TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016 SPORTS Lorenzo kicks off MotoGP 2016 test season on top

SEPANG: Reigning MotoGP World Yamaha. a second ahead of everyone,” a beam- fastest, 1.594 seconds off the pace. “We Stoner, 30, rejoins Ducati after a five- Champion Jorge Lorenzo riding a Rossi, the charismatic 36-year-old, ing Lorenzo told reporters. Spain’s Dani still have a (big) job to do, like being year spell with Honda, with whom he Yamaha was fastest on day one as the remains the biggest draw in MotoGP Pedrosa, racing a Honda, was third, able to accelerate out of a corner faster. won the 2011 world championship, four 2016 test season got off to a blistering and is eyeing a 10th world title this year 1.096 seconds slower than the 28-year- I am trying to learn how to ride with the years after his first title. start at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit yester- after losing out in 2015 to team-mate old Lorenzo. Michelin tyres,” he said at the end of the From Malaysia, MotoGP riders will day. Lorenzo amid an ugly rivalry. Italian Danilo Petrucci on a Ducati first of the three days of the test ses- head to Australia for three days at With the track temperature reaching Tyres and electronics are likely to be was fourth, 1.127 seconds slower than sion, which ends tomorrow. Phillip Island from February 17 to 19. 52 degrees Celsius, Lorenzo, chasing a the focus of this year’s season and Lorenzo. Fellow Italian Andrea Iannone Australia’s Casey Stoner, who won After the first two tests, the premier fourth MotoGP world championship Lorenzo said he was pleased with the on another Ducati was fifth at 2:01.912 the first of his two MotoGP world titles class will head to Qatar from the sec- title, overcame the tough conditions to way his new Michelin tyres were per- while Spaniard Hector Barbera, also rid- with Ducati, has returned to the Italian ond to fourth of March for their final clock 2min 00.684sec, 1.033 seconds forming. Michelin has replaced ing for Ducati, was sixth at 2:02.002. team for 2016 as a test rider and is official test. The MotoGP world cham- quicker than his Italian team-mate Bridgestone as MotoGP’s official tyre Honda’s double MotoGP World expected to race in Sepang again on pionship begins in Losail, Qatar, on Valentino Rossi, giving a strong start for supplier from 2016. “I can go fast. I was Champion Marc Marquez was seventh- Tuesday. March 17. —AFP

NASHVILLE: John Scott #28 of the Arizona Coyotes of the Pacific Division All-Stars NASHVILLE: John Scott #28 of the Arizona Coyotes celebrates after scoring a goal in the first period of the Western Conference Semifinal Game poses with his 2016 Honda Pilot as a reward for being named 2016 Honda NHL All- between the Central Division and the Pacific Division as part of the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Bridgestone Arena on Sunday in Star Game MVP in the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Final Game between the Eastern Nashville, Tennessee.— AFP Conference and the Western Conference at Bridgestone Arena. — AFP All-Star journeyman Scott steals the show

WASHINGTON: NHL journeyman enforcer taking part, he detailed in an essay on the the Montreal Canadiens, that sent him to his NO GOLDEN TICKET we think a lot of him.” A new event format John Scott, beloved by players and fans but Players Tribune website, citing one who asked current club, the developmental St. John’s “This isn’t ‘Charlie and the Chocolate saw four teams drawn by NHL divisions, unwanted by league officials, had the last him, “Do you think this is something your kids IceCaps in distant Newfoundland. Factory.’ I’m not some random person off with lineups playing 3-on-3 in two 20- laugh Sunday by taking Most Valuable Player would be proud of?” “While I don’t deserve to be an All-Star, I the street and I didn’t win a golden ticket to minute mini games and winners meeting in honors at the NHL All-Star Game. The 33-year- “That’s when they lost me. That was the also don’t think I deserve to be treated like I’ve ‘play hockey with the stars.’” the final. Scott scored twice for the Pacific old Canadian left wing, an unlikely write-in All- moment,” Scott wrote. “Because while I may been by the league throughout this saga,” Scott, a 6-foot-8 (2.03m) and 270 pound in a 9-6 victory over the Central divison to Star voted to the event by fans thanks largely not deserve to be an NHL All-Star, I know I Scott said. “When I’m on the ice or just the (120kg) man-mountain who typically keeps set up a winner-take-all match with the to an internet campaign, scored twice and was deserve to be the judge of what my kids will bench I make my teammates feel safe to do foes from manhandling skilled teammates, Atlantic stars, who beat the Metropolitan hoisted onto the shoulders of his