Sports Wednesday, March 6, 2019 19

VisitQatar Grand Prix at Losail International Circuit Eyes on Repsol Honda’s dream pair Marquez, Lorenzo have 12 world titles between them, including eight in the Premier Class racing

Raajiv Tripathi test we were feeling strong, es- Although Lorenzo was DOHA pecially for a circuit which usu- forced to miss the Sepang test ally isn’t the best for us, but we due to a broken scaphoid, his Though not at their best have to keep improving.” potential on the Honda is clear shape due to different reasons, The 26-year-old Spaniard and the weekend will present Repsol Honda have a dream said the conditions of the Lo- him with more crucial bike pair in reigning world champi- sail track make it unique. “Qa- time. With six wins and five po- on Marc Marquez and former tar is always a special round, diums from 15 visits, the LIC is three-time Premier class win- not just because it is the first amongst Lorenzo’s strongest. ner Jorge Lorenzo for the 2019 of the year but also because of “Lining up on the grid MotoGP season. the conditions. We will have in Qatar is something I have This season is quite special to pay special attention to the been picturing during the for the team as it is celebrating temperature and consider eve- entire off-season. It’s a new the 25th year of collaboration rything before the race,” he era for me and for the team, between HRC and Repsol in added. it is a special moment to be the highest class racing. Dur- The Qatar GP will be the riding for the Repsol Honda ing their 25 years racing at the racing debut for the 31-year-old Team. I am ready to give eve- highest level in motorcycle rac- Lorenzo in Repsol Honda Team rything to achieve the best re- ing, Repsol and Honda have colours. Having improved his sults I can on the Honda,” Lor- achieved 14 world champion- Repsol Honda riders Jorge Lorenzo (left) and reigning world champion Marc Marquez at the team presentation. lap time at the Qatar test by 2.437 enzo said. ships, 168 victories, 427 po- seconds, Lorenzo is looking to “Unfortunately I am not yet diums, 177 pole positions and while Jorge won the 2015 title, racing once again! This winter continue his adaptation to the at my maximum with the bike, 182 fastest laps. his third and last one after his The most successful pair on the grid, which has 12 has been different due to the Honda RC213V and would be but I still believe we can achieve The most successful pair victorious campaigns in 2010 world titles between them with Maraquez being five- surgery, I worked hard with more than keen to put aside a good result here in Qatar. on the grid, which has 12 world and 2012 for Yamaha. Besides, time MotoGP champion, is excited to return to the five hours of physio per day the two years that he spent at As with every year, MotoGP is titles between them with Ma- Marquez has Moto2 and 125cc Losail International Circuit, which will launch another with only one goal: arrive in Ducati. looking very competitive and raquez being five-time MotoGP titles to his name and Lorenzo thrilling world series with VisitQatar Grand Prix under the best conditions in the first In his debut season for the we certainly have the package champion, is excited to return has been twice 250cc winner. the dazzling floodlights. race of the year.” Italian manufacturers after we need to fight with the best to the Losail International Cir- Shoulder surgery in late He also said that he was ending his nine-year-old al- after some more time. I know cuit, which will launch another December led to the most feeling more comfortable dur- liance with Yamaha, Lorenzo we can achieve greatness,” add- thrilling world series with Vis- challenging off-season of Mar- his standards, subdued testing 2013, Marquez has never fin- ing the Qatar test. “At the Qa- was seventh. But he finished ed the senior Spaniard. itQatar Grand Prix under the quez’s career and hundreds of campaign but arrives in Qa- ished outside of the top five in tar test, I felt much better than ninth next year with three re- The Free Practice 1 begins dazzling floodlights. hours of physiotherapy. Main- tar happy with the feeling of Qatar. at the Malaysia Test and now I tirements, two DNS and one at 15:40 local time on Friday Marquez claimed the Pre- taining the mantra of ‘there his Honda RC213V and with Marquez commented can say that I arrive almost 100 withdrawal. He ended the sea- with the lights of the MotoGP mier Class crowns in 2013, are no points for testing’, the his physical condition. Since ahead of the first race week- percent. Honda have done a lot son in Valencia in the 12th with race scheduled to go out at 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018, defending champion had a, by entering the Premier Class in end, “Finally, it’s time to go to improve the bike and in the 134 points. 