Sport

SUNDAY 6 JUNE 2021

LeclercLeclerc ono pole in Baku after crash-hit qualifying

I think we would have been there or thereabouts for pole wwithout the slipstream, so it’s a good day. I did not expect to bbe as competitive as we were today. I think it’s going to be dif- fficult to keep these two behind me.

Charles Leclerc Sport | 18

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Niger 0-2 Gambia, Ivory Coast 2-1 Burkina Faso, Wales 0-0 Albania, Russia 1-0 Bulgaria, Guinea 0-2 Togo Sheikh Joaan attends FINA General Congress

QNA – DOHA Dr. Maglione honoured Sheikh Joaan in appreciation of the his support In the presence of H E President of the and Qatar hosting many FINA events Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and tournaments. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, the Also, Dr. Maglione honored QOC International Swimming Federation Secretary-General Al Buainain QSA (FINA) General Congress elected President Al Jaber. Husain Al Musallam of Kuwait as the Maglione congratulated the newly new FINA President until 2025, during elected FINA President Hussein Al Mus- its meeting on Saturday at the Sheraton allam and thanked all the national fed- Hotel Doha. erations for participating in the General The President of the Olympic Congress, whether by attendance or Council of Asia (OCA), Sheikh Ahmad via videoconferencing. Al Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Second Also, President of the International Vice-President of QOC Dr. Thani bin Olympic Committee Thomas Bach said Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, QOC Sec- that this meeting comes about 48 days retary-General Jassim bin Rashid Al before the Olympic Games, which are Buainain, former FINA President Julio being prepared to be held safely for all Maglione, President of the Interna- participants, explaining that holding tional Handball Federation Dr. Hassan of the Olympics under the current cir- Mustafa, President of the Qatar cumstances is a message to the world Swimming Association Khalil Al Jaber, to deal with these unprecedented The President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, is seen with the newly- FINA members, and representatives of circumstances. elected International Swimming Federation (FINA) President Husain Al Musallam and the outgoing President Julio the swimming continental and national OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Maglione during the FINA General Congress held in Doha, yesterday. federations attended the General stressed the importance of Qatar Congress. hosting the FINA General Congress, Sheikh Joaan welcomed the have to stand still,” the QOC President "We wish all those standing the passionate about aquatics. We had the noting that it represents an important attendees, expressing his thanks and said. very best of luck. Current President honor of hosting the FINA World step for the future of aquatics. gratitude to FINA for granting Qatar to “There is still a lot of excellent work Julio Maglione who has served FINA Swimming Championships (25m) in Al Musallam was elected as the new host the General Congress. we can do and I am sure the decisions with distinction over the last 12 years. 2014. And of course, we are preparing FINA President until 2025 after “This is the world we are all living you take today will contribute to the He leaves FINA in a very strong to host the FINA World Aquatics Cham- receiving 302 votes out of 319. in at the moment and we must con- future development of your sport. position...And he has given the future pionships & World Masters Champi- It was also agreed to add four tinue to take every precaution to “Of course, this is a particularly leadership an excellent foundation to onships in 2023. We have no doubt members representing the hosting protect our health and the health of important meeting as you elect your build from,” Sheikh Joaan added. hosting these events will only countries for the upcoming world those around us. But as you, at FINA, new President, Vice Presidents, and The QOC President pointed out, strengthen our love of your sport and championships, including the QSA are showing, this does not mean we Bureau members. “Qatar is a country that is very inspire the next generation.” President Al Jaber. Al Musallam elected new FINA President in Doha

