Classic Williamson ton swings momentum New Zealand’s way PAGE 14 TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021 Attiyah goes ‘flat out’ to win second stage of Dakar Rally AGENCIES WADI AD-DAWASIR (SAUDI ARABIA) MUCH to his own statement about the second stage, which Nasser Al Attiyah said “mat- ters most” after a 10th place finish in the opening stage on Sunday, the ace Qatari rally driver bounced back in the second stage of Dakar Rally on Monday with a win. Attiyah, and his French co-driver Matthieu Baumel, won the second stage ahead of rivals Stephane Peterhan- sel, and Carlos Sainz, who had claimed the first stage. Second Stage Results From Bisha to Wadi ad-Dawasir: Auto POS. No DRIVE-TEAM MARK-MODEL TIME VARIATION PENALTY Good day 1. 301 (QAT) Nasser Al Attiyah (FRA) Matthieu Baumel Toyota Gazoo Racing 04h 03’ 14” -- -- It was a good day. Today we 2. 302 (FRA) Stephane Peterhansel (FRA) Edouard Boulanger X-Raid Mini JCW 04h 05’ 49” +02’ 35” -- went flat out and everything 3. 300 (ESP) Carlos Sainz (ESP) Lucas Cruz X-Raid Mini JCW 04H 12’ 31’’ +09’ 17’’ -- 4. 303 (SAU) Yazeed Al Rajhi (DEU) Zitzewitz Overdrive Toyota 04H 13’ 38’’ +00H 10’ 24” -- is working very, very well. 5. 308 (FRA) Mathieu Serradori (BEL) Fabian Lurquin SRT Racing 04H 13’ 41” +00H 10’ 27” -- The tyres were amazing and 6. 305 (FRA) Sebastian Loeb (MCO) Daniel Elena Bahrain Raid Xtreme 04H 20’ 07” +00H 16’ 53” -- the car too, the pace from 7. 339 (ZAF) Brian Baragwanath (ZAF) Taye Perry Century Racing 04H 22’ 35” +00H 19’ 21” 00H 02’ 00” start to finish, no mistakes 8. 307 (POL) Jakub Przygonski (DEU) Timo Gottschalk Orlen Team/Ooverdrive 04H 23’ 03” +00H 19’ 49” 00H 02’ 00” at all... there’s still a long 9. 317 (RUS) Vladimir Vasilyev (UKR) Dmitro Tsyro X-Raid Team 04H 23’ 52” +00H 20’ 38” -- way, but it’s a good start. Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah and his co-driver Mathieu Baumel of France 10. 306 (NLD) Bernhard Ten Brinke (BEL) Tom Colsoul Overdrve Toyota 04H 24’ 52” +00H 21’ 38” -- of Toyota Racing compete during Stage 2 of the Dakar Rally 2021 Moto Nasser Al Attiyah between Bisha and Wadi Ad-Dawasir in Saudi Arabia on Monday. (PIC: REDBULLCONTENTPOOL) 1. Joan Barreda Bort (ESP/Honda) 4h 17’56”, 2. Ricky Brabec (USA/Honda) at 3.55” The three-time winner 3. Pablo Quintanilla (CHL/Rockstar) 6.02”, 4. Ross Branch (BWA/Yamaha) 11.54”, 5. Jose Florimo (CHL/Honda) 12.06” of the Dakar Rally zoomed through the 457-kilometre stage from Bisha to Wadi ad- in the sand dunes. “It was the Coma in fourth position in the Dawasir in 4hr 03min 14secs first dunes, but also the car all-time ranking of special stage Walter Roelants of Belgium rides his to grab victory. was full of diesel which meant victories in the bike race. motorbike during the Stage 2 of “It was a good day,” said Al it was really heavy,” he said. Barreda said he had had no the Dakar Rally 2021 between Attiyah. “So, the priority was not to get option but “to push with eve- Bisha and Wadi Ad-Dawasir in “Yesterday we lost a lot of stuck. After that, I have to say rything – I put it all in today. Saudi Arabia on Monday. time because we opened the that we navigated well.” “Right now, everything is way and it was not really good In the motorbike category, perfect. for us and we didn’t take risks. Spain’s Joan Barreda took “Sure, tomorrow will be a “But today we went flat the second stage ahead of ti- long day and really hard again, out and everything is working tle holder Ricky Brabec of the but the race is like this. We need very, very well. The tyres were USA, who is also on a Honda. to keep calm and stay in front. amazing and the car too, the Brabec has a lot of time to For sure, there are still a lot of pace from start to finish, no claw back after trailing in al- kilometres to come and we will mistakes at all... there’s still a most 20 minutes behind Aus- try to keep riding, that’s all.” long way, but it’s a good start.” tralian Toby Price in Sunday’s Tuesday’s third stage sees The stage win moves Atti- first stage after losing his way competitors racing a loop yah to third overall, nine min- in the desert terrain. around Wadi ad-Dawasir, the utes adrift of Frenchman Pe- Having led from the first gateway to the Empty Quarter, terhansel, a 13-time winner of time check point, Barreda has a vast sand desert that covers the rally, who leads the overall dominated stage two to pick up much of the southern Arabian standings with Spaniard Sainz his 25th special stage victory on Peninsula. 