20:00 local time on Sunday. Five former winners return to CBQM 2019 Major winner Lawrie to have a shot at historical treble at DGC Raajiv tripathi first two rounds. DOHA The field also features new- comer , who will History beckons as Major be trying to win back-to-back winner and two-time cham- European Tour titles after his pion Paul Lawrie bids to be- triumph at the Open come the first triple winner in last week, his second in just the Commercial Bank Qatar 11 starts this season, and last Masters, with the 22nd edi- year’s runner-up Oliver Fisher. tion being hosted at the chal- American Kitayama is clubbed lenging Doha Club from with Jordan Smith and 2017 Thursday. winner Wang. Lawrie, who won in 1999 Qatar Golf Association here and went on to claim the General Secretary Fahad Open Championship at car- Nasser al Naimi, while ad- noustie in the same year, bagged dressing a press conference Commercial Bank Chief Marketing Officer Hussein al Abdulla (centre) with QGA General Secretary Fahad his second Mother of Pearl Tro- at the DGC on Tuesday along Nasser al Naimi (second left) and European Tour Tournament Director Mikael Erikkson (second right) after Kurt Kitayama of the US during a practice session ahead of the Com- phy in 2012. This week, the Scot, with Commercial Bank Chief the press conference at Doha Golf Club on Tuesday. (Photographs: Jalal Pathiyoor) mercial Bank at the Doha Golf Club on Tuesday. a joint 61st last year, will return Marketing Officer Hussein al hoping to have a good shot at Abdulla, QGA Board Member ropean Tour for their contin- European Tour officialyear, we had lot of time to roll the historical treble. Mohammed Faisal al Naimi, ued support to the tournament, Erikkson said the Tour players the course. The greens are very He is one of the five pre- European Tour Tournament which is one of the highlights of love coming and playing here. firm and in fact in much better American Kitayama to vious champions who are in Director Mikael Erikkson and the international events calen- “This is a very popular tourna- shape than the 2018. The play- the field this year –Jeunghun Doha Golf Club General Man- dar,” he added. ment among the players on the ers will have to be very careful Wang (2017), ager Gary McGlinchey, said, Commercial Bank CMO Tour. This has been going on with their approach shots. go for superb double (2013), 2018 European Rider “The QGA is delighted to host Abdulla said, “We’ve been ba- for a long time. Apart from the “Another challenge could Cup captain Thomas Bjorn the 22nd edition of the Com- sically supporting the Qatar tough course, players enjoy the be the wind this time. We have Tribune News Network he said. “I’m playing well. (2011) and Robert Karlsson mercial Bank Qatar Masters 2030 Vision which focuses on hospitality here a great deal. the prediction of gusty weath- DOHA When I won in Mauritius I (2010). Lawrie is grouped with this week. We’ve previous win- sports and education. The Qa- I feel that we will have a good er. Last week in Oman, the play continued that form into the his protégé Sam Locke, the Sil- ners and talented young play- tar Masters Golf Tournament week of golf here again.” had to be suspended due to American rookie Kurt Ki- SA Open and hopefully I can ver Medal winner at last year’s ers in the field and we expect is a wonderful opportunity for Doha Golf Club GM strong winds. I just hope that tayama is hoping to ride the do the same here. I want to Open who is a product of the an exciting battle for the trophy us to interact with the commu- McGlinchey said the course the wind doesn’t affect the play. crest of a wave after winning take last weeks’ confidence Paul Lawrie Foundation, and this year. nity. We wish to continue our would be a big challenge for Overall, we hope to have tough last week’s Oman Open and into this week. Swede Karlsson, the 2018 Ry- “We want to thank sponsor support to the tournament in the players. “Since the start is battle on all four days at Doha make it two-in-two with vic- The 26-year-old got a first der Cup vice-captain, for the Commercial Bank and the Eu- the future as well.” a bit late compared to the last Golf Club,” Glinchey added. tory at the Commercial Bank look at Doha Golf Club for a Qatar Masters, which gets un- practise round on Monday derway on Thursday at Doha and was impressed with what Golf Club. he saw. “It hasn’t quite sunk in “The course is a great lay- yet,” said the American, who out,” he said. “I played nine bounced back from a quad- holes yesterday and nine to- ruple bogey to win in Muscat. day, so I’ll be taking it all in. “I’m taking it all in and enjoy- It’s supposed to be windy all ing it. It was such a long day, week, so it’s going to be a bit and then I had to rush to the of a grind. The greens are quite airport to get to Qatar. I’ve not firm, a little soft in the morn- had the chance to think about ing but yesterday afternoon it. I still have a few more weeks they were like rocks. Some of on the road, and maybe we’ll the holes go into side-winds celebrate when we get back to as well, so that makes it a little America.” tougher.” Kitayama came through Kitayama is looking to fol- Qualifying School to earn his low in the footsteps of Jeung- European Tour card for 2019 hun Wang (2017) and Ernie and quickly made his break- Els (2005) as winners of the through at the Afrasia Bank Commercial Bank Qatar Mas- Mauritius Open at Anahita in ters on their debut. December. He followed that The first round is set for victory with a top-15 finish the Thursday and entrance to following week and is hoping all four days of competition for a similar run this week. at Doha Golf Club is free of “I need to ride the wave,” charge for spectators. Players getting a feel of Doha Golf Club at the driving range on Tuesday.