Nasser Seals Record-Extending Seventh Cyprus Rally Triumph Yamaha Will Not the PENINSULA— NOCOSIA
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Sport MONDAY 19 OCTOBER 2020 Star Zverev dominates Auger-Aliassime to clinch first ATP crown of the year Felix (Auger-Aliassime), you're an unbelievable player. I know it doesn't mean much right now, but I'm sure you're not only going to win one title, you're going to win multiple titles in your career, bigger titles than this. Alexander Zverev Sport |08 QSL RESULTS: Al Ahli beat Al Sailiya 2-0; Al Gharafa beat Al Kharaitiyat 2-0. TODAY: Al Arabi vs Umm Salal; Al Rayyan vs Al Wakrah Qatar rally star remains on track for 16th MERC title Nasser seals record-extending seventh Cyprus Rally triumph Yamaha will not THE PENINSULA— NOCOSIA Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah, enter replacement yesterday clinched the Cyprus Rally title for the for virus positive seventh time in his career, retaining the crown by using his vast experience. Rossi in Teruel GP Nasser was driving a Volkswagen Polo R5, co- REUTERS — ALCAÑIZ, SPAIN driven by the Frenchman Mathieu Baumel. This was Valentino Rossi (pictured) has been ruled out his second victory this year of next weekend’s MotoGP Teruel Grand Prix in the Middle East Rally and Yamaha will not enter a replacement rider Championship (MERC) from for the nine-times world champion who is self- two events. isolating after testing positive for COVID-19, The third and final round the team said yesterday. of the MERC - the Rally of Rossi travelled back to his home in Tavullia, Lebanon - will be held next Italy, after last weekend’s French Grand Prix month. and confirmed on Thursday that he had con- Nasser is the most suc- tracted COVID-19, ruling him out of yester- cessful competitor in Cyprus day’s Aragon Grand Prix. with seven titles, with Yamaha said Rossi had to self-isolate for Sebastian Loeb second on 10 days from the date he tested positive as per the list with four victories. Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah guidelines in Italy, meaning he also would not Also, this was Nasser’s 16th (right) and his co-driver be ready for the October 25 race in Teruel, title win in Cyprus as he also Mathieu Baumel celebrate Spain. claimed Troodos Rally after winning the Cyprus Rally, “Yamaha has carefully weighed their crowns nine times. yesterday. options and decided not to enter a replacement With the win, the Qatari rider to substitute for Rossi for the Gran Premio rally star remains on track de Teruel,” Yamaha said in a statement, ruling for his 16th title in the Middle and Roussos / Giannakou in finish the first day. Utilising CYPRUS RALLY: OVERALL CLASSIFICATION out a return for test rider Jorge Lorenzo. East Rally Championship – 5th. The two 2WD category the Rally2 regulation, six of RK/DRIVER, NAVIGATOR COUNTRY CAR TIME “This decision was based on the high stress 10th consecutive. was won by Chrysostomos those who left, returned yes- 1. Nasser Al Attiyah / Baumel Qatar / France Volkswagen Polo 2:46:25.1 that is put on Yamaha’s MotoGP project Meanwhile, the current Panteli / Thomas Theo- terday (18/10) to finish 16. 2. Yiangou / Kyriakou Cyprus Hyundai i20 + 17:10.4 members during this COVID-19 influenced leader of the local champi- fanous with Ford Fiesta in The race covered a total of 3. Demosthenous/ Pavlou Cyprus Mitsubishi Lancer + 19:03.2 season.” onship Panagiotis Yiangou / front of Televantos / Stavrou 510km of which 178 km 4. Savva / Papandreou Cyprus Mitsubishi Lancer + 20:29.4 Rossi will have to test negative for the novel Panagiotis Kyriakou, fin- with Peugeot 208. were the ten special stages. 5. Roussos / Yiannakou Cyprus Mitsubishi Lancer + 22:03.6 coronavirus before getting back to action and ished in the second place 21 crews started the race, It has always been not 11. Chr. Panteli / Theophanou Cyprus Ford Fiesta 2WD + 32:32.7 the earliest he can make his MotoGP return with a Hyundai i20. 13 of which managed to enough to be the fastest to will be at the European Grand Prix in Valencia They had a steady race win the Cyprus Rally. But However, his fight was from Nov. 6-8. and despite the problems Nasser Saadon Al usually Nasser did it too, lost when in S.S. 4 broke the Yamaha said they would focus their efforts they faced in the Saturday’s Kuwari poses with reaching the finish line first, rear right axle and retired on on supporting Maverick Vinales in the Teruel stage, they counterattacked Cyprus Rally MERC2 being faster and more the next stage. race and provide a further update on Rossi’s yesterday and finished trophy. durable. The 2018 winner Simos condition in the week after. second, taking the prize Nasser was happy to Galatariotis, was also very Rossi, 13th in the championship standings “Loris Ellinas” given to the drive with consistency fast yesterday (18/10), with 58 points, has failed to finish in