Sports Monday, August 10, 2020 15 South African rookie Binder wins Czech MotoGP on ‘insane’ bike AFP Brno (Czech Republic) Czech Grand Prix Results created a series 1. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 41min 38.764sec, of firsts as he won the Czech 2. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) at MotoGP on Sunday to make 5.266sec, 3. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati- A file photo of Badr Al Darwish, Secretary-General of the Qatar and come true “a day I dreamed Avintia) 6.470, 4. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) Asian Equestrian Federations, with Salman Mohammed Al Emadi, 6.609, 5. (ITA/Yamaha) Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi and Nasser Al Ghazali podium finishers about since I was a little boy”. 7.517, 6. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM-Tech3) It was the 24-year-old 7.969, 7. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha- of the Hathab Big Tour showjumping Round 6 of the Longines Qatar Binder’s first MotoGP win in SRT) 11.827, 8. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/ Equestrian Tour 2019-20 earlier this year. (Pic: Mohamed Tinakicht) only his third race in the elite Honda-LCR) 12.862,9. Jack Miller (AUS/ division, it was also a first vic- Ducati-Pramac) 15.013, 10. Aleix Espargaro tory at this level by a South (ESP/Aprilia) 15.087 Organising committee’s efforts African and for the KTM team. Moto2: 1. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Kalex) 39min Binder opened his MotoGP 13.926sec, 2. Sam Lowes (GBR/Kalex)at applauded as showjumping 0.423sec, 3. Joe Roberts (USA/Kalex) 5.948, account at the main expense 4. Luca Marini (ITA/Kalex) 8.797, 5. Augusto of Italian Franco Morbidelli on Fernandez (ESP/Kalex) 9.392 series Hathab returns Yamaha’s satellite SRT bike and Moto3: 1. Dennis Foggia (ITA/Honda) 39min Frenchman Johan Zarco on a 06.370sec, 2. Albert Arenas (ESP/KTM) at Tribune News Network adopted by the authorities in Ducati-Avintia who came third. 0.205, 3. Ai Ogura (JPN/Honda) 0.251, 4. Doha the country to limit the spread “My team put an absolutely Niccolo Antonelli (ITA/Honda) 0.381,5. John of Covid-19. There is great co- insane motorbike underneath McPhee (GBR/Honda) 0.509. The return of the national ordination between all the par- me this weekend,” said Binder. Championship standings equestrian series Hathab – ties, which has shown in the MotoGP (after 3 races): “I had no idea we were ca- 1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) 59 points, 2. Longines Qatar Equestrian smooth conduct of the event,” pable of winning but I had a Maverick Vinales (ESP) 42, 3. Franco Morbidelli Tour 2019-20 – with the 10th Al Darwish said. feeling it could be good.” Red Bull KTM Factory Racing´s South African Brad Binder rides his bike during the Moto GP Czech Grand (ITA) 31, 4. (ITA) 31, 5. Brad leg of the annual 12-round “I take this opportunity to Behind closed doors on Prix at Masaryk circuit in Brno, Czech Republic, on Sunday. (AFP) Binder (RSA) 28, 6. Johann Zarco (FRA) 28, 7. competition at the Qatar thank all those who put in great a hot and sunny afternoon, Valentino Rossi (ITA) 27, 8. Takaaki Nakagami Equestrian Federation (QEF) efforts to get the season restart- Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (JPN) 27, 9. Jack Miller (AUS) 20, 10. Alex Rins after a four-month forced ed. The organising committee (Yamaha-SRT), winner of the (ESP) 19, 11. Pol Espargaro (ESP) 19, 12. break due to the coronavi- teams took exceptional care in first two rounds of the season Miguel Oliveira (POR) 18, 13. Alex Marquez rus pandemic highlighted the putting everything together. and world championship lead- My team put an (ESP) 13, 14. (ESP) 11, 15. Danilo efforts and hardwork put in by We are following the safety ad- Petrucci (ITA) 11, 16. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) er, finished seventh to increase absolutely insane 9, 17. Tito Rabat (ESP) 7, 18. Aleix Espargaro the organisers. visory issued by the Ministry of his lead in the riders’ stand- motorbike underneath me (ESP) 6, 19. