NBA | Page 5 CRICKET | Page 7 Pacers, Gambhir Bulls in shines as playoff s but KKR thrash Heat fall short Punjab Friday, April 14, 2017 FOOTBALL Rajab 17, 1438 AH Ronaldo nets 100th GULF TIMES European goal as Real win at Bayern SPORT Page 2 SPOTLIGHT Qatar sands set for thrilling battle on two wheels The three factory teams and eight professional riders, who dominated the deserts of the UAE last week, will all be present for the five-day second round of the FIM event The Monster Energy Honda Team is overdue a good result. A servicing error cost them dearly on the Dakar and an injury for Barreda Bort has not helped progress at the start of the season. That aside, Portugal’s Paulo Gonçalves is an experi- enced campaigner and led the recent Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge into the final morning before finishing fourth. He teams up with Argentina’s Kevin Benavides, who rode well in the UAE after a recent injury. Rafal Sonik in action in Qatar last year. Dakar champion Sam Sunderland will be the favourite in Qatar. By a correspondent ‘Sitting at home watching Dakar Doha was a really tough time for me mentally and physically. One year on and I come here as the he fascinating battle to de- Dakar champion and I have cide the winner of this year’s just won the Abu Dhabi Desert FIM Cross-Country Rallies Challenge. It’s quite unbelievable TWorld Championship heads really” to the deserts of Qatar next week, when the world’s leading desert riders will — Sam Sunderland, Dakar Rally go head-to-head at the Qatar Cross- champion Country Rally. Dakar champion Sam Sunderland dez Ponce, Guatamala’s Rodolfo Schip- leads the fi ve-round series after his tac- pers and Dutch rider Kees Koolen. tical victory at last week’s Abu Dhabi “The motorcycle and quad categories Desert Challenge. The Dubai-based off er some of the closest competition Briton will be hoping to repeat last year’s in cross-country rallying and tactics victory in Qatar to boost his points tally are often just as important as outright and extend the Red Bull KTM Factory speed,” said QMMF President Abdul- Team’s lead in the Manufacturers’ com- rahman al-Mannai. “We are delighted to petition. Paulo Goncalves see the top movers and shakers in both “I remember last year it was a lot disciplines preparing to take part in our of hard work over a period of about The Monster Energy Honda Team is event next week.” six months to come back after I broke overdue a good result. A servicing error Competition starts with a new my femur and missed the Dakar,” said cost them dearly on the Dakar and an 5.54km super special stage at Losail on Sunderland. “Sitting at home watch- injury for Barreda Bort has not helped Tuesday (April 18) within the confi nes of ing Dakar was a really tough time for progress at the start of the season. That the Losail motocross premises. Access is me mentally and physically. One year aside, Portugal’s Paulo Gonçalves is an free to spectators. on and I come here as the Dakar cham- experienced campaigner and led the pion and I have just won the Abu Dhabi recent Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Desert Challenge. It’s quite unbeliev- into the fi nal morning before fi nishing Championship – positions after able really.” The three factory teams and fourth. He teams up with Argentina’s round 1: eight professional riders, who dominat- Kevin Benavides, who rode well in the ed the deserts of the UAE last week, will UAE after a recent injury. Bikes all be present for the fi ve-day second Ride to Abu Dhabi Team’s Mohamed 1. Sam Sunderland (GBR) 30 pts round of the FIM event being staged by al-Balooshi was the highest of the non- 2. Pablo Quntanilla (CHI) 23 pts the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federa- professional riders at the opening round 3. Matthias Walker (AUT) 19 pts tion (QMMF). and the KTM rider is keen to better that 4. Paulo Gonçalves (PRT) 16 pts While present form may give Sun- seventh position now he has returned to 5. Pierre Alexander Renet (FRA) 15 pts derland the slight advantage, the Qa- full fi tness following a crash in Qatar last 6. Antoine Meo (FRA) 13 pts tar event is a totally diff erent prospect year. 7. Mohamed al-Balooshi (ARE) 12 pts to the dunes of Abu Dhabi. The event Vendetta Racing’s David McBride 8. Mohamed Jaff ar (ARE) 11 pts based at Losail takes place across much and David Mabbs and Qatar’s Ahmed al- 9. Adam Tomicek (POL) 10 pts more varied desert