FINA – DOHA

Husain Al Musallam, until now FINA’s First Vice-President, received 302 votes from the delegates representing 183 National Federations (with 108 attending the Congress on site and the remaining ones online). Representing Kuwait as an inter- national swimmer in his youth, Al Musallam was an airline captain pilot and was first elected to the FINA Bureau in 1996. In his acceptance speech, at the end of the Congress, the new FINA President stated: "Today is the start of an exciting new journey for the Aquatic sports Family together, but for me it is also the culmination of a lifetime's voyage that has brought me to this moment, and the honour of being elected your President." NEWLY-ELECTED FINA BUREAU FOR THE PERIOD 2021-2025: President: Husain Al Musallam (KUW) Veronica Stanham (URU), Daichi Suzuki (JPN), Virendra Al Musallam then listed the prior- First Vice-President: ities of his presidency: no discrimi- Games, World or Continental Cham- elections for active athletes,” added Sam Ramsamy (RSA) Nanavati (IND), Romani Katoa (COK), Antonio Jose Second Vice-President: Matthew Dunn (AUS) da Silva (POR), Erik van Heijningen (NED) nation, teamwork, reduction of pionships. I am proud that for the first the new FINA President. As a concrete Treasurer: Chair of the administration expenditure, additional time the FINA Executive has a female example of his engagement with ath- Dale Neuburger (USA) As per the FINA Constitution, the Vice-Presidents: FINA Athletes Committee financial support to National Feder- Vice-President, a great diving letes, Anthony Ervin (USA), Olympic Paolo Barelli (ITA), Zhou Jihong Penny Heyns is Ex-officio member of the Bureau ations, and priority to athletes. champion. champion in 2000 and again in 2016, (CHN), Juan Carlos Orihuela (PAR) also a , Members: “I am proud that FINA is the first "Starting at the next year’s World was invited to deliver some words to Zouheir El Moufti (MAR), Donald Rukare with voting right. Bureau Members - International Federation to introduce Championships in Fukuoka, 20 active the delegates of the Congress. (UGA), Mohamed Diop (SEN), Errol Clarke (BAR), Representatives of a By-law that protects Athletes’ athletes will be elected to the Athletes "Reforms are needed and athletes Cheryl Gibson (CAN), Taha Al Kishry (OMA), Andrey countries holding upcoming editions of FINA World rights. I am proud that 16 members Committee by the athletes themselves. deserve it. I believe FINA will enter Kryukov (KAZ), Fernando Carpena (ESP), Dimitrios Championships and Olympic Games: Khaleel Al of the new FINA Bureau are athletes FINA will be the first International into a new era, and we all look Diathesopoulos (GRE), David Sparkes (GBR), Doreen Jabir (QAT), Gilles Sezionale (FRA), Vladimir Salnikov who have competed in the Olympic Federation to organise democratic forward to that," he added. Tiborcz (MRI), Algernon Cargill (BAH), (RUS) and Balasz Furjes (HUN).

