SPORTS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2014 Hamilton clocks fastest in Russian practice SOCHI: Nico Rosberg made history as the first pion, is chasing his ninth win of the season. totalling 1,100 euros ($1,391.72) for pitlane speed- The only Russian regular, Toro Rosso’s 20-year- Formula One driver to set a timed lap at the inau- McLaren’s Jenson Button was the early paceset- ing and was sixth fastest in the second session. old rookie Daniil Kvyat, was seventh in the morn- gural Russian Grand Prix yesterday but champi- ter as drivers got to grips with a layout compared Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was fourth and third ing and then eighth. That was still ahead of both onship leading Mercedes team mate Lewis to the former Valencia street circuit and Singapore, in the two sessions, with Danish rookie Kevin Red Bulls, his 2015 employers, with four times Hamilton still ended up on top. Rosberg set a best with the 2009 champion ending the morning as Magnussen, Button’s team mate, fifth and then champion Sebastian Vettel only ninth. time of one minute 42.311 seconds around the the third fastest. He also collected two fines second in the afternoon. Kvyat was joined for the first session by 19- Sochi circuit, which snakes past some of the land- year-old compatriot Sergey Sirotkin, making his mark venues used at this year’s Winter Olympics, in debut at a race weekend in the Sauber usually driv- a sunny morning session with Hamilton second. en by Mexican Esteban Gutierrez. The Briton, who leads Rosberg by 10 points Williams had a disrupted opening session when after winning the last three races, went top of the a problem with a tyre blanket damaged a set of timesheets in an interrupted afternoon session Valtteri Bottas’s tyres. with a best of 1:39.630. All drivers took to the track with stickers of sup- “I like the new circuit; it’s got really good grip port for Jules Bianchi, Marussia’s French driver who and great corners, with a lot at medium speed. It’s was severely injured in a crash in Japan last Sunday good fun,” said Hamilton. and remains critical. “The car has been feeling really good today. “After what happened in Japan, you try and do McLaren look close which is great for everyone as the best you can. I would be lying if I said other it should make for a decent race. We’ve got quite a things weren’t on my mind, but you do what you good balance with the car so there are a lot of box- can to make sure you’re 100 percent committed to es ticked but we still have work to do.” driving,” said Ricciardo. Rosberg said he went down a different setup Marussia will have only one car running this route to Hamilton in the afternoon and would weekend, with Bianchi’s left in the garage as a revert to a more conservative one for Saturday. mark of respect. Chilton ended the first session The red flag came out eight minutes from the with the slowest time but picked up speed in the end when Australian Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull afternoon. had a power unit failure. “I don’t know how to put into words how truly Mercedes are expected to wrap up the con- devastated I am by what has happened to Jules,” structors’ championship on Sunday with three he said. “It is going to be a very emotional week- races to spare, having won 12 of the 15 so far with SOCHI: Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton takes part in the second free practice session end for the whole team, but we will try to get eight one-two finishes. Hamilton, the 2008 cham- of the inaugural Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom. — AP through it and keep praying for Jules.” — Reuters Singapore wants to Arch-rivals clash for host British Irish Lions, tests and sevens Super League title SINGAPORE: Singapore is in discussions on staging a British and Irish Lions tour match, international tests and a leg of MANCHESTER: English rugby league’s fiercest rivals will clash This time around season-ending injuries to a handful of influen- the rugby sevens series at its new $1 billion Sports Hub as once again when St Helens face defending champions Wigan in tial players, including former Penrith Panthers half-back Luke part of efforts to become a ‘home away from home’ for the the Super League Grand Final at Manchester United’s Old Trafford Walsh, had threatened to derail their campaign. sport’s biggest names. ground today. But they duly clinched the League Leaders’ Shield and International Rugby Board officials gathered in the There are barely eight miles between the two Lancashire towns Auckland-born second row Sia Soliola, who makes his final St wealthy Southeast Asian city-state this week for their annual making this weekend’s clash not just a matter of deciding the Helens appearance on Saturday before joining the Canberra meeting, with IRB President Bernard Lapasset leading the Super League champions but a contest for local pride. Raiders, is in high spirits. praise of Singapore’s new 55,000 National Stadium. For the players involved, and especially those from overseas, it “If you think of all the injuries we’ve had, the chance of us going The facility, which can host cricket, rugby, soccer and ath- can be all a bit overwhelming but Wigan full-back Matty Bowen to Old Trafford probably looked slim,” said Soliola. But we held letics events, is the centrepiece of a project which Singapore hopes his previous experience will stand him in good stead. together and full credit to the boys, everyone came together really, hopes can transform it into a sporting capital. Bowen arrived in Europe earlier this year with big boots to fill, really well. The Brazilian football team will play Japan in a glamour replacing 2012 Man of Steel Sam Tomkins after the latter’s switch “We’ve used it as motivation, but at the same time I think we’ve friendly here on Tuesday, while the top eight women’s tennis to the NRL and New Zealand Warriors. tried to prove it more to ourselves than anybody else. We’ve had to players will compete in Singapore at the WTA Finals for the After more than a decade with North Queensland Cowboys adjust roles and positions, and create a new playing style. first time later this month. Bowen endeared himself to the supporters and earned internation- “The boys have done a really good job, and we’re now just 80 Rugby also wants a piece of the pie. “Our role now is to al acclaim, but no NRL titles. The 32-year-old called time on that minutes away from making all those critics disappear, because win- open the door for Asia, with more expansion for rugby,” quest and went in search of the Super League crown instead-now ning just takes care of everything doesn’t it? “I’ve been there twice Lapasset told a small group of reporters this week. just St Helens stand in his way. and not made it over the line yet, so it’d be nice to finish off that “Singapore is a fantastic city and they already have a lot of And Bowen, who lost the 2005 NRL Grand Final with the way.” — AFP big events and rugby should be a part of that. Cowboys to Wests Tigers, knows the magnitude of Saturday’s “Whether it’s the Sevens World Series, Olympic qualifiers showdown as Wigan, who also won the Challenge Cup last season, or World Cup warm-up games, there are many opportunities go on the hunt for silverware once again. in the coming years for Singapore to be a major player in the “Some players are different but for me I try and relax,” said rugby world.” Bowen. “If you get too excited at the start of the week you can go Singapore and Japan will find out next month who has into a game drained out. Chances like this don’t come around been selected to become the 18th team to join Super Rugby, often, so I’m going to take it with both hands. with the IRB “very excited” that two Asian bids are being con- “I’ve had messages from back home, they’re getting up early in sidered by the competition’s governing body, SANZAR. the morning to watch it. “I’m looking forward to it. I just want to Japan appears to be ahead in the race after making a con- play well this weekend for the Wigan fans and for ourselves. “This is cession to host some matches in Singapore should they win why I came over (to Europe), to play in the big games and we’ve the bid.. got a chance this weekend. But that willingness to share does not extend to the 2019 “The last time I played in a Grand Final was nine years ago. I’ve rugby World Cup, IRB CEO Brett Gosper said, dampening waited a long time for a chance to do it again. Hopefully we get a speculation that Singapore or Hong Kong could host games better result than I did last time. when Japan stages rugby’s biggest tournament. “The season has gone quick, it does when you’re enjoying your- “It would have been nice on a number of levels but it’s self. Hopefully I can finish on a high.