MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2019 16

Sharma hits double ton as India take command Marquez triumphs in Japan Champion Marc Marquez snares MotoGP constructors’ title for Honda

AFP | Motegi, Japan

otoGP world champion Marc Marquez won Mthe Japan Grand Prix yesterday to notch his tenth victory of the season and earn Honda its fourth manufactur- ers’ title running. The Spaniard ran the race in 42min 41.492sec, followed is congratulated by Quinton de Kock 0.870sec later by French rook- ie Fabio Quartararo of Yama- AFP | Ranchi, India caught his glove and was safely ha-SRT and Ducati’s Andrea taken by wicketkeeper Wrid- Dovizioso 1.325sec later. ohit Sharma struck his dhiman Saha. Marquez was unassailable Rmaiden double Test cen- The day belonged to Sharma from the second lap in his first tury yesterday to put India on who reached 200 with a six ever pole start at the Motegi Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team rides his bike top of the third match against off paceman in Twin Circuit, with dry condi- after the hosts the third over after lunch, to tions after bucketing rains dur- tararo through most of the sec- to (win) second, but it was not declared on 497 for nine. a standing ovation from the ing practice sessions on Friday ond half. enough,” the Italian said. Sharma made 212 and was raucous home crowd. and Saturday. He had already secured his “We struggled a bit during the involved in a 267-run fourth The in-form opener hit an- Quartararo managed to season victory by winning the weekend,” he said. wicket with Ajink- other six off Ngidi before fall- edge in front for a brief mo - Thailand Grand Prix earlier this Monster Energy Yamaha’s ya Rahane to pulverise South ing to Rabada and returned to ment shortly after the start, month. KNOW WHAT Marverick Vinales finished Africa’s bowling in Ranchi. the pavilion with handshakes but Marquez quickly regained His victory at Motegi also se- fourth ahead of LCR Honda’s The tourists were in trouble from the South African side. the lead and shot ahead with cured Honda’s 25th construc- Cal Cruthlow and Quartararo’s at nine for two, with Indian Sharma -- who hit twin a one-second gap early in the tors’ championship overall and Marquez’s third Japan teammate Franco Morbidelli. fast bowlers sending the op- centuries in his debut as Test race. its fourth on the trot. GP win brought up position openers back to the opener at the start of the se- “It was not easy. I was pushing Quartararo finished with Phillip Island beckons pavilion in Ranchi. ries -- pulled India out of ear- from the beginning because our his third narrow defeat to the his 54th career win at Marquez said he was eager Zubayr Hamza, on nought, ly trouble with his marathon strategy was clear,” Marquez championship winner in recent Motegi, equalling for- for next weekend’s race in Aus- and skipper , on stand with Rahane, who made said. races but was left smiling after mer World Champion tralia, where he won in 2017 and one, were at the crease when 115. “This time I tried to open the winning the Rookie of the Year Mick Doohan’s all-time 2015, but noted that Yamaha bad light stopped play for the The senior batsman, play- gap from the beginning because award. record bikes tend to excel on the Phillip second successive day. ing his 30th Test, surpassed I felt very strong in the warm “Marc was super fast today,” Island circuit. Pace spearhead Mohammed his previous best of 177 on his up.” the Frenchman said. “I really tararo said. “It’s one of my favourite Shami struck with the second debut against the West Indies He said he lost focus during pushed at my 100 percent to try Dovizioso, marking his 100th tracks. I enjoy a lot, riding ball of the innings to get the in 2013. the race when he realised his to stay with him.” career podium finish, said he there,” Marquez said. left-handed caught Sharma, who has three dou- bike was burning through fuel He was also fending off pres- struggled to find his form until “Long corners, traction, very behind for nought. ble centuries in his already too quickly, forcing him to “play sure from Dovizioso, whose late late in the race, where he could fast corners. Yamaha normally Umesh Yadav joined forces illustrious one-day career, a lot with switches”. charge fell just short. only compete for the possible are very fast there,” he added. to send Quinton de Kock pack- smashed the ball all around But Marquez was never di- “Dovi was unbelievably fast. second. “Vinales is very normally very ing for four after the batsman the park as he hit 28 fours and rectly threatened and enjoyed a He was riding more than a half “I was pushing so hard, but it fast. Quartararo will be very tried to fend off a bouncer that six sixes in his 255-ball stay. two second gap ahead of Quar- second faster than me,” Quar- was a bit over the limit. I wanted fast.”