FRENCH OPEN RESULTS MEN'S SINGLES: THIRD ROUND Familiar results at French Open Diego Schwartzman (10), Argentina, def. Philipp Kohlschreiber, Germany, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1. Lorenzo Musetti, Italy, def. Marco Cecchinato, Italy, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. as Nadal, Swiatek advance Jan-Lennard Struff, Germany, def. Carlos Alcaraz, Spain, 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-2. AP – PARIS Novak Djokovic (1), Serbia, def. Ricardas record he shares with Roger Federer. in the women’s draw at No. 4, and she Berankis, Lithuania, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1. As Nadal spoke to the crowd after has shaken a slump with her return to Jannik Sinner (18), Italy, def. Mikael Ymer, Iga Swiatek closed out her latest the match, fans reminded the Spaniard Roland Garros, where she was the Sweden, 6-1, 7-5, 6-3. French Open victory and raised a of his title total by shouting “treize!” -- runner-up to Swiatek in October. Rafael Nadal (3), Spain, def. Cameron triumphant right fist. Rafael Nadal 13 in French. The top-seeded Djokovic didn’t face Norrie, Britain, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Spain’s Rafael won less than half an hour later and “Can you repeat that?” he responded a break point en route to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 WOMEN'S SINGLES: THIRD ROUND Nadal in action celebrated with a left uppercut. in English with a smile. victory over unseeded Ričardas Sloane Stephens, United States, def. Karolina during his The two defending champions Nadal will next play 19-year-old Berankis. Muchova (18), Czech Republic, 6-3, 7-5. third round make for a potent one-two combi- Italian Jannik Sinner, who is seeded 18th. Sinner beat Mikael Ymer 6-1, 7-5, Barbora Krejcikova, Czech Republic, def. match against nation at Roland Garros, where both Nadal knows that from experience. 6-3 and was joined the round of 16 by Elina Svitolina (5), Ukraine, 6-3, 6-2. Great Britain’s won going away yesterday to reach Federer and Novak Djokovic are the only another Italian 19-year-old, Lorenzo Marta Kostyuk, Ukraine, def. Varvara Cameron the fourth round. Swiatek rallied from other men to reach the fourth round at Musetti, who outlasted Marco Cecch- Gracheva, Russia, 6-1, 6-2. Norrie a break down in the opening set to beat 50 major events. inato - also from Italy - 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, Sofia Kenin (4), United States, def. Jessica yesterday. Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (4), 6-0. Nadal was The eighth-seeded pride of Poland 3-6, 6-3. Pegula (28), United States, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. unfazed at losing serve twice in a row next faces 18-year-old Ukrainian Marta Another teen, 17-year-old American Iga Swiatek (8), Poland, def. Anett Kontaveit in the second set and eliminated Kostyuk, who has reached the round of Coco Gauff, advanced to the fourth (30), Estonia, 7-6 (4), 6-0. Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. 16 at a major event for the first time. round in Paris for the first time. She led Ons Jabeur (25), Tunisia, def. Magda Linette, Nadal, 35, advanced to the round of Sofia Kenin advanced to the fourth 6-1 when her opponent, Jennifer Brady, Poland, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1. 16 at a Grand Slam for the 50th time. round for the third consecutive year by stopped playing due to a left foot injury. Coco Gauff (24), United States, def. Jennifer He’s trying to add to his record 13 French winning a seesaw all-American match Gauff next faces No. 25 Ons Jabeur Brady (13), United States, 6-1, ret. Open crowns and seeks his 21st major against Jessica Pegula, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. with a shot at her first berth in a major Maria Sakkari (17), Greece, def. Elise Mertens title, which would break the men’s Kenin is the highest-seeded player left quarter-final. (14), Belgium, 7-5, 6-7 (2), 6-2. SUNDAY 6 JUNE 2021 SPORT 19 Al Shaqab Racing’s Shershab is back in the groove THE PENINSULA – PONT-DE-VIVAUX but soon he made the move near the leaders and remained in fourth and third positions throughout. Shershab (FR), the Al Shaqab Racing’s represent- Once in the straight, he accelerated well to take the ative and a son of Shalaa out of Gherdaiya, had lead, keeping any challenge at bay and scoring a been starved of success since November 23, 2020. cosy one-length win. However, a visit to Salon-de-Provence yes- Hallowed Time (IRE) (Hallowed Crown x Grou- terday, enabled the Frédéric Rossi flyer to regain petime) finished runner-up for trainer E. O’neill the winning feeling in the Prix d’Arles - a sprint and jockey Christopher Grosbois, two more lengths handicap run over 1,100 metres (5 1/2f) for in front of the third Tess (FR) (Elusive City x LA Con- three-year-olds. tessa), who is trained by CE. Rossi and was ridden He was ridden by Sylvain Ruis, who also guided by Marvin Grandin. him to his first win, when both of them took the Shershab was bred by Al Shaqab Racing. His Prix des Criques, a 1,500-metre race for two-year- dam, Gherdaiya (Shamardal), who was bred by Al olds, at Marseille Pont de Vivaux. Shaqab Racing as well, carried the famous silver Despite his 60.5 kilo impost, the bay gelding and gold colours of the latter concern to finish managed to prove the best in the field. He broke third in the Prix d’Aumale (Gr3). Shershab is her Jockey Sylvain Ruis guides Shershab to victory. PIC: JMTEMPIER well from the stalls and settled at the rear of pack, first foal. Arab Championship: Qatari shooters continue to impress THE PENINSULA – CAIRO

