ranked second on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, Indian duo Shiv Kapur and S.S.P Chawrasia, both multiple winners on the Asian Tour, will be amongst those who will spearhead the international challenge at the Tour’s fifth stop in Thailand this season.

Other notable players in the 132-men field include Thai veteran star Thaworn Wiratchant who won in 2012 and 2014, as well as compatriots Chawalit Plaphol and Chinnarat Phadungsil, who won the event in 2011 and 2009 respectively.

An and Kim fired an eagle and four birdies against two bogeys to trail by five shots in second place alongside Abraham Ancer and Roberto Diaz of Mexico (65) and Italy’s (66) Andrea Pavan and Renato Paratore.

It was Belgium’s Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry who pulled away from the chasing pack after signing for a commanding 63 and a three-day total of 19-under-par 197 at The Metropolitan Golf Club. They had held a share of the overnight two-shot lead with Korea.

Indian duo Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar, who started the round in tied-third place, conceded they failed to produce their A-games after posting a two-under-par 70. They slipped nine shots off the pace to tie in 11th position at the prestigious US$7 million event.

Despite struggling to keep their momentum going, Malaysia’s Gavin Green and Ben Leong held their heads up as they signed for a 72 to settle for tied-15th place on 208.

The 56-man field from 28 countries, including six Asian nations, is vying to hoist the famous trophy in the event, won previously by many legends of the games.

The tournament will switch back to foursomes format for the all-important final round on Sunday.

The 23-year-old traded four birdies against two bogeys to compile a three-day total of 16-under-par 194, a score which comfortably kept his compatriots Tommy Fleetwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick at bay at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Fleetwood signed for a 66 while Fitzpatrick returned with a 68 to share second place on 200 total while Spain’s Sergio Garcia signed for the day’s lowest score after posting a 64 to take tied-fourth place with Australia’s Jason Scrivener.

Thai legend Thongchai Jaidee showed he still can match up against the best players from Asia and Europe despite recently turning 49.

The three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion signed for a 66 to tie France’s Victor Perez for sixth place.

With Korea’s Sanghyun Park making his early exit from the tournament, India’s Shubhankar Sharma could extend his merit lead when he returned with a 67 to share 12th place while close rival, Justin Harding of South Africa fired a 67 for tied-20th place.

Rai leads by four over Korea’s Hyowon Park with his two-day total of 14-under-par 126 while Matthew Fitzpatrick of England made his move with a 62 to take third place on his own at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Despite struggling with his putting, Korea-American Micah Lauren Shin, who finished tied-seventh at the Hong Kong Open last year, renewed his affinity with event by signing for a 67 to take outright fourth place.

2014 Hong Kong Open champion Scott Hend is determined to give Rai a run for his money after the Australian signed for a 66 which placed him in a share of fifth place.

Rai took advantage of the ideal scoring conditions in the morning by firing six birdies in his first nine holes before continuing his spectacular run with another three more in his inward-nine to break the course record by two strokes.

Rai started the day in a three-way tie after opening up with a 65. The 23-year-old reeled off birdies at holes 12, 13, 14 and 15 in his back-nine 11, to move quickly to nine-under.

He picked up further gains on 18 before adding more red numbers on his card with birdies on the first, fourth and sixth holes to complete his stunning day.

The weekend cut was set at one-over-par with 73 players making it into the final two rounds.

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP 40) topped the first day of Moto2™ testing for 2019 at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, but it’s reigning Moto3™ World Champion and Moto2™ rookie Jorge Martin who stole the headlines after he crashed – and was left with a left humerus fracture and a some broken bones in his foot. That means he’ll be sidelined in order to recover, with his first taste of the category cut short for now. He did make a solid impression before that and was inside the top 15, however, but a 1:42.203 from Baldassarri in the final session of the day then changed the goalposts as the Italian beat compatriot Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) to the top.

The test signals the beginning of a new era not only for the rookies like Martin, but also of Triumph power – as well as some updates in the technical regulations. And it’s off to a good start, with Baldassarri getting within three tenths of his 2018 pole lap at the track. Behind him and Marini, the man in third was another man with a good record at the track: Sam Lowes, as he returns to the Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 squad.

