Sports Sunday, March 10, 2019 19

Yamaha MotoGP’s rider Maverick Vinales of Spain on the way to clinching the first pole of the 2019 MotoGP season at the Yamaha MotoGP’s rider Maverick Vinales, who won the of the VisitQatar Grand Prix at Losail on Saturday, is Losail International Circuit on Saturday, ahead of the VisitQatar Grand Prix. (Photographs: Hanson K Joseph) flanked by second-placed Mission Winnow Ducati’s (left) and Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez, who was third. Vinales grabs Losail pole again This was the seventh Xavi Vierge, who was Dovizioso, Marquez fill up the upstaged by Schrotter late, career pole for the picked the second spot on the MotoGP front row; Lorenzo & Rossi Spaniard and a second front row for EG 0,0 Marc out of top 10 one in Qatar. He was the VDS. Lorenzo Baldassarri pole rider two years before completed an all-Kalex top and went on to win the row. Tribune News Network and was followed by Takaaki race as well. DOHA Nagagami (LCR Honda) and Canet fastest in Moto3 debutant Fabio Quartararo Scrotter gets Moto2 Aron Canet duly claimed Monster Energy Yamaha’s (Petronas Yamaha). pole with new record the first pole position of the Maverick Vinales dominated But with three minutes to Marcel Schrotter pulled season by continuing his the 15-minute shootout and go, Vinales severed 0.4s off off record lap to collect his strong pace in the Moto3. will proudly start the 2019 sea- his time to cement his posi- career’s maiden and 2019 sea- The Max Biaggi’s new Steril- son-opening VisitQatar Grand tion at the top further. He will son’s first Moto2 pole. The Dy- garda Max Racing Team rider Prix in the first spot at the Lo- be joined in the front row by navolt IntactGP rider clocked contrived 2m 05.883s on the sail International Circuit on world championship runner- 1m 58.585s on the Kalex for KTM for his first pole since Sunday. up Andrea Dovizioso and five- the new record in his last but Germany 2017. Also it was his This was the seventh ca- time world champion Mar- one lap on Saturday. fourth career pole. reer pole for the Spaniard and quez. a second one in Qatar. He was A pleased Vinales com- Visitqatar GP pole race the pole rider two years be- mented: “We were pretty good fore and went on to win the this weekend. I am grateful Qualifying 2 results: race as well. to my fast lap. Straight away 1. Maverick Viñales ESP Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) 1m 53.546s (Lap 6/7) 329km/h But the race organisers I hit 1:53. I am feeling very British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton (left) visited the Petronas Yamaha SRT pitbox at the Losail 2.Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP19) 1m 53.744s +0.198s (Lap 6/7) 342k may have to reconsider the good with my bike. In the sec- International Circuit on Saturday. (AFP) 3.Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 1m 53.745s +0.199s (Lap 7/7) 346k 4.Jack Miller AUS Pramac Ducati (Desmosedici GP19) 1m 53.809s +0.263s (Lap 6/6) 345k 8 pm race start time as there ond attack, I went all out and 5.Fabio Quartararo FRA Petronas Yamaha SRT (YZR-M1)* 1m 53.946s +0.400s (Lap 6/7) 335k were many crashes today, in- got the pole. very positive about the good of Miller before he hit the tar- Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) 6.Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 54.095s +0.549s (Lap 7/7) 346k cluding Repsol Honda pair of “My bike is pretty slow in results tomorrow,” added mac on Turn 2, with his last with 1:54.095. 7.Danilo Petrucci ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP19) 1m 54.200s +0.654s (Lap 7/7) 339k Jorge Lorenzo and reigning the last corner. I know that Vinales. lap. Lorenzo, who suffered two 8.Franco Morbidelli ITA Petronas Yamaha SRT (YZR-M1) 1m 54.236s +0.690s (Lap 7/7) 332k world champion Marc Mar- two of opponents make top Dovizioso got his best Quartararo, who shot crashes today, and Yamaha 9.Takaaki Nakagami JPN LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 54.239s +0.693s (Lap 3/7) 337k quez and Pramac Ducati’s speed on the straight. time in the sixth lap, which to second before Nagagami legend failed 10.Alex Rins ESP Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 54.257s +0.711s (Lap 7/7) 336k Jack Miller. “For the race, I have a was just 1m 53.744. And Mar- overtook him, continued his to make it to Q2, though the 11. SPA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 54.390s +0.844s (Lap 7/7) 339k Vinales clocked firstgood rhythm and I feel I can quez took up the third place, hot form and was fifth. The latter had topped the FP1 on 12.Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 54.917s +1.371s (Lap 3/7) 342k 1:53.844 midway of the Q2 reach 1:54 at the end. We’re which was in the possession second row was filled up by Friday. Sama Global Investment launches 2019 Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team