each of first Cypriot crew, in honour without “hurting” the winning a special stage and the last three races, crashing out on the first of the first winner of the Volkswagen Polo. He won finishing in the top three in lap of the French Grand Prix. Cyprus Rally in 1970. only three stages, thus in one three more. The podium was com- stage they have shared the On the first day he went pleted by Christos Demos- victory with Alex off the road on the first route thenous / Costas Pavlou with Tsouloftas. and could not return. Rossi travelled back to his home in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX. The Cypriot driver, who Also yesterday, Qatar’s Tavullia, Italy, after last weekend’s French They made a lasting coun- also raced with a Nasser Saadon Al Kuwari, Grand Prix and confirmed on Thursday terattack after S.S. 2 when Volkswagen Polo won the teaming up with Kuwait’s that he had contracted COVID-19, ruling they had fallen 12th. first three races (in the third Mshari Al Thefiri with Mit- him out of yesterday’s Aragon Grand Prix. Two other Cypriot he had the same time as subishi Lancer Evo X Lancer followed with Savvas Nasser) and another three clinched the MERC2 / Papandreou in 4th place yesterday (18/10). victory. Rins battles past Marquez to win Aragon MotoGP as Mir takes lead AFP — ALCAÑIZ, SPAIN ARAGON GRAND PRIX RESULTS Marquez was overjoyed. “I am MotoGP the brother of Alex Marquez,” he Alex Rins held off compatriot 1. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki): 41mins 54.391sec, 2. Alex Marquez (ESP/Honda) at 0.263sec, 3. Joan Mir tweeted in Spanish. Alex Marquez to win the Aragon (ESP/Suzuki) 2.644, 4. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 2.880, 5. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) Meanwhile, seven-time MotoGP yesterday with another 4.570, 6. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) 4.756, 7. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 8.639, 8. Cal MotoGP world champion Val- Spaniard Joan Mir finishing third Crutchlow (GBR/Honda-LCR) 8.913, 9. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati-Pramac) 9.390, 10. Johann Zarco entino Rossi’s quarantine after to take the championship lead (FRA/Ducati-Avintia) 9.617 testing positive for Covid-19 from Fabio Quartararo. means he will also have to miss Selected Suzuki’s Rins became the next weekend’s Grand Prix of 18. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha-SRT) 21.498 eighth winner in this season’s ten eruel at the same Aragon circuit. races as the vacuum created by Standings (after 10 of 14 races) “Due to Italian law, Valentino the early season injury to 1. Joan Mir (ESP) 121 points, 2. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) 115, 3. Maverick Vinales (ESP) 109, 4. Andrea Rossi will be unable to attend the reigning champion Marc Dovizioso (ITA) 106, 5. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN) 92 Gran Premio de Teruel event,” Marquez has created a volatile said a Yamaha team statement. and unpredictable title race. The 41-year-old Italian, who This is the third victory for He has 121 points in the to fill the void left by Marquez is sat out of yesterday’s race, has to the 24-year-old Rins who won championship ahead of Quar- his younger brother and Honda compete a 10-day quarantine twice last year but was injured tararo (115), Spaniard Maverick teammate Alex Marquez who, and test negative before he can at the beginning of this season. Vinales (109) and Italian Andrea after a slow start to his rookie return to the circuits. He sliced through the field Dovizioso (106). season, has finished second in In Moto3, young Italian Tony after starting 10th on the grid. “I’m trying to be as consistent two straight races. Arbolino must quarantine after “I had a very good start,” he as I can,” Mir said. “I’m happy to “It’s a pleasure to be on coming into contact with a fellow said. be on the podium.” podium with a second place,” passenger to Spain who tested Suzuki Ecstar’s Spanish The other Suzuki factory Frenchman Quartararo, who said Marquez. positive for the virus. rider Alex Rins celebrates rider Mir takes over the champi- started from pole, struggled and “Next week we will try Spaniard Jorge Martin, who on the podium after onship lead even though he has finished down in 18th place. harder.” rides in Moto2, missed two races winning the Aragon not won a MotoGP race. One of the riders attempting Six-time champion Marc in September after a positive test. MotoGP, yesterday. MONDAY 19 OCTOBER 2020 SPORT 11 Al Ahli extend unbeaten run as Al Gharafa Punjab prevail in clinch convincing win over Al Kharaitiyat double super-over THE PENINSULA – DOHA battle against MI Al Ahli maintained their unbeaten IANS – DUBAI run in the new QNB Stars League season when they blanked Al It took two Super Over deciders to decide who was the Sailiya 2-0 while Al Gharafa ‘king of Sunday evening.