The Moto2™ riders completed four sessions throughout the day, with conditions improving in the afternoon after overnight rain had seen a damp start to proceedings. At the end of Day 1, Pons HP40’s Augusto Fernandez was fourth fastest, with Remy Gardner (SAG Team) rounding out the top five – 0.533 off the top.

The fastest rookie was Nicolo Bulega (SKY Racing Team VR46), the Italian setting the seventh quickest time of the day to finish 0.566 from P1 – a great debut for the number 11 rider. Martin was next quickest rookie, in P15, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Speed Up Racing) P18 on the times. He was just ahead of fellow rookie Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team).

Elsewhere, Jake Dixon’s (Angel Nieto Team) Moto2™ debut ended with the British rider setting a quickest time of 1:44.401, 2.198 off Baldassarri’s benchmark, with Dixon finishing one place ahead of Moto3™ graduate Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) – P25 and P26 respectively for the pair as they settle in.

Moto2™ riders will be back out on track on Saturday as they continue their adaptation to the Triumph engine.

ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS featured a series of compelling bouts, punctuated by two unforgettable championship clashes that left fans on the edge of their seats.

In the main event, Filipino-American superstar Brandon Vera successfully defended his ONE Heavyweight World Championship against Italian challenger Mauro Cerilli.

In the co-main event, Eduard Folayang of the Philippines defeated Singapore’s Amir Khan via unanimous decision to capture the vacant ONE Lightweight World Championship.

In the main event, reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera of the Philippines made quick work of Italy’s Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli, stopping his opponent with a well-placed left hook counter to the jaw that turned the lights out on the Italian. After an aggressive Cerilli stalked Vera across the cage, the Filipino-American took a step back and uncorked the counter that landed right on the button. Cerilli was out before he hit the canvas as referee Olivier Coste stepped in to call a halt to the contest just passed the one minute mark. The victory also earned Vera GoDaddy KO of the Night honors.

Brandon Vera, ONE Heavyweight World Champion, stated: “Manila, all my countrymen, I’ve missed you all. Two years was a long time. I’m sorry I’ve been away for so long, but it looks like I can still do it. I’ve been watching Mauro’s tapes every night. Even as I sleep, I watch him train. I watch him fight. I watch everything he does. I know he swings hard. He did punch me in the mouth and it hurt, and then when he fell down, I was pretty surprised. So I’m glad I got that left hook in and dropped him with it. In the world of martial arts, the Philippines owns five world titles. We can do this. Continue your support. Let’s get all the belts!”

In the co-main event of the evening, the Philippines’ Eduard “Landslide” Folayang secured a thrilling five-round unanimous decision victory over Singapore’s Amir Khan to capture the vacant ONE Lightweight World Championship. Folayang dominated Khan from start to finish, punishing his younger opponent with a variety of striking combinations featuring spinning heel kicks and sharp elbows. Khan tried his best to counter Folayang’s offense, but appeared a step slower and couldn’t pin down Folayang’s timing. In the end, all three judges saw the bout in favor of Folayang.

Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario of the Philippines overcame a game effort from challenger Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju of Singapore to win by unanimous decision after three rounds. Banario dominated Raju in striking exchanges while also threatening with submissions in the first round. Raju made it a competitive bout in the second frame, but Banario came alive once again in the third and nearly finished the Singaporean with a rear naked choke. In the end, all three judges saw the bout in favor of Banario.

In a spirited ONE Super Series Muay Thai contest, bantamweights Saemapetch Fairtex of Thailand and Alaverdi Ramazanov of Russia put on an absolute show for fans at the Mall of Asia Arena. Ramazanov used his height and length to pose problems for Saemapetch early, but the Thai veteran would start to come on in the second round. Although Ramazanov would try his best to outwork his opponent, Saemapetch proved much too explosive and powerful. After three rounds of action, all three judges saw the bout in favor of Saemapetch to win by unanimous decision.

James Nakashima of the United States authored a solid all-around performance in his ONE Championship debut, dominating Russia’s Raimond Magomedaliev to earn a unanimous decision victory. Nakashima bucked a slow start in the first round after Magomedaliev’s range posed a problem for the former American National Wrestling Champion. Nakashima’s grappling prowess was put on display in the succeeding rounds as he took Magomedaliev down at will and consistently pounded him out. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Nakashima.