terrain, features Kuwari bolster a motorcycle entry that 10. David McBride (GBR) 9 pts, etc some dune sections and also rocky and also includes the Polish Orlen Team duo stony desert and winding and decep- of Adam Tomiczek and Maciej Giemza. Manufacturers tive tracks. There is far more emphasis Rafal Sonik has won the quad category 1. KTM 50 pts on navigation and reading the road book in Qatar on three occasions (2012, 2013 2. Husqvarna 38 pts accurately and even the slightest navi- and 2015), but the Pole admitted after 3. Honda 21 pts gational error can be very costly. the recent Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 4. Yamaha 5 pts Chile’s Pablo Quintanilla of the Rock- that pushing for another Quad World star Energy Husqvarna Team is the top Championship title would be very diffi - FIM Quads World Championship seed and defending FIM World Cham- cult after fuel and engine issues dropped 1. Fahad al-Musallam (KWT) 28 pts pion. The South American would love him to ninth at the opening round. 2. Kamil Wisniewski (POL) 23 pts to follow in the footsteps of Sunderland, Kuwait’s Fahad al-Musallam won the 3. Camilia Liparoti (ITA) 19 pts Marc Coma and Joan Barreda Bort and UAE event and leads the series by fi ve 4. Maxim Antimirov (KAZ) 16 pts reach the top step of the podium in Qa- points from Poland’s Kamil Wisniewski. 5. Alexis Hernandez Ponce (PER) 14 pts tar. While Sunderland has the talented The second member of the Sonik Team 6. Sergey Kistanov (KAZ) 13 pts Austrian Matthias Walkner and French- will not take part in the Qatar event this 7. Rodolfo Schippers (GUA) 12 pts man Antoine Meo as his side kicks in the coming week and Sonik faces a fascinat- 8. Kees Koolen (NLD) 11 pts KTM team, Frenchman Pierre Alexandre ing tussle with the likes of Argentina’s 9. Rafal Sonik (POL) 10 pts Renet lines up alongside Quintanilla. Lucas Innocente, Peru’s Alexis Hernan- 10. Khalifa al-Raeesi (ARE) 9 pts Gulf Times 2 Friday, April 14, 2017 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OPINION Bayern can still turn it around at Ronaldo hits 100th Real, says Ancelotti AFP at the Bernabeu – the last of Munich which was on penalties in 2011/12 after it fi nished 3-3 on aggregate. arlo Ancelotti insists Germany striker Thomas European goal as Bayern Munich can Mueller says the Bavarians still turn around their have the necessary belief. Champions League “We don’t need a football- Cquarter-fi nal tie at the Berna- ing miracle. The belief is still beu despite their 2-1 fi rst-leg strong, or we wouldn’t be FC defeat at home to Cristiano Bayern Munich,” he said. Ronaldo-inspired Real Madrid. “In my opinion, we didn’t Ronaldo netted his 100th have the 100 percent convic- Real win at Bayern European goal on Wednesday, tion that we are the better scoring both goals in Real’s 2-1 team.” comeback win at Bayern, who Winger Arjen Robben says ‘I don’t know who doubted me. The people who love Cristiano never had any doubts’ had Javi Martinez sent off . the Bavarians will have to raise The Bavarians now have it all their game having been out- to do for the return in Madrid played in the second half. Agencies next Tuesday. “We have to fi nd the ten to Munich Bayern should have been 2-0 fi fteen percent in Madrid that up at the break in Wednesday’s we lacked this time,” demand- fi rst-leg, but Arturo Vidal, ed Robben. ristiano Ronaldo netted who headed the hosts into a “We gave them too much his 100th European goal fi rst-half lead, skied a penalty. respect and had too little bite. on Wednesday to give The fi rst-leg turned after the You have to pick your chin up, holders Real Madrid a break as Ronaldo equalised, put the extra percent on it, C2-1 comeback win at 10-man then Real dominated Bayern and put in an outstanding per- Bayern Munich in the Cham- with the numerical advantage formance in Madrid.” pions League quarter-fi nal, and peppered the Bayern goal. Ancelotti hopes to have fi rst-leg. Real deserved the win which striker Robert Lewandowski, “I wanted to reach this record. Ronaldo sealed by reaching the who missed the fi rst leg with a To be able to reach this mark is 100-goal milestone on 77 bruised shoulder, and defender an honour and against a team minutes. Mats Hummels, ankle, back like Bayern it is even better,” Ro- It could have been a higher for the return. “We have six naldo, who scored both goals, score and Real captain Sergio days, we hope they will both be told BeIN Sport Spain.