The Qatar shooting team continued to impress by adding another medal to their tally at the 2021 Arab Shooting Championship yesterday as the men's skeet team finished third in the final which took place in Cairo. Qatar's Rashid Saleh Al Qatari junior athletes pose for a photograph at the Hamad International Athba, Masoud Saleh Al Airport prior to their departure for Istanbul, Turkey yesterday. The athletes Athba and Ali Al Ishaq won the bronze medal in the team will take part in a training camp for 110m hurdles, 400m and 400m hurdles event which was won by the until August as they prepare for the upcoming Arab Championship in Tunisia The podium winners of the Men's Skeet Team Event pose for a photograph with officials. Kuwaiti shooters. Saudi and the World Youth Athletics Championship which will be held in Kenya. Arabia won the silver medal. The skeet competition Rashid Saleh Al Athba, Masoud Saleh witnessed a fierce compe- Al Athba and Ali Al Ishaq tition between the top Fraser-Pryce sets fastest teams, and the bronze winners thanked the Qatar Shooting & Archery Associ- 100m time in 33 years ation for the support extended by them. REUTERS – KINGSTON Masoud said that the Association and the Qatar Jamaica’s double Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce became the Olympic Committee's second-fastest woman of all time behind 100 metres world record holder support helped them to Florence Griffith-Joyner when shee clocked c oc ed 10.63 0.63 seconds seco ds at a meet eet in perform well and achieve Kingston yesterday. podium wins. American Griffith-Joyner still holdslds the Rashid praised the great women’s 100 metres world record of 10.4910.49 effort made by Masoud and seconds, set in Indianapolis in 1988,8, as Ali and said that they always well as the three fastest times ever wwithith aim to win medals so that 10.61 and 10.62, also in 1988. they are able to raise the flag Fraser-Pryce shaved 0.01 secondsnds of Qatar in such major Qatar's Remm Al Sharshani poses for a off Carmelita Jeter’s 10.64 in 20099 to events. photograph with the officials after winning climb behind Griffith-Joyner on the alall-l- "Tomorrow we are pre- a gold medal on Friday. time list. paring for the mixed compe- Fraser-Pryce, 34, is the reigning worldworld titions. Our ambition is to champion after winning gold in DDohaoha in win more medals, especially and hailed their impressive our athletes to add more Sharshani clinched the gold 2019. She said she did not expect to set as we continue with the results yesterday. experiences and confidence medal in the women skeet such a quick time during her prepara-a- program of international "The tournament that they aspire to gain," Al event, as her team-mate, tions for next month’s Tokyoo tournaments with the help included many athletes who Mohannadi said. Rashid Saleh Al Ezbah Olympics. of the Association have already qualified for the Earlier, on Friday, Qatar grabbed the silver medal in “Honestly, no, I wasn’t coming Ibrahim Al Mohannadi, upcoming Olympics, so the shooting team opened its the Men skeet event. out here to run that fast,” she said. member of the National competition was very tough. campaign in the Champi- More than 300 shooters “Thank God that I finish healthy. Teams Committee, the chef But our shooters performed onship by winning a gold (Men and Women) , representing “There was no pressure, I just de Mission, praised the exceptionally well. This tour- medal and a silver. Prominant 12 Arab teams are competing in wanted to get one more race in efforts of the Qatari shooters nament is an opportunity for Qatari shooter Reem Al the Arab Championship. before the national trials.” Richarlison, Neymar score in Brazil’s 2-0 win over Ecuador