Japanese kickboxing ace Hiroaki Suzuki was victorious in his ONE Super Series debut, picking up a unanimous decision win over Lithuania’s Deividas Danyla. Danyla controlled the pace in the opening round, but Suzuki connected on a left hook that sent Danyla to the mat to close the first frame. In the second round, Danyla continued to put the paces on Suzuki who appeared to grow stronger as the bout wore on. In the third round, Suzuki turned up the pressure with a stream of thunderous kicks and punch combinations, enough to earn him the nod on all three judges’ scorecards.

French Muay Thai star Samy “AK-47” Sana picked up his first win on the ONE Super Series stage with a unanimous decision victory over Armen Petrosyan of Italy in their three-round kickboxing contest. The former WBC and A1 Muay Thai World Champion was dominant from bell to bell, rattling Petrosyan with swift combinations. Petrosyan managed to keep the bout competitive, but Sana was always a step ahead, and he took home a clear-cut decision win.

In a clash between former ONE World Title contenders, Alexandre “Bebezao” Machado of Brazil returned to his winning ways with a spectacular second-round stoppage victory over Japan’s Hideki “Shrek” Sekine. Machado survived a strong first round from the Japanese grappler as he was taken down with a flurry of effective slams. In the second round, Machado showcased his striking superiority as he hammered Sekine with a barrage of heavy punches to claim the technical knockout.

Han Zi Hao took home a first-round technical knockout victory over Malaysian debutant Azwan Che Wil. Both men employed fiery offense from the start with Han utilizing his speed and power to connect on a handful of thudding strikes, knocking Che Wil down late in the first round. With a few seconds remaining in the opening frame, Han dropped Che Wil again, this time with the Malaysian signalling to the referee that he could no longer continue. The victory was then awarded to the Chinese striker.

Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado of the Philippines sent the crowd into a frenzy with a second-round technical knockout victory over China’s Peng Xue Wen. Miado looked to trade hands early on, clipping Peng with solid punches from different angles. With Peng opting to continue exchanging strikes in the second round, Miado capitalized on the opportunity, dropping his opponent to the mat with a stinging right uppercut and then drilling a barrage of follow-up blows to force the stoppage.

In an intense battle between ONE Warrior Series alumni, Akihiro “SuperJap” Fujisawa of Japan emerged triumphant, scoring a third-round technical knockout victory over Bangkok-based Filipino standout Rockie Bactol. Fujisawa had to weather an early storm, defending against Bactol’s blazing punch combinations in the first round. He turned the tide in the second frame, negating Bactol’s striking with his top-notch ground game. In the final period, Fujisawa grinded out Bactol on the mat for the majority of the round before securing the finish with a series of hard blows.

Setting the tone for an action-packed evening was a three-round flyweight encounter between Rudy “The Golden Boy” Agustian and Asraful “Warrior” Islam. Agustian turned in a dominant performance, outclassing Islam over the course of three rounds. Banking on his superior striking and smoothly-executed takedowns, Agustian walked away with the clear-cut unanimous decision victory.

Official results for ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS

ONE Heavyweight World Championship bout: Brandon Vera defeats Mauro Cerilli by Knockout (KO) at 1:04 minutes of round 1

ONE Lightweight World Championship bout: Eduard Folayang defeats Amir Khan by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 5 rounds

Catch Weight bout (79.0kgs): Honorio Banario defeats Rahul Raju by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

ONE Super Series Muay Thai Bantamweight bout: Saemapetch Fairtex defeats Alaverdi Ramazanov by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Welterweight bout: James Nakashima defeats Raimond Magomedaliev by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

ONE Super Series Kickboxing Bantamweight bout: Hiroaki Suzuki defeats Deividas Danyla by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

ONE Super Series Kickboxing Catch Weight bout (73.0kgs): Samy Sana defeats Armen Petrosyan by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Heavyweight bout: Alexandre Machado defeats Hideki Sekine by TKO  at 1:44 minutes of round 2

ONE Super Series Muay Thai Bantamweight bout: Han Zi Hao defeats Azwan Che Wil by TKO (Referee Stoppage) at 2:52 minutes of round 1

Strawweight bout: Jeremy Miado defeats Peng Xue Wen by TKO (Strikes) at 0:53 minutes of round 2

Flyweight bout: Akihiro Fujisawa defeats Rockie Bactol by TKO (Strikes) at 4:40 minutes of round 3

Flyweight bout: Rudy Agustian defeats Asraful Islam by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds