MMOTORCYOTORCYCCLINGLING | Page 2 TTENNISENNIS | Page 6 Marquez Barty and qualifi es 14th Swiatek as Quartararo set up takes pole Madrid clash Sunday, May 2, 2021 CRICKET Ramadan 20, 1442 AH Hasan leads GULF TIMES Pakistan’s rout of Zimbabwe SPORT Page 4 FORMULA 1 It was the Finn’s 17th pole, lifting Bottas keeps Hamilton him level with Britain’s triple champion Jackie Stewart in waiting for 100th pole the all-time list for Ferrari and Pierre Gasly ninth for AlphaTauri.There was disappoint- ment for Australian Daniel Ricciardo who failed to get his McLaren beyond the fi rst session and will start back in 16th place. “Just a disappointing day... I wouldn’t have bet on this today so I’ve just got to fi gure it out and get some sleep and wake up tomorrow ready to do better,” he said. Williams driver George Russell, who was involved in a high-speed colli- sion with Bottas at Imola that ended the race for both of them and wrecked the Finn’s car, had a good afternoon and starts 11th.That was Williams’ best performance on a Saturday since the 2018 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, when Canadian Lance Stroll qualifi ed 10th, and his best for the team. Stroll, now at Aston Martin, quali- fi ed 17th with German team mate and four-times champion Sebastian Vettel having a better day with 10th on the grid. The race is being held without spectators due to the Covid-19 pan- demic. THE GRID Front row: Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 2nd row: Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull- Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas Honda) competes in the qualifying session of the Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull- Portuguese Formula One Grand Prix at the Honda) Algarve International Circuit in Portimao 3rd row: yesterday. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine- Renault) behind Hamilton after two races, will Prix last December. problem with a gearbox sensor and had another good lap but in the last sector Reuters 4th row: Portimao start third after having his fi rst fl ying “It feels like it’s been a while. It was to swap it out. Hamilton, who took his the car in front in the last two corners lap on soft tyres of one minute 18.209 nice to get a good qualifying, it’s been a 99th pole at the previous race in Imola just disturbs you, especially with the Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren- seconds deleted for running too wide. weak point for me in the fi rst two races, won by Verstappen, had been fastest low grip we already have and the tough Mercedes) altteri Bottas took pole po- But for that mistake on a gusty but getting the tyres to work,” said Bottas. in the second phase of qualifying but wind out here. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) sition for the Portuguese bright afternoon at a rollercoaster of “This weekend we’ve been working could not fi nd anything extra in the fi - “It cost me a LOSSlot of lap time. It is 5th row: Grand Prix yesterday to deny a circuit, the Dutch youngster’s time hard and it’s nice to see it’s paying off nal minutes. what it is. We’ll try to fi ght them to- Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri- Mercedes teammate and would have been the fastest. and it puts me in a good position for “Not the perfect lap but I gave it morrow in the race.” Honda) Vchampionship leader Lewis Hamilton Bottas took pole in 1:18.348, setting tomorrow.” everything,” said the Briton. Verstappen’s Mexican team mate Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston a record-extending 100th by a mere the time with his fi rst fl ying lap on soft Bottas will be the third diff erent Verstappen said he had been strug- Sergio Perez will join him on the sec- Martin-Mercedes) 0.007 of a second. Seven-times For- tyres before switching to the medium driver to start on pole in three races gling a lot for grip. ond row, surviving a spin into the grav- 6th row: mula One world champion Hamilton, compound. and nobody has so far won from the “That fi rst lap in Q3 was decent but el in the opening phase, with Ferrari’s George Russell (GBR/Williams- winner from pole last year at the Al- It was the Finn’s 17th pole, lifting top slot in 2021. He could also thank I just had a big moment in (turn) four Carlos Sainz fi fth and Alpine’s Esteban Mercedes) garve circuit, completed a fi rst front him level with Britain’s triple cham- his mechanics who won their own race and went a little bit off track,” he ex- Ocon fi lling the third row. row sweep of the season for his team. pion Jackie Stewart in the all-time list, against time to get the car ready for plained. Lando Norris starts seventh for Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, a point and fi rst since Bahrain’s Sakhir Grand the session after Mercedes detected a “I was quite confi dent we could do McLaren with Charles Leclerc eighth Romeo-Ferrari) RACING Al Shaqab’s Duhail wins Group 2 at Saint-Cloud Agencies happy I am. He was really professional to- Paris, France day. There was some pace and that helped us. He fl ew in the fi nish! I was sure that the mile would suit him. I think that he is really he talented and consistent Duhail, coming into his best now. I hope that he will who carries the Al Shaqab Racing continue in this direction and win his Group silks, fi nally and deservedly won 1.” This fi rst Group race in the Prix du Racing manager to Al Shaqab Racing in Mugeut (Group 2) at Saint-Cloud yesterday. France, Rupert Pritchard Gordon, said: “He Running over a mile, Andre Fabre’s ward is a horse that Mr Fabre rated really highly as won by half-a-length in front of Prete- a three-year-old, but he had a few niggling ville, with the classy Victor Ludorum in problems as he wasn’t really mature. He’s third. Jockey Vincent Cheminaud sat him in repaid everyone’s patience today. An easy fourth from the off , with Preteville leading mile on a turn is probably his best, but he’s proceedings. In the straight, Duhail came very versatile. He goes on any ground. He quickly to the lead and galloped strongly is entered in the Queen Anne at Royal As- through the line. cot. The Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood Duhail began his year win in the Prix Ana- could also suit him.” baa, a Class 1 at Chantilly on March 2, fol- By the top sire Lope de Vega, Duhail was lowed by a second place over this course and bred by Lynch-Bages and Camas Park Stud. distance in the Group 3 Prix Edmond Blanc Single, his dam, was runner up in the Prix on the April 3. d’Aumale (Group 2). The second dam pro- “A lot of work has gone into this horse,” duced four Stakes performers, including explained jockey Vincent Cheminaud. “To Zantenda, third in the Qatar Prix Marcel have him here today and fi nally winning his Boussac (Group 1). He was bought at the Ar- Group is just super. You can’t imagine how qana Breeze Up 2018 by Al Shaqab Racing. Vincent Cheminaud (right) rides Duhail to victory in the Prix du Mugeut (Group 2) in Saint-Cloud, France, yesterday. (Scoopdyga) Gulf Times 2 Sunday, May 2, 2021 SPORT MOTORCYCLING FOCUS Under close supervision, Tokyo Marquez qualifi es welcomes foreign 14th as Quartararo divers to test event takes Jerez pole Marquez fell heavily in the third practice session at the circuit where last year he broke his right arm in the opening race to end his 2020 campaign Quartararo took pole in Vincent Riendeau and Nathan Zsombor-Murray of Canada compete Jerez in 2019 and again in during the men’s synchronised 10m platform at the FINA Diving both races on the track last World Cup at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre yesterday. season. He followed his pole in the 2020 season- Reuters Japanese authorities are opening Spanish MotoGP Tokyo determined to protect not with his maiden victory in only Games participants, the class but a local population iving and volleyball that opinion surveys have the Italian. “But we were able to yesterday became shown is largely opposed to make a good qualifying overall.” the fi rst Olympic test the Olympics due to Miller underwent surgery on events to include in- the virus his arm at the start of April and Dternational athletes since such did not fi nish the Portuguese competitions resumed last Additionally, they are kept in Grand Prix in Portimao on April month, as both began under a “bubble”, restricting move- 18. close supervision in Tokyo. ments to between the hotel and “It’s been a testing time the The diving World Cup, also venue. last couple of weeks,” he said. “I a qualifi er for this summer’s “It would have been nice if know it’s only qualifying, but it’s Games, features more than 200 they could have rented a bus for great to be back.” athletes from 50 countries in- the team to do some sightseeing Quartararo and Morbidelli cluding powerhouse China. around the city,” Patrick Haus- looked less good when they prac- “We’re not allowed out of our ding, a silver and bronze medal tised their starts after qualifying.