Sports Wednesday, July 1, 2020 13 Dennis Foggia shows amazing speed, wins Losail thriller

laiti and led him by plus one and Foggia continued at the Results Grand Final (15 laps, Losail International Circuit, Qatar) Al Sulaiti, Sheikh second in the sixth. For the front and went on to defend first time, the margin grew be- the lead, winning the race by # Rider Team Time Soud push QMMF tween them to 1.5 seconds in 0.571 margin. Sheikh Soud, 1 7 Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) 28:58.851 the 10th lap and despite best just behind them, provided a 2 11 Saeed Al Sulaiti (QMMF) +0.571 Team to victory of his efforts, Al Sulaiti was not pulsating slipstream drama against Leopard able to dislodge Foggia off the and passed Porta just before 3 97 Sheikh Soud Al Thani (QMMF) +21.277 P1. The fight suddenly jumped the line to bag the third spot 4 48 Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) +21.299 Racing by 44 points to another level when by two hundredths of a second the last two laps much to the delights of the 5 71 Hamad Al Sahouti (QMMF) nC Tribune News Network were left. hosts QMMF. 6 42 Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) nC DOHA Al Sulaiti Hamad Al Sahouti was * 90 Sheikh Jassim Al Thani (QMMF) mounted a sharp fifth ahead of Marcos Ram- Teenaged Moto3 Leop- attack and would irez and Sheikh Jassim * No points for extra rider ard Racing rider Dennis Fog- have overtaken Al Thani’s seventh place Riders’ standings (after six races) gia repulsed animated bids Foggia before the T1 was not counted towards by QMMF Team’s spearhead of the final lap. the team’s points as he # Rider Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Total Saeed Al Sulaiti and claimed But he was an extra 1 11 Saeed Al Sulaiti (QMMF) 40 36 40 40 40 36 232 the sixth and last race in a QMMF Team’s star performers Saeed Al Sulaiti (left) and Sheikh Soud went rider for the 2 97 Sheikh Soud Al Thani (QMMF) 36 31 36 0 36 33 172 virtual duel between the two Al Thani. wide QMMF teams at the floodlit Losail In- Team. 3 42 Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) 0 30 33 31 31 29 154 ternational Circuit on Monday. in Qatar earlier this year, while tipped to cap his display with 4 7 Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) 0 0 0 29 33 40 102 The 19-year-old Foggia, his teammate Enea Bastianini another triumph. continuing his surge, upped his clinched the third spot behind There was however an ex- 5 43 Xavi Artigas (Leopard Racing) 33 33 30 0 0 0 96 game and first grabbed the pole winner Tetsuta Nagashima citing early exchange of sting- 6 90 Sheikh Jassim Al Thani (QMMF) 0 29 0 30 29 0 88 position ahead of Al Sulaiti, the and Lorenzo Baldassarri, the ing moves and counter-moves winner in four races, by 0.033 runner-up. between QORC Moto winner 7 5 Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) 31 27 29 0 0 0 87 of a second. Then he brushed The QMMF Team, driven Al Sulaiti and Foggia, who off numerous attempts by Al by Al Sulaiti’s huge contribu- was ninth in the Moto3 race 8 52 Danny (Leopard Racing) 0 40 0 33 0 0 73 Sulaiti during the race, espe- tion of 232 points, amassed 617 in Qatar in the coronavirus-hit 9 8 Abdulla Al Qubaisi (QMMF) 0 0 31 36 0 0 67 cially in the final two laps, be- in the SIM racing series and 2020 season. The lead changed fore taking his bike past the fin- defeated the rivals by a good hands and the pace set by them 10 48 Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) 0 0 0 0 30 31 61 ish line half a second quicker. margin of 44 points. began to prove a bit too hot to 11 71 Hamad Al Sahouti (QMMF) 0 28 0 0 0 30 58 Third place went to QMMF’s For the home finale, Al Su- match for the rest. In the fifth Sheikh Soud Al Thani, who laiti was red hot favourite af- lap, Al Sulaiti came within beat Lorenzo Dalla Porta by ter taking four victories in five three tenths of a second to Leopard Racing’s # TEAMS’ STANDINGS R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Total two hundredths of a second. races. In fact, even the race that catch Foggia, who was sixth in Dennis Foggia: 1 QMMF 76 124 107 106 105 99 617 Porta was the 2019 Moto3 he did not win, he was second. his first race and improved it to Tastes victory in 2 Leopard Racing 64 130 92 93 94 100 573 world champion and moved With his vanquisher Danny third in the second race. virtual race in to the intermediate class for Kent, the ex-Moto3 world Foggia however managed Losail. QORC Observer: Omar Aswat Italtrans Racing Team of Italy. champion not returning for the to maintain both focus and Timekeeping Officer: Aaron Limbago He was 24th in his debut race last race, Al Sulaiti was heavily pace to stay ahead of Al Su- Saeed Al Sulaiti game for Silverwood backs ‘talisman’ Stokes to lead from the front be England’s wicketkeeper Root to miss the next week, rather than Jon- future in SIM racing ny Bairstow or Ben Foakes. opening Windies The warm-up game Raajiv Tripathi crashed. I finished second. will involve 27 members of DOHA “And then in Losail, I’d put Test match