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 draw Lyon will be without 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. Luis Figo, who is set to play in the advantage but Roma’s Brazilian mid- Perry said the club had opened last 16 clash two weeks ago. and could easily have killed the tie With Manchester United main- hole behind the two strikers, believes fi elder Mancini believes his side will negotiations with the striker who The 2005 champions shocked the before it reached the end of its fi rst taining a nine-point lead at the top Valencia start as favorites due to their rise to the occasion, something they started his professional career with Catalan giants with a come-from- quarter. of the Premiership, this competition two away goals. failed to do in the fi rst leg. Millwall in 1984. behind win at the Nou Camp and Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho has has taken on added signifi cance for “They have bags of experience, “We can win in Lyon. I am confi - with their mean defense they will warned Liverpool against underesti- Chelsea. they’re playing at home and have a dent about our chances because we al- undoubtedly be favorites to progress mating his side. “The Champions League is more small advantage from the fi rst leg,” ways succeed in getting good results ONTV to the quarterfi nals. “The danger for Liverpool is if realistic than the league,” said Eng- said the Portuguese. in diffi cult situations,” he said. But Liverpool captain Steven Ger- they think they have already done land full-back Ashley Cole. “Valencia are a team that give Champions League fi xtures ESPN China rard is taking nothing for granted the hard work by winning in Spain,” “We are nine points behind United you little space and are used to big Tuesday (all kick-offs 1945 GMT) 10:30 Extreme Sports and he knows his team face a battle the Brazilian said. and it will be an uphill struggle from matches, but all we have to concern Chelsea v FC Porto (1-1) 12:00 English Premier League at Anfi eld to turn their good work “We know very well we have to now on, but we are in good stead for ourselves with is getting through to Liverpool v Barcelona (2-1) Highlights in Spain into a place in the next get a result but there is plenty of life the next round of the Champions the next round.” Lyon v Roma (0-0) 15:01 Extreme Sports round. left in us. League.” Inter are already without France Valencia v (2-2) 18:00 Karate ISKA World Cham- “Our performance over there has “We’ve been in diffi cult positions Italian league leaders Inter Milan midfi elder Patrick Vieira, who has Wednesday pionships 2006 probably sent a message around Eu- in the past and come out victorious. are sweating on the fi tness of their a torn right hamstring, while Argen- AC Milan v Celtic (0-0) 18:30 English Premier League rope,” Gerrard said. “People were ex- We are the defending European cham- Brazilian forward Adriano ahead of tine midfi elder Esteban Cambiasso is Arsenal v PSV (0-1) Highlights pecting Barcelona to walk all over us pions and we will not relinquish the a second leg trip to Valencia. struggling to be fi t in time. Bayern Munich v Real Madrid 20:00 Football Focus but we got our game plan and tactics trophy without a fi ght.” Inter are up against it after drawing The fi nal game on Tuesday is Ro- (2-3) 21:00 English Premier League spot on and got a great result. In other ties on Tuesday, Chelsea 2-2 at home and can ill afford to be ma’s trip to Lyon with the tie evenly Man Utd v Lille (1-0) Highlights “But they showed in the fi rst half will be looking to fi nish off the job without their top marksman. poised following the dire 0-0 bore 22:30 English Premier League: hour how good they are and we know at home to Porto having earned a Adriano pulled his left hamstring draw in the fi rst leg. AFP Liverpool Vs Manchester United STAR SPORTS ASIA 12:00 Auto Racing International Motorsports News 13:00 Billiards Pool Classics Thanou switches focus to summer after indoor return 15:00 English Premier League Highlights ATHLETICS since the 2003 worlds in Paris, so The two athletes and their former Katerina Thanou 16:00 Billiards Pool Classics it’s a long way to come back,” the coach Christos Tzekos still face 18:00 Auto Racing Max Power BIRMINGHAM, England: Katerina 2000 Olympic 100 meters silver separate charges in the Greek courts 19:00 Soccer The Football Quiz Thanou has her sights on the outdoor medalist said. for providing authorities with false Carlsberg Kickoff 1st Round season after fi nishing sixth in the Eu- “It doesn’t matter that I didn’t get information regarding a motorcycle 19:30 Basketball CBA Basketball ropean indoor 60 meters fi nal in her a medal. The point is I’m enjoying crash hours after they missed the test Highlights 2006/07 fi rst international event since return- competing. It’s good to be back. The at the athletes’ village. 20:00 English Premier League: ing from a two-year suspension. two-and-a-half years I stayed out of it However, Thanou said she would Portsmouth Vs Chelsea It was the Greek sprinter’s fi rst was diffi cult for me.” not let this affect her season. 22:00 Rugby Guinness Premiership major championship since the world The 32-year-old was greeted by a “This is out of my mind for this outdoors in 2003 and she clocked a small amount of booing from some year. I leave everything to my lawyers. CCTV time of 7.26 seconds behind winner spectators before her semifi nal on I’m an athlete and will concentrate on 08:00 NBA Rockets Vs Cavaliers Kim Gevaert of Belgium on Sunday. Saturday and again on Sunday but running because that is my job.” 11:00 Italian Serie A Highlights “This was just preparation for me said she had not heard it. She added that her popularity with 12:00 Sports News going into the summer, so it was good Thanou and her former training the Greek public had returned since 12:30 Billiard: World Championships for me,” said Thanou, who only started partner Costas Kenteris, the 2000 she started racing again. Her only 14:05 ITTF Pro Tour competing again last month following Olympic 200 meters champion, were other competition was at an indoor 16:25 CBA Playoffs the end of her suspension for doping suspended after acknowledging they meeting in the northern Athens 18:00 Sports News violations in December. had violated anti-doping rules by suburb of Peania. 19:30 National Women’s Volley- “I did something good today. I missing three drugs tests, the last on ball League haven’t run in a big championship the eve of the 2004 Athens Games. Agencies 21:30 Sports World