Rossi: I've Never Been So Motivated
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SPORTS CHINA DAILY TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2007 23 TOPSHOT Retired world champion makes Rossi: I’ve never been so motivated a splash on return Former world champion swimmer Han Xue, who left the pool in 2004, made a surprisingly strong return After losing MotoGP crown in 2006, on Saturday by wining fi rst place in the women’s 50m freestyle at the Italian is in pole position to win it back National Spring Swimming Champi- onships (North Area). LONDON: Valentino Rossi is fi red “The two of us have been the quick- Han, 26, was the winner of 50m up for the MotoGP season starting est,” Rossi told reporters. “I think it breaststroke at the world champion- in Qatar on Saturday and confi dent will be a good fi ght with Pedrosa all ships in Germany in 1997 and also that American Nicky Hayden’s reign season, because he has the talent and broke the world record with a time as champion will be short-lived. a year’s more experience. But others of 30.77 seconds. The charismatic Italian, dethroned are also strong.” She switched to freestyle in 1999 by the Honda rider in a thrilling fi nale Hayden, whose consistency took and won two golds at the 2000 last October, is fi zzing with optimism him to the title despite winning only Asian Championships. after lapping quicker than ever in two races last year, has been recuper- testing with Yamaha. ating from shoulder surgery and has Beckham, Reyes looking certain “Last year was diffi cult, very dif- yet to get back on the pace. to miss Bayern game fi cult,” Rossi said after last month’s “I would be a fool to say that two MADRID: David Beckham and Jose fi nal test session in Jerez. “But it gives race wins will win the title again,” Antonio Reyes picked up injuries me and the team extra motivation for the 25-year-old said in Jerez. “There in Real Madrid’s 1-1 home draw the 2007 season and we are very con- will be a lot of tight races and I have with Getafe in the Primera Liga and centrated on the job. to start winning.” look certain to miss the trip to face “We ended 2006 fi ve points short. “I’d like to arrive and say ‘Hey, I’m Bayern Munich in the Champions Maybe we were a bit unlucky but we great, everything’s perfect’. But it’s League on Wednesday. made some mistakes. Now I am more been a very complicated pre-season, Reyes was carried off on a stretcher concentrated to regain the title,” he fi rst recovering from my shoulder in- in the fi rst half after colliding with told reporters. jury and then with the extra aspect of the visiting goalkeeper. Beckham “For me, the pressures are exactly working on a completely new bike.” limped off to be substituted in the the same but with more motivation.” Rossi’s Texan team mate Colin Ed- second half. All the signs are that the reduction wards, the former double world super- “They are out of the Bayern game in engine capacity from 990cc to 800 bike champion, should fi nally claim for sure. One of them (Reyes) has a has made the bikes quicker than ever that elusive fi rst win in MotoGP. serious injury and the other could and less of a handful. “Honestly, both Valentino and I have a signifi cant one,” Real coach Rossi’s pace in Jerez was quicker are just so happy with everything,” Fabio Capello told a news conference than the 2006 pole time. he said after the fi nal Jerez test. “It on Sunday. “We’ll have to see what “With every qualifying tyre I tried, all seems to work and it seems all the tests say tomorrow.” it felt better and better,” said the smil- the effort over the winter has paid The club’s website said Reyes had ing Italian. “In the end my time was off this time.” damaged the lateral ligament in fantastic and my Yamaha really fl ew. Ducati’s Italian veteran Loris Ca- his left knee, while Beckham had a “It was fun to see just how far I can pirossi, third overall last year, and similar injury in his right knee. push this bike and it has answered me new Australian Casey Stoner looked brilliantly,” added the 28-year-old, the quick in early pre-season tests but Kev i n No l a n s ig n s new 4 -yea r third most successful rider of all time have tailed off recently. Bolton deal with 84 wins in all categories. “We’re Both have every chance of winning BOLTON, England: Bolton captain defi nitely in good shape.” races, as does Honda’s Italian Marco Kevin Nolan has signed a new Melandri, fourth overall last year. four-year contract with the English Danger man Suzuki, with