England’s 30-man train- in one of my best efforts of the ing squad, with uncapped Three-time QSTK600 SIM racing. There were some AFP bowlers Jamie Overton and winner Saeed Al Sulaiti has a moments during the race London Amar Virdi missing out strong belief that he can have a when I felt I could overtake along with Root. bright future in e-Racing. him but it was not possible. England coach Chris National selector Ed After leading the QMMF Foggia also raced quite amaz- Silverwood is confident Smith is set to announce Team to a massive 44-point ingly, I must add. I regret that “talisman” will a slimmed down England victory against three-time could not pull it off and but lead from the front in Joe squad on Saturday for the Moto3 world champions I’m contented with the second Root’s absence during next behind-closed-doors series. Leopard Racing with four spot. week’s first Test against the Among some of the se- wins in six virtual races, the “So considering that I did West Indies. lection issues still to be ex-World Superbike Champi- Saeed Al Sulaiti not finish lower than second in Stokes is set to clarified are the top four, onship racer said: “I believe any race, it is a satisfying feel- England for the first time the first-choice spinner and that I can have a good future. I or time to do virtual racing, I ing for my level and skills,” Al after it was confirmed on the composition of the fast- always liked to play the virtual would give it my shot, I how- Sulaiti said. Tuesday that regular skipper In this file photo taken on August 16, 2019, England’s captain bowling attack. racing. Initially through simu- ever feel deep inside my heart, Talking about the team’s Root would miss the series (left) talks to teammate Ben Stokes on the third day of the second The top-order rivals are lation racing, I learnt about I’ll stick to real life racing. This performance and the victory, opener at the Ageas Bowl to Ashes Test match at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. (AFP) divided between the two various tracks and how to get fun is really matchless,” he he said, “I enjoyed racing be with his wife Carrie, who sides, Dom Sibley and Zak the racing lines correct. added. against Leopard riders and is expecting the couple’s sec- job. He is a talisman, he ly there is a good cricket Crawley in one team and “Slowly, I invested a lot of Al Sulaiti was delighted it was a big fun. Sheikh Soud ond child later this week. leads from the front any- brain in there as well.” and Joe Denly in time and my level improved a to assist the QMMF Team and I tried to do well for the Under health protocols way,” Silverwood told a con- England hope to have the other. lot. I truly loved e-Racing but win the digital battle against team and it helped us win the for the series, Root will be- ference call on Tuesday. Root back in time for the and Jack Leach I never thought to be so good Leopard Racing, one of the championship. This was what gin a seven-day self-isola- “He’s conscious of the second Test at Old Trafford will be in Team Stokes, with at it. Take the Losail race as an best bike racing talent feeder we were aiming for. tion period at home once he people around him as well so starting on July 16. fellow spinners Dom Bess example, the lap times of mine teams in the world. “I am very “I am very happy to con- leaves hospital with his fam- I think he’ll do a great job in But he will miss Eng- and Matt Parkinson repre- and winner Dennis Foggia happy with four wins out of six tribute and bring the champi- ily, in a measure designed to Rooty’s absence.” land’s lone warm-up match senting Team Buttler. ranked among the top five on races. Still I have one regret onship home. I led the rider’s combat the spread of coro- Former England pace- ahead of the series, a three- “You know the people the global leaderboard, which that I could not make it six out classification by a huge mar- navirus. man Silverwood added: “It day intra-squad clash at the who are the mainstay of is fantastic for me,” he added. of six. I know my level, which gin. I am very delighted with That means vice-captain will be interesting to see Ageas Bowl starting Wednes- our side, the engine room, “If I get a chance and good is good. In the second race at my performance and I will be Stokes, who has not led a what he does because obvi- day, between a side led by but this is a great opportu- backing, I’d love to build my the Red Bull Ring in Austria, I looking forward to more such cricket team since he was a ously it is his first time cap- Stokes and a team skippered nity for some of the other future in the SIM racing. And was chasing Danny Kent hotly. races until the life becomes teenager, is set to be their taining England. by Jos Buttler, who will dep- players to show us what they whenever I get an opportunity I lost the balance suddenly and normal,” he said. skipper for the first Test. “We know he has got an utise as vice-captain. can do in this game,” said “I think he’ll do a great aggressive nature but equal- That suggests Buttler will Silverwood.