REUTERS – PORTO ALEGRE pointed to the spot after consulting and moments later Dominguez the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). scooped a low drive from Neymar Brazil beat Ecuador 2-0 in an insipid The Paris St Germain striker saw round the post. World Cup qualifying tie in Porto his first attempt saved but was The result means Brazil are top Alegre on Friday to maintain their allowed to retake the kick after the of the 10-team South America group, perfect record and stay top of the referee spotted movement before the with 15 points from five games, four South American qualifying group for ball was struck. ahead of second-placed Argentina. Qatar 2022. Brazil were the better side for Ecuador are third with nine. Everton forward Richarlison got most of the match, but struggled to The top four teams in the section the breakthrough 20 minutes into the break down a plucky Ecuadoran side qualify automatically for Qatar 2022 second half when goalkeeper Alex- who had won three of their previous and the fifth-placed side goes into ander Dominguez could not stop his four qualifiers. an intercontinental play-off. Elkhoully wins Round 4 to angled near-post shot. Flamengo’s Gabriel Barbosa, Brazil’s next game is against Par- Neymar then scored a penalty in making his first international start in aguay in Asuncion on June 8, while injury time after Gabriel Jesus was five years, had a goal disallowed for Ecuador are at home against Peru consolidate series lead brought down and the referee offside three minutes before half time the same day.

Egypt's Ahmed Elkhoully QDMC ROUND 4: NÜRBURGRING GP CIRCUIT (5.148 KM) Brazil’s Neymar in action with Ecuador’s Enner Valencia 1 Ahmed Elkhoully Egypt 23:47.884 25 edged out Qatar's Khalid Al and Sebastian Mendez during Friday's match. Maraghi to win the fourth 2 Khalid Al Maraghi Qatar + 01.354 18 round of the Qatar Digital 3 Sheikh Soud Jassim Al Thani Qatar + 05.233 15 Motorsports Championship 4 Khalid Al Abdulla Qatar + 09.284 12 as he remained on top of the 5 Faesal Alyafei Qatar + 10.723 10 overall standings yesterday. QDMC STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 4 R1 R2 R3 R4 PTS The virtual series played 1 Ahmed Elkhoully Egypt 25 18 25 25 93 on Gran Turismo Sport 2 Khalid Al Maraghi Qatar 4 25 8 18 55 game on PlayStation 4 was 3 Sheikh Soud Jassim Al Thani Qatar 18 15 4 15 52 organised by the Qatar Motor 4 Faesal Alyafei Qatar 2 12 15 10 39 and Motorcylce Federation 5 Khalid Al Abdulla Qatar 1 6 18 12 37 (QMMF). Elkhoully has won three out of four rounds to remain while Al Maraghi won the second round of the series. Qatar's Sheikh Soud Jassim Al Thani finished third in yesterday's round. Sport SUNDAY 6 JUNE 2021 18 NZ lead England by 165 heading into final day