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) 6, 20. The 10th round conclud- Public Health (MOPH). Offi- ings to 17 points over Spaniard Bradley Smith (GBR) 5. ed at the QEF showjumping cials of the Qatar Red Crescent Maverick Vinales (Yamaha) this weekend. I had no Moto2 (after 4 races): arena on Saturday and the re- Society are also present at the who was only 14th in the GP. idea we were capable of 1. Enea Bastianini (ITA) 73 points, 2. Luca maining two rounds are now venue,” Al Darwish added. With reigning champion winning but I had a Marini (ITA) 58, 3. Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN) scheduled for August 14 and Earlier, Omar Al Mannai, Marc Marquez still absent 55, 4. Sam Lowes (GBR) 46, 5. Aron Canet 15th, and the finale from Au- Vice-Chairman of the LOC for nursing a broken arm, Binder feeling it could be good. (ESP) 36 gust 27th to 29th. Longines Hathab, said that Moto3 (after 4 races): followed Quartararo in grab- – Brad Binder 1. Albert Arenas (ESP) 70 points, 2. Ai Ogura The Hathab series riders and members of the bing his chance. (JPN) 52, 3. John McPhee (GBR) 51, 4. Tatsuki launched in 2017 carries a total organising teams underwent Binder was the first rookie Suzuki (JPN) 44, 5. Raul Fernandez (ESP) 36. prize of QR1.5mn and is an ini- mandatory coronavirus tests MotoGP winner since Mar- While it was Zarco’s seventh tiative of HE Sheikh Joaan bin before the restart. quez in 2013 and he was fol- podium it was a first for Avin- Arenas extended his world Hamad Al Thani, President, “We conducted the tests lowed home by two more sur- tia the team he joined after he championship lead. Qatar Olympic Committee. following the advisory from the prising front-runners. Winner Red Bull KTM Factory Racing´s South African Brad Binder cel- struggled with KTM last season. A second Honda rider, Badr Al Darwish, Secre- Qatar Olympic Committee and For Morbidelli it was a first ebrates during the winner’s ceremony after the Moto GP Czech Grand In Moto2, Italian Enea the Japanese Ai Ogura, came tary-General of the Qatar and the MOPH. The health and safe- podium finish. “It was a nice Prix at Masaryk circuit in Brno, Czech Republic, on Sunday. (AFP) Bastianini of Kalex led from third for his second podium Asian Equestrian Federations ty of everyone involved with our race overall, I started well, I start to finish to claim a sec- of the season. on Saturday applauded the sport is very important to us,” did what was in my plan, to but dropped down the field he crashed.” ond straight victory and climb The motorcycling caravan efforts of the organising com- Al Mannai said. make my rhythm and don’t with a poor start. He held on The officials judged the to the top of the world cham- heads to Austria for two events mittee in resuming the 2019- Hathab means ‘Canter’ in overcook the tyres,” he said. to third despite disintegrating Frenchman was at fault and he pionships. at the Red Bull Ring in Spiel- 20 Longines Hathab Series Arabic, and the annual cham- Afer Binder overtook him tyres and a penalty imposed had to ride a ‘long lap’ which Britain’s Sam Lowes was berg on August 16 and 23. behind closed doors. pionship is aimed at improv- on lap 13 and pulled clear, Mor- for a collision with Pol Espara- meant following an outside second while Joe Roberts of The MotoGP field will “The resumption of Hathab ing the standard of horse rid- bidelli concentrated on pre- go which put the Spanish KTM lane on the big seventh turn. the United States third. again be without the recu- shows the commitment of ing among Qatari youths while serving his first podium finish. man out of the race. “When I did the long lap, I Another Italian, Den- perating Marquez as well as the organising committee to- encouraging the involvement of “I won’t do anything silly “He went wide. I was in, expected three riders to over- nis Foggia of Honda, won Italian Francesco Bagnaia wards the sponsors and rid- private stables and individual and try to bring the bike to the keeping the line and when take me. No one overtook and his first Grand Prix in the (Ducati-Pramac), who fell in ers to these competitions. The horse owners to grow aware- end and catch my first podium.” we touch,” said Zarco. “I did at that moment, I said, OK third tier Moto3 level earlier, practice at Brno on Friday and committee has adhered to ness of horsemanship as part Zarco started from pole not expect it and I think that that can be good,” Zarco said. while second placed Albert broke a leg. the precautionary measures of Qatar’s history and tradition. Warren and Pacers hand Lakers another loss AFP All games are being played in the extra period on the way land in the West playoff fight. Miami in a quarantine bubble at Walt to victory. Devin Booker led Phoenix Disney World in Orlando, Slovenian guard Luka Don- with 35 points while Bahamas T.J. Warren scored 39 points Florida, due to the coronavi- cic had an impressive triple big man Deandre Ayton added as the in-form Indiana Pacers rus pandemic that halted the double for Dallas with a game- 18 points and 12 rebounds. inflicted a 116-111 defeat on season in March. high 36 points, a career-high Paul George scored 21 LeBron James and his stutter- The Pacers improved to 19 assists and 14 rebounds. points despite being rested in ing Los Angeles Lakers, who 4-1 since the restart, closing the final minutes as the Los have lost three in a row as the with a 13-5 run to beat the ‘It’s make or miss’ Angeles Clippers beat Port- NBA playoffs approach. Western Conference top seed “We just keep improving,” land 122-117, hurting the Trail Deceuninck-Quick Step rider Remco Evenepoel. Indiana’s win ensured Lakers, who fell to 2-4 in the Doncic said. “We have to keep Blazers’ playoff bid. the NBA’s top regular-season bubble and 51-18 overall. playing like this.” The Clippers, already rest- record will belong to the Mil- That was despite 31 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo ing star Kawhi Leonard for Injured Jakobsen’s waukee, despite the Bucks eight rebounds and seven as- and Brooks Lopez each scored load management, improved losing 136-132 to Dallas in sists from three-time NBA 34 to lead Milwaukee. to 47-22, second in the West. over-time. champion James -- the only LA Indiana and Miami, likely C.J. McCollum scored 29 to teammate Evenepoel “I just feel like I’m in a starter in double figures. An- first-round playoff foes fight- lead Portland, which also had groove,” Warren said. “As a thony Davis went 3-of-14 from ing for the fourth seed, meet 22 points from Damian Lillard wins Tour of Poland team, we’re in a groove, good the floor for only eight points. Monday and Friday. and reserve Gary Trent Jr. and rhythm, high energy, we come “This stretch right here... The Lakers open the play- 21 from Carmelo Anthony. AFP the GC home - I think that we out with a lot of effort. it’s going to strengthen us,” offs against the winner of a Rodney McGruder, a 26 Krakow can only say that we have been “We’re just together. We’ve Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. six-team fight for the last play- percent shooter from three- dominating this race,” he added. just got to keep the chemistry “We’re playing against off spot in the West. point range, connected from Fabio Jakobsen’s fellow Belgian Evenepoel, 20, was hot. We just have to keep it up great defenses. That’s the best Phoenix improved to 5-0 beyond the arc to put the Clip- Deceuninck-Quick Step rider 1 minutes 52 seconds ahead of heading to the playoffs.” way to prepare you. I’m opti- in the bubble, the team’s long- pers ahead 118-117 with 26 Remco Evenepoel won the Dane Jakob Fuglsang in sec- The Bucks (55-15) won’t mistic about our game overall.” est win streak since 2014, by seconds remaining. Lillard Tour of Poland on Sunday as ond with Briton Simon Yates have the home court advan- Dallas ended with a 7-0 beating Miami 119-112. The missed two free throws and LA team-mate Davide Ballerini in third after five days of racing tage that usually comes with run to force overtime at 119- Suns (31-39) moved a half- sank four free throws in the fi- clinched the fifth and final in the 77th edition of the