Australian Chris Ver- Premiership club. His optimism comes as a contrast meuelen and American John Hopkins, Nolan’s decision to commit his to last year, before the season-opener want to translate their pre-season future to the club is a boost for Sam in Jerez, when Rossi was wrestling promise into success, despite Hopkins Allardyce in the wake of yesterday’s with major handling problems and being sidelined from the fi nal tests by 2-1 defeat at home to Blackburn. telling everyone that Yamaha were a big crash in Qatar. Bolton now trail fourth-placed Arse- in trouble after a nightmare test at Further down the fi eld, newcomers nal by fi ve points. the same circuit. Ilmor – founded by former McLaren Nolan’s decision to stay will Rossi, champion in the top class Formula One engine designer Mario come as a relief to manager Sam for fi ve seasons in a row before the Illien – will start their fi rst full season Allardyce who feared the player ‘Kentucky Kid’ broke his winning with 42-year-old Briton Jeremy McWil- might want to leave to improve streak, has triumphed in Qatar for liams back in the saddle again but on his chances of making the Eng- the last two years and will start as a machine struggling for pace. land squad. clear favourite. “I’m the oldest rider on the grid and “Ever since I’ve been at Bolton I’ve But he will have his work cut out delighted to have a second chance,” never thought that I would have to in what promises to be another close- he said. “We are working to make leave to get international recogni- fought season. the bike more consistent and reliable tion,” he told the club’s website. Rossi saw diminutive Spaniard and, on a personal note, my hunger is MotoGP calendar for 2007 season Dani Pedrosa, Hayden’s 21-year-old still there – probably more than it has Sydney talk to veteran striker team mate, as the biggest threat to been for a year.” LONDON: Calendar for the 2007 Mo- June 3 - Italy, Mugello Sept 2 - San Marino/Riviera di Rimini, Sheringham – reports his title aspirations. In the lower categories, Spain’s Jorge toGP world championship: June 10 - Catalunya (Spain), Barcelona Misano MELBOURNE: Australian A-League Pedrosa has said he feels far more Lorenzo will be defending his 250cc March 10 - Qatar, Losail circuit June 24 - Britain, Donington Park Sept 16 - Portugal, Estoril side Sydney FC have offered a comfortable on the new machines, de- title with 125cc champion and compa- March 25 - Spain, Jerez June 30 - Netherlands, Assen Sept 23 - Japan, Motegi contract to former Manchester spite wrestling his way to two race triot Alvaro Bautista, also on an Aprilia, April 22 - Turkey, Istanbul July 15 - Germany, Sachsenring Oct 14 - Australia, Phillip Island United and England striker Teddy wins in his rookie season, and there moving up to the same category. May 6 - China, Shanghai July 22 - United States, Laguna Seca Oct 21 - Malaysia, Sepang Sheringham, local media reported is no doubt that the Spaniard will be May 20 - France, Le Mans Aug 19 - Czech Republic, Brno Nov 4 - Valencia (Spain), Valencia yesterday. a serious contender. Agencies Sheringham, who will be 41 next month, is out of favour with Premier League club West Ham United and has been offered a one-season con- tract with the option of a second year, Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reported. Barcelona refuse to give up title without a fi ght The paper said Sheringham has spoken about the move with former Old Trafford teammate Dwight SOCCER we need to show the same work ethic respectable 1-1 draw in Portugal in in Wednesday’s 1-1 Serie A draw Lyon will be without midfielder Yorke, who guided Sydney to the we showed over there. They’re not the fi rst leg. against Udinese, forcing him to miss Jeremy Toulalan while Roma should inaugural A-League title last year PARIS: Reigning champions Barce- going to let their crown go without They will once again be without Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Livorno which welcome back fit-again Brazilian before returning to England with lona travel to Liverpool on Tuesday a battle.” captain and talisman John Terry as saw Inter stretch their lead at the top of Rodrigo Taddei. Sunderland. desperate to save their title defense Barcelona were totally dominant he recovers from being knocked out the Italian table to 16 points. Lyon start as favorites with home Sydney chief executive George having lost 2-1 in the home leg of their in the fi rst half hour of the fi rst leg in last month’s League Cup fi nal.