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TUESDAY 6 APRIL 2021 AlA Sadd, Al Rayyan set for ‘Qatar Clasico’ We have already won the league but we want to end the season withoutw a loss with two games remaining. Our mission is very difficult becauseb we play with Al Rayyan first and then Qatar Sports Club. And bboth of them are still competing for the AFC Champions League posi- tionst for the next season so it will be complicated and difficult.

Xavi Hernandez Sport | 11

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES: QUARTER-FINALS Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid vs Liverpool (10:00pm) ‘Fabulous’ MotoGP double-header in Qatar delights global bike family

RIZWAN REHMAT everything right. Qatar is not just was extremely happy with the show. THE PENINSULA doing circuit racing. Qatar is doing off- He watched the race with FIFA Pres- In the minds of the Dorna and FIM, road events also. QMMF President ident Gianni Infantino. FIM President Jorge Viegas yesterday Abdulrahman Al Mannai is now a applauded Qatar for conducting ‘two we always wanted to compensate board member in FIM after being Q: How many TV viewers successful’ Grands Prix to kick start the Qatar for not having their race last elected in January. I come to Qatar to watched the races staged in Qatar? new MotoGP season on time this year. year. So the best way to compensate develop motor sports. A: We are close to matching Last year, Qatar's iconic Losail He’s very helpful. He’s doing a Formula One’s stats (in live TV International Circuit (LIC) was set to Qatar was to have a double Grand great job. Qatar riders have to start audience). We are getting almost the open the 2020 MotoGP season when Prix this year. This was welcomed by very young. You have all the condi- same numbers. Maybe we reached 600 the COVID-19 situation disrupted the Qatari government and it was a big tions to start young. You saw Fabio million homes. This is a huge number. international sports calendar around success: FIM President Jorge Viegas Quartararo win the MotoGP here. I We made good promotion of Qatar the world. As a result, the opening used to give him awards when he won through these two races. It showed the round of the 2020 season in Qatar was races when he was 10, 11 or 12. You world how Qatar welcomed the MotoGP cancelled. have to start young. They are doing a family. I have been coming to Qatar for However, over two back-to-back lot of work at the circuit. They are many years. The Qatar of today is com- weekends, LIC hosted riders for two weeks ago. Most got the shots then. constructing three new buildings. pletely different from what it was 20 opening rounds of the 2021 season to Some are waiting to get their second They will have the new asphalt around years ago. The country’s infrastructure lift the mood in the MotoGP camp. shots after the race. They will get the the circuit. There are plenty of devel- is world-class. You have good trans- Here are excerpts from a Q&A shots and then leave Qatar today or opments taking place. Everything is portation, you have very nice roads, you session with the FIM President: Qatar for not having their race last tomorrow. working perfectly. The new LED have incredible stadiums. That’s enough year. So the best way to compensate lighting is fabulous too. Qatar's Prime to get visitors here. And that museum Q: How did it feel to see last Qatar was to have a double Grand Prix Q: How do you see Qatar’s motor Minister loves motor sports. He went – the National Museum of Qatar – is year’s Grand Prix in Qatar this year. sport culture evolving over time? to meet the riders when he came to something out of this world. Qatar has cancelled? This was welcomed by Qatari gov- A: I think Qatar is doing watch the races. The Prime Minister invested wisely. A: One year ago, I came here but ernment and it was a big success. I am unfortunately we could not have the very happy to see start the season with Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's French rider Fabio Quartararo celebrates after winning the MotoGP race. It was the beginning of fabulous races in Qatar. We enforced Tissot MotoGP Grand Prix of Doha at the Losail International Circuit, on Sunday. PIC: MOTOGP the pandemic. Qatar authorities a strict plan that we call the bubble. accepted to host Moto2 and Moto3 as The people of MotoGP were completely the riders of those two classes were separated from the normal guests at already here and we hosted their races. the Ritz Carlton. There were no pos- Then we got information that things itive cases while we were here. We got bad in countries like Italy. So the safely conducted two races in two race in Qatar was cancelled. The pad- weeks. docks were empty and it felt strange. Q: How did MotoGP react to Q: How do you see the last four Qatar’s offer of vaccinating riders weeks of testing and racing in Qatar? and team officials coming into the A: In the minds of the Dorna and country? FIM, we always wanted to compensate A: I had the opportunity to thank the Prime Minister of Qatar (for offering vaccine to entire MotoGP family on their arrival in Qatar) when I had the opportunity to thank the he came to watch the races. It was Prime Minister of Qatar (for offering really very helpful. It was a great gift from Qatar government to the MotoGP vaccine to entire MotoGP family on family. their arrival in Qatar) when he came Few months ago I had spoken to to watch the races. It was really very (Dorna chief) Carmelo Ezpeleta to see if Qatar government could give vac- helpful. It was a great gift from cines to everybody. We knew that if Qatar government to the MotoGP everybody was vaccinated it would family: FIM President be great. And here we are, everybody is vaccinated. The MotoGP family was here for the testing three or four 8.928 seconds: MotoGP’s closest Mir accuses Miller of ever top 15 recorded at Losail intentional collision