REUTERS — LONDON off Wagner when he was on 88. SCOREBOARD England had resumed the ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS 8-85-3 (2nb); De Grandhomme 15-5-24-0 New Zealand reached stumps day on 111-2 after rain washed R. Burns c Watling b Southee ...... 132 (2nb); Wagner 24-3-83-1 (3nb); Santner 10-4- on day four at 62-2 in the out day three and Kyle Jamieson D. Sibley lbw b Jamieson ...... 0 30-0 (1nb); Williamson 1-0-2-0 (1w) second innings 7yesterday to gave New Zealand the perfect Z. Crawley c Watling b Southee ...... 2 NEW ZEALAND 2ND INNINGS lead England by 165 runs start when he had Joe Root J. Root c Taylor b Jamieson ...... 42 T. Latham not out ...... 30 heading into the final day of the caught in the slips with the first O. Pope lbw b Southee ...... 22 D. Conway b Robinson ...... 23 D. Lawrence c De Grandhomme b Southee ...0 K. Williamson lbw b Robinson ...... 1 first Test at Lord’s. delivery of the day. J. Bracey b Southee ...... 0 N. Wagner not out ...... 2 New Zealand’s opening Ollie Pope (22) was the next O. Robinson c Jamieson b Southee ...... 42 Extras (lb6) ...... 6 batsmen withstood a fiery spell to go after a solid start, missing M. Wood c Watling b Jamieson ...... 0 Total (2 wkts, 30 overs, 145 mins) ...... 62 of relentless fast bowling in the an angled delivery from S. Broad b Wagner ...... 10 To bat: R Taylor, H Nicholls, BJ Watling, C de final session until Ollie Rob- Southee which rapped him on J. Anderson not out ...... 8 Grandhomme, M Santner, K Jamieson, T South- inson struck twice, castling the pads. The umpire demurred, Extras (b4, lb4, nb8, w1) ...... 17 ee Devon Conway (23) before but New Zealand successfully Total (all out, 101.1 overs, 473 mins) ..275 Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Conway), 2-57 skipper Kane Williamson (1) reviewed and overturned the Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Sibley), 2-18 (Crawley), (Williamson) 3-111 (Root), 4-140 (Pope), 5-140 (Lawrence), Bowling: Anderson 11-3-22-0; Broad 6-1-9-0; was trapped leg before. decision. Tim Southee (left) celebrates 6-140 (Bracey), 7-203 (Robinson), 8-207 Robinson 9-4-8-2; Wood 4-0-17-0; Williamson had only just Southee then had Dan Law- after bowling out England’s (Wood), 9-223 (Broad), 10-275 (Burns) Match position: New Zealand lead by 165 runs survived an lbw decision after rence caught at third slip before Bowling: Southee 25.1-8-43-6; Jamieson 26- with eight second-innings wickets standing it was overturned on review James Bracey. uprooting debutant James when a faint edge was detected, Bracey’s off stump, with both but he was trapped again on the batsmen returning to the Jamieson at long leg to give punished the very next ball very next delivery with England pavilion for ducks. Southee his fifth wicket. when Wagner had him bowled. benefiting from their own Rory Burns hit 132 on his side’s pavilion after being dismissed At that point a follow-on Jamieson was then Burns was running out of review. way to being bowled out for 275 for ducks. looked distinctly possible, with rewarded for his toil in the sun- partners, but last man James Tom Latham (30) and night in the first innings. The opener led a painful but England far behind on 140-6. shine with a third wicket when Anderson frustrated the visitors, watchman Neil Wagner (2) were Burns kept the New Zealand charmed life - hit on the head However, Robinson pro- Mark Wood (0) was caught and the pair stitched together a at the crease at the end of day’s attack at bay while the wickets twice, thrown a lifeline when vided some resistance and behind off an inside edge. 52-run partnership, with Burns play. tumbled at the other end at wicketkeeper BJ Watling missed nearly marked his debut with a Stuart Broad drew a cheer reaching his century before Earlier, Tim Southee took regular intervals, with four a chance to stump him, and half-century only to fall at 42 when he smashed the first six becoming Southee’s sixth victim 6-43 while England opener batsmen trudging back to the dropped by Southee in the slips when he pulled a short ball to of the innings, but he was when he was caught behind. F1: Leclerc on pole in Baku Quartararo fastest in Catalunya for fifth after crash-hit qualifying straight MotoGP pole