event. the top mark. 119, then scored the first nine game behind ninth-place Port- nal seconds to seal the victory. T.J. Warren of the Indiana Pacers. stage in Krakow. Team Ineos’ Richard Cara- Jakobsen was injured in a paz pulled out after a crash horrifying crash on the race’s on Saturday despite leading opening day earlier in the week the overall standings before and awoke from a medically- Evenepoel grabbed the yellow Halep undecided on US Open, fears ‘tough conditions’ induced coma on Thursday. jersey with a 51km solo win on “For the team the hardest stage four. AFP video conference. and very safe so I feel safe,” but I feel ready,” added Halep, part of this race was the situ- Italian Ballerini powered Prague “I don’t want to put my- said Halep. who is facing Slovenian world ation with Fabio,” Evenepoel to victory in a bunched sprint self into that stress. As I said The organisers of the number 45 Polona Hercog in said after his ninth victory of by pipping Bora Hansgrohe’s Reigning Wimbledon I haven’t decided yet, but the Prague tournament put all the first round in the Czech the season. Pascal Ackermann in second champion Simona Halep said conditions are tough for me at players and staff in a single capital. “We’ve been through a lot of and Team Sunweb’s Alberto on Sunday she had not yet de- this moment.” eight-storey hotel booked for Untypically, Halep has emotions this week and if you Dainese after 188 kilometres cided whether to play at the World number one Ash- the occasion to reduce the risk also signed up for the doubles see how we finish it off - two which finished with three laps US Open but added she dread- leigh Barty has said she is of COVID-19 contagion. competition together with lo- stage wins in a row and we take in the southern city. ed “tough conditions” posed skipping the US Open amid Regular temperature cal veteran Barbora Strycova, by the journey. the virus spread, just like Kiki checks are a must, just like the world number two for Results “I haven’t made the final Bertens, Elina Svitolina or Ra- face masks which the players doubles. decision yet,” said the 28-year- fael Nadal. have to wear unless they are “I play with the Wimble- Stage results Overall results old Romanian, who will be Halep, who pulled out of playing, training or eating. don champion so I’m very 1. Davide Ballerini (ITA/DEC) at 4 hours 31 1. Remco Evenepoel (BEL/DEC) at 21 hours 29 playing a WTA tournament the first post-lockdown WTA Despite the tough meas- nervous about that,” said Ha- minutes 22 seconds, 2. Pascal Ackermann minutes 50 seconds, 2. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/ on a clay court in Prague next tournament in Palermo this ures, Halep relished the return lep, who is now 149th in dou- (GER/BOR) at same time, 3. Alberto Dainese AST) at 1min 52secs, 3. Simon Yates (GBR/MIT) week. week over virus concerns, is to tennis. bles, way below her all-time (ITA/SUN) s.t, 4. Ryan Gibbons (RSA/DDT) s.t, 5. 2:28, 4. Rafal Majka (POL/BOR) 2:32, 5. Diego “The travelling from Eu- now in Prague as the top seed. “I’m happy to be back, high of 71st in 2017. Jasper Philipsen (BEL/UAE) s.t, 6. Rudy Barbier Ulissi (ITA/UAE) 3:09, 6. Kamil Malecki (POL/ (FRA/ISN) s.t, 7. Sebastian Molano (COL/UAD) CCC) 3:12, 7. Wilco Kelderman (NED/SUN) rope is a little bit tough with This is her first trip abroad I’m happy to be healthy,” “But I’m sure we will s.t, 8. Phil Bauhaus (GER/BAH) s.t, 9. Szymon 3:15, 8. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN/TJV) 3:18. 9. changing flights -- we don’t since February as she spent said Halep. have fun. I’m sure that she Sajnok (POL/CCC) s.t, 10. Albert Torres (ESP/ Mikel Nieve (ESP/MIT) same time, 10. Rui Costa have straight flights -- so it’s the lockdown in her native Ro- “It’s a bit weird after so will understand if I miss easy MOV) s.t. (POR/UAE) 3:19. going to be tough for me per- mania. “I’m a bit nervous but many months to play a tour- balls at the net, and I hope Simona Halep of Romania. sonally, mentally,” she told a things are very controlled here nament, I’m a bit nervous... we’ll enjoy it.”