MOTOGP – DOHA FIVE CLOSEST TOP 15 very competitive machinery for the FINISHES IN HISTORY: best riders in the world to challenge on Doha GP straight The Tissot Grand Prix of Doha will go 1. 2021 Grand Prix of Doha (8.928 seconds) each other on, creating an even greater down as an instant classic as we 2. 2019 Grand Prix of Qatar (15.093s) spectacle than we had before. And REUTERS – DOHA witness history unfold again in Doha. 3. 2020 Aragon Grand Prix (15.941s) that’s saying something. In a breath-taking MotoGP contest 4. 2018 Dutch Grand Prix (16.043s) At the opening two Grands Prix this Defending MotoGP world champion Joan won by Monster Energy Yamaha year, we’ve been treated to the first Mir (pictured) of Suzuki described Ducati 5. 2021 Grand Prix of Qatar (16.422s) MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo, the Tissot and fifth closest top 15 finishes in rider Jack Miller’s overtaking manoeuvre Grand Prix of Doha now sits as hosting history. on the straight as “super dangerous” after the closest top 15 finish in history. The point scorers flash across the line in The gap between Qatar GP winner the two riders clashed and made contact at Losail International Circuit has a habit under nine seconds is genuinely ridic- Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy the Doha Grand Prix on Sunday. of creating close finishes, but this time ulous, once again showcasing just how Yamaha MotoGP) and Jorge Martin Miller and Mir clashed twice in the mid- around was on a different scale. incredible Grand Prix motorcycle (Pramac Racing) was 16.422 seconds, field, first when Mir bumped Miller wide 8.928 seconds. That was the racing is in 2021. just under fourth tenths bigger than before the Australian barged him aside with margin between Quartararo and To make it even more special, the 2018 Dutch GP won by Marc his shoulder on the straight as they com- Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory every manufacturer was inside the top Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). peted for position. Racing) in a ferocious race under the 15 and to be even more specific, 6.063 It’s safe to say MotoGP has “We both touched a bit, then I picked up lights, a gap that easily beats the pre- seconds was the gap between Yamaha, returned with an big bang in 2021, the bike. It was a manoeuvre that I under- vious record of 15.093 seconds also at Ducati, Suzuki, KTM, Aprilia and and long may we continue to witness stand was risky, but was not over the limit... the Losail International Circuit. Honda in Doha. some of the closest racing on the I moved my leg to apologise because I 42 minutes of racing to see the All six manufacturers have built planet. couldn’t avoid it,” Mir told reporters. “And then in the same lap I was wide in the last corner, and when I came back I saw Jack and he was moving the head like he saw me. I just went to the kerb and he just came across over me and we both touched. “We almost crashed on the straight, so I think it was super risky, it was a super dangerous manoeuvre... I think that was intentional.” The incident was reviewed by MotoGP stewards during the race and they announced that no further action was taken. Both Mir and Miller dropped out of the top six as a result of the collision to finish seventh and ninth, respectively. “There was few contacts but, it was the way that the race was going, seemed to be a bit of contact here and there. It was just one of those things,” Miller said. “We’ve both seen what happened... and we continued to race after that, so not much really on that side of things. I got hit, I think three times already before.” TUESDAY 6 APRIL 2021 SPORT 11

'Wolves' look to stay unbeaten as 'Lions' eye turnaround Al Sadd, Al Rayyan set for ‘Qatar Clasico’

FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA QSL: ROUND 21

TODAY The QNB Stars League’s (QSL) games between Al Sadd and Al 6:15pm: Qatar SC vs Rayyan - dubbed the ‘Qatar Al Ahli at Clasico’ - have always grabbed Al Sadd Stadium a lot of attention of fans and 8:30pm: Al Sadd vs Al players and it will be the same Rayyan at when the two Qatar football Al Sadd Stadium giants square off today. Although, Hernandez- 8:30pm: Al Khor vs coached Al Sadd have already Al Duhail at Al Ahli Stadium sealed the QSL title, there is still plenty at stake for the arch- TOMORROW rivals in their Round 21 clash, 6:15pm: Umm Salal vs which will kick off at 8:30pm at Al Sailiya at Al Ahli Stadium Al Sadd Stadium. 8:30pm: Al Arabi vs Al Xavi, whose team is yet to be Kharaitiyat at Al Ahli defeated and have 54 points (17 victories and three draws) so far, Stadium wants to stay unbeaten to mark a memorable QSL season. Al Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez (left) and Al Rayyan coach Laurent Blanc speak to media ahead Rayyan, coached by Frenchman of ‘Qatar Clasico’ yesterday. The match will kick off at 8:30pm. Laurent Blanc, have to maintain their third position after Al Duhail League positions for the next “The victory over Al Kharaitiyat sealed the second place in the season so it will be complicated that helped us get back into the previous round. and difficult,” Xavi added. We have already won the top-four bracket is a strong The Lions, who suffered a He expected Al Rayyan to motivation for us to be on the couple of upsets – a loss to Al bounce back strongly after a league but we want to end winning path and end the Sailiya in the Ooredoo Cup and shock defeat to Umm Salal. the season without a loss season in the best way. Now a defeat to Umm Salal in last “Al Rayyan have a very good with two games remaining. everything is in our hands and QSL round – recently are also team and they have changed a we are hopeful of finishing the under pressure to make a strong lot better with the new coach. season in the top four.” comeback. They have 34 points They lost their last match Xavi Hernandez Qatar SC coach Younes Ali with Al Ahli (32 points) and against Umm Salal but we are Al Sadd coach said yesterday: “We realise the Qatar SC (31 points) threatening expecting a lot of difficulties in importance of the match, so our to snatch their third spot. the next match,” he said. preparations were done with Xavi, meanwhile, ruled out Also speaking to reporters many games. For me, I am great energy to score a victory any chance of complacency yesterday, Blanc said he enjoys happy when I play against the and all of us in the team family from the title holders against Al games against Al Sadd. best team and the best players will fight it out to achieve what Rayyan. “They are the best team in and I hope that this is a strong we want.” “We have already won the the league. Preparing for this motivation for the players. In “We were somewhat league but we want to end the match after losing the last two the last two games, we lost affected by the absence of a season without a loss with two matches will call for a special power especially in set balls so number of our players in our games remaining,” the Bar- effort and we have to prepare I want to see my players doing previous match against Al celona legend told a pre-match differently,” the Frenchman said well in this match,” said Blanc. Sailiya and full-strength squad press conference yesterday. during a press conference. In other intriguing match now will have a positive impact. “Our mission is very difficult “I think that playing against earlier today, Qatar SC will take It is a morale booster ahead of because we play with Al Rayyan Al Sadd is an additional moti- on Al Ahli at the same venue as the match,” he added. Al Rayyan prepare for first and then Qatar Sports Club. vation for my team. Everyone both the teams are aiming for a Al Duhail will meet Al Khor ‘Qatar Clasico’. And both of them are still com- knows that Al Sadd are a top-four finish. Al Ahli coach in today’s other match at Al Ahli peting for the AFC Champions champion side who have won Nebojsa Jovovic said yesterday: Stadium. Champions League: Real seek respect entering quarter-final against Liverpool

AP — MADRID before that. And even after it we have the right to be Zidane will also be without made it to the last eight this respected,” Real Madrid defender Eden Hazard. The , Real Madrid want some respect. season, it hasn’t attracted a lot of Nacho Fernández said. “We who knows Liverpool well from The 13-time Champions League attention as a top favorite for the deserve to be respected and we his time at Chelsea in the Premier winner have rarely been talked title. deserve the opportunity to fight League, is not fully fit following about as a top contender this “We can’t change that,” for the Spanish league and for the another of his many injuries this season, and coach said. Champions League.” season. Zidane and his players don’t hide “All we can do is keep Madrid’s slump in the Cham- “It’s important that he is at the chip on their shoulders working hard. This team can pions League coincided with the ease with his return and that he entering today’s quarter-final overcome many things, it’s what departure of Cristiano Ronaldo recovers fully,” Zidane said. “We against Liverpool. is good about this club. We never to Juventus, which happened are not going to take any risks. If “Yes, I think it’s true that we take anything for granted. As long after Madrid beat Liverpool in the the player is well, we want him have been (undervalued),” Zidane as there’s hope, there’s life. We 2018 Champions League final. in the team. We will take things said yesterday ahead of the first are alive in both competitions and “Since that final Liverpool has slowly with Eden.” leg in Madrid. we will keep fighting and won a Champions League title Zidane said Liverpool remains “We deserve more. I have a working hard until the end.” and we lost Cristiano Ronaldo, a dangerous opponent despite its lot of faith in my squad. I know Madrid was also counted out but there’s not a lot of difference recent struggles in the Premier what it is capable of.” of the Spanish league until between the teams,” Fernández League. After consecutive elimina- recently, but it enters the com- said. “We’ve already shown our “Liverpool is a very complete tions in the round of 16 of the petition’s final stretch only three worth over the