Qatar Ángel Nieto Team has two clear objectives: to be world champions once more and to develop young rid- ers for World Championship competition. Today we have presented a new partnership that is born through a blend of different cultures, aimed at bringing the best out of each other to achieve success. FIM President Jorge Viegas is being briefed about the small bikes by LCSC VP & GM Khalid al Remaihi as Sama Global Investment has QMMF President Abdulrahman al Mannai looks on. welcomed us with open arms and we want to repay the faith they have shown in us with some great results.” FIM boss Viegas impressed with The team will also contest the inaugural FIM Enel Mo- toE World Cup, a new series Qatar Motorsports Academy for electric motorcycles that will feature Angel Nieto Team Tribune News Network riders Nico Terol – the 125cc DOHA The bikes of the Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team on display. World Champion in 2011 – and the only female rider in Federation Internationale de Motorcy- Tribune News Network the paddock in Maria Her- clisme President Jorge Viegas was impressed Doha rera. when he undertook a visit to the recently-estab- Abdulla al Mutawaa, lished Qatar Motorsports Academy. As the 2019 MotoGP World Chairman, Sama Global In- Viegas is in Qatar for the 2019 MotoGP Championship fires into life vestment, said at the launch: season-opening VisitQatar Grand Prix. Accom- this weekend, the Angel Nieto “Sama Global Investment is panied by Losail Circuit Sports Club Vice-Pres- Team heads into the new sea- excited to partner with An- ident & General Manager Khalid al Remaihi son with extra force, thanks gel Nieto Team and supports and Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation to a new partnership with their goal of becoming world President Abdulrahman al Mannai, he, Dorna Sama Global Investment. champions. Sama Global In- CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and other FIM officials The partnership was officially vestment is keen to support visited the Losail International Circuit-based week. Those who are more talented and picking presented in Doha, in front and enhance Qatar’s vision to academy. up fast are given an extra class per week. of an illustrious audience in- become a centre of sports in Viegas is pleased with the efforts that are Besides basic instructions about how to cluding Losail Circuit Sports the world. being mounted by the QMMF and LIC to make handle the bike on track, the children are also Club Vice-President Road “Sama Global’s strategy is the sport grow and more popular. The QMA is taught about smart riding as well. Viegas ex- and General Manager Khaled to create lasting value for all also a part of the strategy to develop the riders pressed hopes that the QMA would soon start al Remaihi, as well as Sama its partners through a last- for the future. producing good riders capable of brining lau- Global Investment President ing investment horizon, dis- The QMA is a joint venture of LCSC, Dorna rels to Qatar. Abdullah al Mutawaa and ciplined development, and Sports and Aspire Academy and it was launched Besides Cardoso, reigning QSTK 600 cham- Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Sama Global Investment President Abdullah al Mutawaa and Jorge robust organisational cul- in November last year during the World Super- pion Saeed al Sulaiti is helping in coaching the Ezpeleta. Martinez “Aspar”, CEO of Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team, at the launch ture. This partnership rep- bike Championship at Losail. Under the super- youngsters. The QMMF is sending promising Integrity, teamwork, pas- of the team in Doha. resents another exciting op- vision of former MotoGP and WSBK rider Jose Yousuf al Darwish and Hamed Khamis to Eu- sion and respect are the val- portunity for our group and Luis Cardoso, the academy attracted an over- rope to improve themselves. Both Darwish and ues shared between the Angel will see Albert Arenas and board in Moto2. we are looking forward to whelming response from over 200 enthusiastic Khamis joined the academy and quickly showed Nieto Team and Sama Global, Raul Fernandez compete in Jorge Martinez “Aspar” spearheading this wonderful children aged between 8 and 16 years. their talent to impress the QMMF authorities. who are ready to embark on a the Moto3 class, with Jake (CEO Sama Qatar Angel Ni- journey together,” Mutawaa The academy provides both theoretical and After completion of their training, Darwish will new adventure together that Dixon and Xavi Cardelus on eto Team) said: “The Sama added. practical classes for beginners for four days a participate in several Moto4 events there.