Rea Rides Into History Books
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ZZZGLVVFRPTD 6$)(7<75$,1,1* 2BUBScT-BSHFTU4BGFUZ 5SBJOJOH$FOUFS 2YHU6DIHW\&RXUVHV 4XDOLILFDWLRQLQMXVWGD\V &ODVVURRP (/HDUQLQJ 'D\VD:HHN SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2017 ',66 LQIR#GLVVFRPTD N Zealand beat India in 2nd T20 Vandeweghe downs Barty Munro relishing opening role as Kiwis Number two-seed American to face Germany’s FOOTBALL EPL level series PAGE 23 Goerges in WTA Elite Trophy final PAGE 26 MAN CITY VS ARSENAL Rea rides into history books Kawasaki Racing’s World Superbike champion Rea makes a roar, breaks points record at Losail International Circuit VINAY NAYUDU DOHA SPELLBOUND WHEN Jonathan Rea arrived in Qatar four days ago, he had already won the World Super- I don’t have words to bike title for 2017, his third describe. I just want to and seemed completely at thank my family, my ease. There was only one thing team and most of all my though that could challenge rivals Chaz (Davies) and him more and that was con- Tom (Sykes) because quering the Losail Interna- they pushed me to tional Circuit where he hadn’t won even once since 2009. improve, gave me moti- On a super Saturday, Rea vation to work better, to changed all that and some get smarter. history too as the Northern Irishman not only emerged Jonathan Rea supreme in the desert in the finale – the 17th round of 2017 FIM Motul World Superbike Championship – but more importantly he beat the 15-year-old record of to- tal points, set by American Colin Edwards in 2002, with victory at the floodlit circuit in Doha. The 30-year-old Rea fin- ished with a whopping 556 points in the championship. He had claimed a historic third title in a row at Magny- Cours in France earlier this September. “I don’t have words to de- scribe. I just want to thank my family, my team and most of all my rivals Chaz (Davies) and Tom (Sykes) because they pushed me to improve, gave me motivation to work better, New record holder Jonathan Rea of Northern Ireland holds the new winning time as he is surrounded by fans and his Kawasaki Racing Team members after winning the World Superbike title in Losail on Saturday. to get smarter. I’ve really en- joyed it,” said the triple cham- RESULTS pion of his achievement. “I now want to get back WORLDSBK RACE 2 home and enjoy the moment 1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing) Time: 33:39.98 because these times don’t seconds 2. Chaz Davies (Racing Ducati Panigale) +1.961s come along every day. I want 3. Alex Lowes (Crescent Yamaha) R1 +4.185s to savour it with my family 4. Michael van der Mark (Yamaha)+5.843s and my team,” he added. 5. Xavi Fores (Barni Ducati Panigale) R +8.987s That was Rea’s - and his 6. Marco Melandri (Racing Ducati Panigale) +14.675s team Kawasaki’s - first cham- 7. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) +16.251s pionship win at the desert 8. Sylvain Guintoli (Kawasaki Puccetti) +19.675s circuit, and the world cham- 9. Leon Camier (Agusta RC) +20.607s pion’s 16th win of the season 10. Roman Ramos (Kawasaki Go Eleven) +20.628s 11. Raffaele De Rosa (BMW) +26.043s and 54th of his career taking 12. Jake Gagne (Red Bull Honda) +32.656s him into second position in 13. Alessandro Andreozzi (Yamaha( +41.197s the all-time winners list just 14. Ondrej Jezek (Grillini Kawasaki) +41.844s five behind Carl Fogarty. 15. Roberto Rolfo (Grillini Kawasaki) +47.116s 16. Jeremy Guarnoni (Pedercini Kawasaki) +2 laps The start to finish show of Rea was indeed overwhelm- Did not finish: Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia); Tom Sykes ing throughout the 17-laps (Kawasaki Racing); Jordi Torres (BMW) (91,460kms) race yet Brit Did not start: Davide Giugliano (Red Bull Honda ). Chaz Davies (of Aruba.it Rac- ing-Ducati) stayed at the heels of Rea and eventually finished 4.185secs behind the leader. runner-up 1.961secs behind. The Isle of Man-based Rea overtook Davies to as- rider Rea is now the most sume the lead on lap four and successful rider ever in the romped home to finish well series in terms of race wins, ahead of his rivals. two ahead of Australian Troy Another Englishman Alex Bayliss’s previous benchmark Lowes (Pata Yamaha team) of 52. joined the party on the po- Champion Jonathan Rea (centre) with Chaz Davies (left) and Alex Lowes on the podium after the World Champion Jonathan Rea powers his way to victory at the World Super- dium finishing third being Superbike title at the Losail International Circuit in Losail on Saturday. See also page 27 Ô bike title at the Losail International Circuit in Losail on Saturday. QMMF & LCSC announce 2nd season of Qatar Superstock 600 ter this season. “I would like to New