6min 37sec behind. the Dakar and climb to the top The 403km special stage Peterhansel revealed his of the general standings, emu- is expected to have lot many fear of getting slowed down lating his countryman Marc sand dunes. F1 set to start season in Bahrain instead of Melbourne: Reports DPA with “curiosity and the joy of team and backed by Canadian BERLIN Coronavirus quarantine something new” after six years billionaire Lawrance Stroll, measures in Australia, at Ferrari during which he whose son Lance Stroll is the FORMULA One is likely to which have already led to failed to add to the four world team’s other driver. have to begin its 2021 season the Australian Open tennis titles he won with Red Bull Vettel said that Mercedes in Bahrain rather than Mel- being pushed back by 2010-2013. with record-equalling seven- bourne as planned, media re- three weeks until “The objective is com- time world champion Lewis ports said on Monday. February, look set to pletely different, namely to Hamilton remain the big fa- Coronavirus quarantine bring the team forward. I vourites for the new season measures in Australia, which affect the F1 race in build on my experience and which is to start in March in have already led to the Austral- Melbourne too. what I can do behind the Australia. ian Open tennis being pushed wheel,” Vettel said. He added that despite back by three weeks until Feb- Vettel doesn’t expect “I’m at a different stage Hamilton’s vast success and ruary, look set to affect the F1 guaranteed success at now. At a better stage, with F1 records he his idol and race in Melbourne too. new team Aston Martin more experience, with a clear- German compatriot Michael It had been slated to start Former world champion er vision than, for example, Schumacher remains the best a record-breaking 23-race Sebastian Vettel hopes that his when I was at Red Bull. driver of all time because “he season on March 21 but auto- new team Aston Martin can “I don’t expect any guar- could drive faster than anyone sport.com was among media be benefit from his experience antees of success in the future, else with the red car (Ferrari) outlets saying organizers were but expects hard work rather but a lot of hard work. We have and could perform to the max- now looking for a date later in than instant success at his new to use the spirit of optimism in imum in every race. the season. Formula One outfit. the team and at the same time “I am very happy that his F1 has not commented on Vettel told the Sportbuzzer try to get closer to success step son Mick is now driving in F1. the reports. portal in an interview pub- The opening round of the 2021 Formula 1 season in Australia is set to be postponed, according to reports. by step.” Aston Martin is the I will try to give him some- The Bahrain race is lished on Saturday that he The delay could force a re-shuffle of the calendar, as the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled for 28 March now rebranded Racing Point team, thing back of what Michael scheduled for March 28. approaches the new challenge looks poised to become the 2021 season-opener. now competing as a works gave to me.” Sports Tuesday, January 5, 2021 13 Al Duhail drawn to play Al Ahli in Amir Cup opener The 49th Amir Cup will kick off on January 25 with a match between Al Duhail and Al Ahli. The draw for the 16-team tournament was held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on Monday. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Ritz Carlton Hotel on Monday. have a date with Al Khor while ing and Communications, emony with the participation Al Wakrah, Al Arabi and Qa- The 2021 Amir Cup is be- DOHA In other fixtures, Qatar Al Arabi will go head-to-head QFA, Ali Hassan Al Salat, of club officials. tar SC were placed in Group A ginning earlier than usual SC will take on Al Shamal, Al with Umm Salal. Head of Communication De- The draw for the 49th Amir as they are the top eight sides keeping in view the interna- THE 49th Amir Cup will Wakrah will play Al Kharaiti- The dates will be con- partment, Ali Hammoud Al Cup is based on the rankings in from the first division. tional engagements of the na- kick off on January 25 with a yat and Al Rayyan will face off firmed later Nuaimi, Head of the Com- the QNB Stars League and the Al Ahli, Umm Salal, Al tional team.