superstar and won’t be proud of me for.” Scott skated what they do best.” has been defying the odds since youth side 4-3. teammates after helping the Pacific division with them on the ice after the game as his So it had to be a bodycheck to the NHL coaches told him he was too big and slow to Pacific right wing Corey Perry, a win the $1 million top prize up for grabs. “This pregnant wife Danielle cried. when commissioner Gary Bettman handed succeed. “To have Johnny play like he did Canadian who plays for Anaheim, scored has been great. You guys have blown me “I’m so amazed,” she said. “At first we didn’t Scott an oversized $1 million check on the ice. and show what kind of player he is, that’s a the only goal while goaltenders Jonathan away,” Scott told fans as they chanted “M-V-P” take it super seriously but when it started to “If the league thought this was an embarrass- great thing,” said Pacific defenseman Brett Quick and John Gibson blanked the Atlantic while every player tapped his stick on the ice come through we were really excited.” NHL ment, pretty much all of the players I’ve Burns, a Canadian backliner for San Jose. division in the 1-0 final. in tribute to an everyman living a career officials apparently feared ridicule to honor a encountered have thought otherwise. And “That was a special moment. That “It was the best possible outcome,” Scott moment. player with a mere five goals in 285 games that didn’t happen because of the internet. I showed a lot of people he has got great said. “Everybody had fun and we ended up NHL officials tried to discourage Scott from with six teams and a recent trade to a seventh, busted my ass to be one of them,” Scott wrote. skill. He just chooses to protect his guys and winning.” — AFP Murray insists he’s Djokovic names his 2016 not far off Djokovic MELBOURNE: Andy Murray insisted he coach-to lose five finals at the same wasn’t far away from matching Novak Grand Slam tournament. goal the Djoker Slam Djokovic despite his fourth defeat to the Murray lost to Roger Federer in the runaway world number one in the 2010 final, and he was also runner-up in MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic has a new goal more questions about whether his Grand Slam are out there fighting each week to get to No. 1 Australian Open final. 2011, 2013, 2015 and now 2016, watch- for the year. He calls it the Djoker Slam. The No. winning days have passed. Last year was the first are very hungry to get to No. 1,” he said. “I want Dad-to-be Murray paid the price for a ing Djokovic lift the winner’s trophy each 1-ranked player has one thing missing from his season since 2004 that Nadal did not win a to enjoy, and I will, but it’s not going to go for slow start as he went down 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 time. fast-growing collection of 11 Grand Slam tro- major title. more than a few days. After that, I’m already (7/3) in a one-sided men’s final Sunday His head-to-head record with the Serb phies. Throughout the tournament, Djokovic was thinking about how can I continue playing well which only underlined the Serb’s moves to 22-9 in Djokovic’s favour, “The French Open. It’s the one I never won,” repeatedly asked about the increasingly wide through the rest of the season at each tourna- supremacy. including 11 of their last 12 matches and Djokovic said early yesterday, after winning his gulf between him at No. 1 and the rest of the ment.” But Murray, before making a dash to their last four Grand Slam meetings, record sixth Australian Open, but already casting players. At his final news conference, Djokovic Returning to the metaphor, how hungry is the airport to fly home to his pregnant going back to Murray’s Wimbledon win an eye toward Paris. “I’ll try to put myself in a answered the question with a metaphor. the wolf for Paris, he was asked. wife, said he felt he remained in touch in 2013. position to get that trophy.” The wolf that is running up the hill is much “Very hungry,” Djokovic smiled. “But the wolf with Djokovic despite their widening Murray and Djokovic, both 28, were Djokovic’s relentless desire for tennis perfec- hungrier than the wolf standing at the top of the needs to eat a lot of different meals to get to head-to-head statistics. born a week apart and have known each tion has pushed him to a brilliant level, one that hill, Djokovic said. “I believe that all the guys that Paris. Paris is a dessert.” —AP “I don’t know how far off I was other since their junior days, and while was too high for Andy Murray who lost Sunday’s tonight. The first set, you know, I wasn’t they are both at the top of men’s tennis it final 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (3). The straight-sets win high- there, but the second and third sets I do is the Serb who has accelerated in front. lighted