category added to the championship thank my team who work very - QSTK Trophy hard for me. Every time I do well, it is because of the sup- port I have. I enjoyed myself in TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK attractions for this week. The the Supersport qualifying. I am DOHA organisation has been amaz- happy when I am on my bike. ing,” he said. I hope we can do better. I feel THE Qatar Motor and Mo- Talking about last year’s I can be better as I used just torcycle Federation(QMMF) season he said, “Last season one tyre. I want to thank the and Losail Circuit Sports Club was our first one with a new QMMF and the LCSC for their (LCSC) announced the second set-up. Everybody saw Saeed support.” season of Qatar Superstock al Sulaiti and Mashel al Naimi A new class for this season, 600 during the ACERBIS Qa- producing very exciting battles. QSTK Trophy, was also an- tar Round FIM Superbike This year we expect the cham- nounced on the occasion. This World Championship. pionship to be just as exciting. class will be open for those rid- The presentation was at- We cannot wait for the start of ers who achieve their best lap tended by Abdulrahman al the 2017-18 Championship and time 2.09 at the Losail Interna- Mannai, QMMF President, this is the perfect venue for it.” tional Circuit with a 600cc bike Khalid al Remaihi, LCSC Vice Remaihi said that the ma- or 2.07 with a 1000cc bike. President and General Man- jor objective of last season was Qatar Superstock 600 and ager, and Qatari riders, Saeed to get a quality set of riders. QSTK Trophy will consist of al Sulaiti (QSTK600 defend- “This year we want to build 5 rounds and both classes are ing champion) and Mishal al on the success of last season. open to international riders. Naimi (runner up). We had fun on track and in The deadline to register is De- The QMMF President the stands. Last year the com- Abdulrahman al Mannai, QMMF President, Khalid al Remaihi (second left), LCSC Vice President and General Manager (second right) and Qatari cember 3, 2017. took the opportunity to con- petition level was very high riders, Saeed al Sulaiti (QSTK600 defending champion) and Mishal al Naimi (runner up) during the press conference on Saturday. gratulate Losail Circuit Sports with the newcomers improved QATAR SUPERSTOCK 600 CALENDAR Official Practice: December 8th & 9th Club for organizing the Qatar dramatically. That is partly be- higher level,” said the LCSC son with Mishal. “To be honest, team for the way they set up the Mashel. We both were improv- Round 1: December 15th & 16th WorldSBK this week. “I think cause QMMF has developed a General Manager. I had a smooth ride as I had bike to suit my riding style. We ing. We managed lap times we Round 2: February 2nd & 3rd, 2018 LCSC have done a fantastic training program that is paral- Qatar Superstock Cham- decided that I would give it all. did it. Hopefully we can do well did not expect on a stock bike,” Round 3: February 16th & 17th, 2018 job hosting this event and they lel to the championship. We pion Saeed al Sulaiti expects I was surprised to see myself in the coming days and weeks. said Saeed. Round 4: March 15h, 16th & 17th, 2018 have stitched together added are bringing everybody to a another exciting battle this sea- do so well. I want to thank my I want to say ‘Thank you’ to Naimi hopes to do it bet- Round 5: 6th & 7th April 2018 Sports Sunday, November 5, 2017 27 Ribeiro brace floors Orange Fortress Striker hits two as Al Sailiya overcome Umm Salal 3-2 in QNB Stars League; Al Kharaitiyat, Al Arabi share the spoils TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK servative approach to the match DOHA nearly reap the rewards. In an eventful first half, it AL Sailiya recovered to secure was the hosts who had the up- a late 3-2 victory over 10-man per hand, creating some excep- Umm Salal, thanks to a double tional chances that they were from Wagner Ribeiro at the Al unable to convert, with Rachid Ahli Stadium on Saturday. Tiberkanine being at the heart The game started cautiously of much of them. and it was not until the 36th His first chance came as he minute that the deadlock was met a chipped pass and from broken by Al Sailiya playmaker close range was denied by an ex- Al Ali whose spectacular shot cellent stop from the The Dream from a tight angle found its way Team’s goalkeeper Muhammad into the corner of the net. Naim. The hosts thought they Umm Salal had been slow had the opener as Tiberkanine to get going, but turned things this time found himself through around very quickly in the sec- on goal and, after rounding the ond half, thanks to a towering goalkeeper, somehow missed header from Youcef Sekour as the target from close.