Australia still Lakers set to sign guard JR Smith eyeing one-day Pak cricket contingent in UK England tour: Finch TCA/ DPA earlier than 9 am on July 1. COVID-19 testing that follows tests negative for coronavirus Los Angeles In order to be able to join the same protocol the rest of AFP the team, replacement players the team had to follow. Sydney The Lakers are working to must follow a protocol to en- Lakers players were admin- AFP successive negative COVID-19 They will not be allowed sign guard JR Smith for the sure their ability to safely join istered drive-up tests for both Australia are still prepar- London tests. to travel to England until they rest of the season, according a team at the secluded ESPN the virus and its antibodies on ing to tour England, white-ball But the other four of the 10 have recorded two consecutive to people familiar with the Wide World of Sports campus June 23. cricket captain Aaron Finch said All 20 players and 11 man- players who originally tested negative tests. situation, which would reu- next month. Teams have until July 1 to on Tuesday, even as the pan- agement personnel in the positive for the virus last week Pakistan will play three nite LeBron James with his According to the league’s finalize their rosters and travel demic forced the postponement Pakistan touring party have will have to stay in Pakistan for Tests and three in- former Cleveland teammate health and safety manual, any party, which can include 35 of a series against Zimbabwe tested negative for coronavi- now after failing further tests. ternationals against England as the Lakers head to Florida player signed to a contract af- people, for the league’s return slated for August. rus since arriving in Britain, Mohammad Hafeez, Wa- starting in August, with the ex- for the resumption of the ter June 23 has to com- to play. The Lakers first of eight The team were “conscious the England and Wales Cricket hab Riaz, Mohammad Has- act dates still to be confirmed. NBA season. plete a questionnaire games before the playoffs will of being ultra-flexible” under Board said on Tuesday. nain, Shadab Khan, Moham- The Pakistan squad arrived Smith, 34, will be added about his medical his- take place on July 30 against the coronavirus restrictions but The ECB added that Eng- mad Rizwan and Fakhar in England late Sunday and to replace Avery Bradley, tory, be examined by the Clippers and will be tel- were still mentally preparing to land’s latest round of tests, for Zaman are now eligible to have started a 14-day manda- who decided to not join team doctors who will evised on TNT at 6 pm. head to England for a planned their training group and man- travel to England and join tory quarantine period before the team in Florida because review whether or not The first round of the limited-overs tour, Finch said. agement conducted on Mon- the original squad that left on intra-squad practice games. of family reasons. Once he is at risk of com- playoffs will begin August 17. “As a player I know that in day had also yielded a com- Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket A 30-strong England Bradley is officially plications Teams will be sequestered in my mind I am preparing to go to plete set of negative results. Board said. squad and support staff are listed as a player because their hotels and on the ESPN England and play. Whether that England players and staff “All the six players were currently in a bio-secure train- who opted out of COV- Wide World of Sports campus happens -- we’ll wait and see,” have now had three COVID-19 re-tested on Monday, follow- ing camp at the Ageas Bowl of the league’s ID-19 for as long as they play. The last he said Even in Australia, which tests. ing their first negative test on ahead of next week’s opening resumption, and un- possible day of the NBA Finals has dealt well in suppressing the The ECB’s announcement June 26,” the PCB confirmed. Test against the West Indies. the team can dergo is October 13. virus, the recent spike of cases followed a statement from However, Imran Khan, This first fixture in the add Smith as a in Melbourne was proof play- Pakistan that six more play- Kashif Bhatti, Haider Ali and three-match series will mark replacement Guard JR Smith: Likely to team up with ers could never be certain when ers had been cleared to join Haris Rauf tested positive for the return of major interna- player - no Lakers’ star LeBron James. they would play again, he added. the tour after recording two a second time. tional cricket from lockdown.