Djokovic’s dominance and Murray’s think were very close,” said the British Djokovic has 11 Grand Slam titles to shortcomings: the No. 2-ranked Murray has now world number two. Murray’s two, 61 career trophies to 35 played five finals in Melbourne and lost them all “I do think I could have played a bit and $97 million in prize money com- - including four to Djokovic. better. I didn’t think I hit my forehand as pared to $44 million for the Scot. It also stamped Djokovic’s imprint on the well as I could have done. When I did in However, it seemed to matter little to tournament, tying him with Roy Emerson for the the third set, that helped me out a lot. “I the Scot, whose first priority was catch- most singles titles in the event’s long history. was able to get myself into the net more. ing the first plane out of Melbourne to be Emerson played in the 1960s and won his I was able to play more offensive tennis reunited with his wife, Kim Sears. Australian titles in the amateur era. then. It has been a tough fortnight for Djokovic’s strong start to the season comes “I mean, most of the matches we Murray, who almost pulled out of the after a year that has been described as one of played in Slams I think have been com- tournament when his father-in-law Nigel the finest in tennis history. He finished 2015 at petitive. Whether that looks the same Sears, Ana Ivanovic’s coach, collapsed at No. 1 for the fourth time in five years. He won from the outside or not, I don’t know.” Rod Laver Arena last week. the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Murray’s latest defeat to Djokovic “I’m proud that I got into this position,” Open. made him only the second man in the Murray said. “Just quite looking forward He reached the final at the French Open, but Open era-after Ivan Lendl, his former to getting home now.” —AFP lost to Stan Wawrinka. It was his third runner-up trophy at Roland Garros. “Each year when I go back I feel like I’m a step closer,” Djokovic said UCI promises tough response during a TV interview after the final. He was asked, if he does win at the French and manage to motorised doping scandal to capture four consecutive major champi- onships, would he give it a name? On the PARIS: International cycling authorities enhancing drugs. It was only with the women’s side, Serena Williams has done it before have promised to step up testing for intervention of outside agencies in the and her feat was called the “Serena Slam.” mechanical doping after an electric 1990s that the culture and effectiveness “Djoker Slam. Not bad, I like that one,” said motor was found in an elite rider’s bike, of testing begin to change, culminating the 28-year-old Serbian, referring to his nick- signalling decisive action after struggling in Lance Armstrong being stripped of his name, the Djoker. “No doubt that I’m playing the for decades to combat illegal drug use. seven Tour de France titles in 2012. best tennis of my life in the last 15 months,” Stewards at the world cyclo-cross Cookson said the UCI was “trialling Djokovic said. “The results are showing that. I’m championships found the motor on new methods” to catch mechanical dop- just trying to keep it up.” Sunday in the bike of Belgian teenager ers, but declined to elaborate. The organ- With his 11th major title, Djokovic is steadily Femke Van den Driessche, the first such isation has previously used X-rays or dis- gaining on Rafael Nadal’s 14 and Roger Federer’s find during a competitive race. mantling bikes to look for the tiny record 17. The so-called Big Four of men’s tennis “We will be testing more bikes, more motors. - Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic - has been often,” International Cycling Union (UCI) They can be hidden in the downtube, looking more lopsided with Djokovic’s winning boss Brian Cookson said following the seat-tube or hub and drive the back record. He now leads the pack with head-to- discovery. “Our message to those choos- wheel to give riders a possible speed head wins over them all - Federer (23-22), Murray (22-9), Nadal (24-23). ing to cheat is that we will catch up with boost of about 4-5 kilometres (2-3 miles) In Melbourne, Djokovic beat Federer in you sooner or later.” per hour for up to an hour. A tiny battery MELBOURNE: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic poses for photos with his Australian Open trophy at straight sets in the semifinals before moving on For decades, cycling authorities did lit- can be activated from an easily disguised Government House in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. Djokovic defeated Britain’s Andy to Murray. Nadal lost in the first-round, raising tle to combat the use of performance- button on the handlebars.—Reuters Murray in the men’s final at the Australian Open tennis championships on Sunday.— AP