REUTERS — BAKU : Azerbaijan Grand Prix Grid REUTERS — BARCELONA CATALONIA MOTOGP GRID Ferrari’s Front row grabbed a surprise First row 6th row Yamaha’s world championship 1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha), 2. Jack Miller for the Azerbaijan Formula One Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) (GER/Aston Martin-Mercedes) leader Fabio Quartararo (AUS/Ducati), Grand Prix yesterday in a qual- (GBR/Mercedes) (FRA/Alpine-Renault) claimed his fifth straight pole 3. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) ifying session littered with 2nd row 7th row position of the MotoGP season 2nd row crashes and four red flag stop- (NED/Red Bull-Honda) (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) after going fastest in qualifying 4. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM), 5. Franco Mor- pages. (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda) Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) at the Catalunya Grand Prix bidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT), 6. Maverick Vinales Mercedes’ seven-time 3rd row 8th row yesterday. world champion Lewis Ham- Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) George Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes) Quartararo became the first (ESP/Yamaha) ilton qualified alongside on the Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull-Honda) Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) rider in seven years to achieve 3rd row front row, with Red Bull’s 4th row 9th row the feat, and the Frenchman is 7. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia), 8. Brad Binder championship leader Max Ver- (JPN/AlphaTauri-Honda) Mick Schumacher (GER/Haas-Ferrari) joined on the front row by (RSA/KTM),9. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) stappen frustrated to be starting (ESP/Alpine-Renault) (RUS/Haas-Ferrari) Ducati’s Jack Miller and Pramac 4th row third. 5th row 10th row Racing’s Johann Zarco. 10. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki), 11. Valentino Rossi “It was just a stupid quali- (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) Quartararo looked to go (ITA/Yamaha-SRT), 12. Pol Espargaro fying to be honest,” said the (FIN/Mercedes) (ITA/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) faster on a second run with a (ESP/Honda)

Dutch driver, who is four points different tyre strategy and was 5th row clear of Hamilton after five left frustrated when yellow 13. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) races. flags were waved at the end of The pole was Leclerc’s the session following a tumble second in a row and once again by Miller and Pol Espargaro’s Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli, came as a result of the final crash. while Quartararo’s team mate session being stopped early by “The pace was great on Maverick Vinales starts in sixth. a red car banging into the medium and hard (tyres), I had Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia, barriers. Ferrari’s Charles a great first run but I thought who is third in the champi- At home in Monaco two Leclerc in action. the lap was not perfect,” Quar- onship standings, had his lap weeks ago it was Leclerc who tararo said. struck off when he exceeded set the fastest lap and then “On the second run I pre- track limits and he will start crashed, and in Baku it was a pared really well with the rear ninth on the grid. smash involving team-mate struggling like you couldn’t second phase, bringing out the “Just chaos really,” the tyre but I (encountered) yellow Suzuki’s defending Carlos Sainz that brought an believe all weekend,” said the red flags for the third time. Briton said of the session. flags. But the most important is champion Joan Mir could not end to the track action. Briton, who was only 11th in That crash left Aston Mar- “I slowed down straight we are on the front row in P1.” finish his final run either due Leclerc owed some of his opening practice. tin’s four times world champion away, I didn’t feel like I did any- Red Bull KTM’s Miguel to the yellow flags and he starts time of one minute 41.218 “We’ve moved around, Sebastian Vettel cursing his thing wrong.” Oliveira will start fourth on the 10th, ahead of Valentino Rossi seconds to Hamilton, whose car made so many changes, over misfortune in 11th place after Verstappen’s team mate grid alongside Petronas who fell early in Q2. provided a hefty aerodynamic these two days. Just chasing our being denied the chance to go Sergio Perez will move up to ‘tow’ down the long straight. tail and it’s been so difficult.” faster. sixth with Tsunoda seventh and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s “I think we would have The first phase of qualifying The final crash involved Alpine’s Fernando Alonso Fabio Quartararo celebrates after been there or thereabouts for was twice stopped, with Sainz and AlphaTauri’s Yuki eighth. Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas getting pole position. pole without the slipstream, so Canadian Lance Stroll smashing Tsunoda. qualified 10th. it’s a good day. I did not expect his Aston Martin into the bar- Tsunoda’s team-mate “It was messy, it was dif- to be as competitive as we were riers at turn 15 and Alfa Romeo’s Pierre Gasly, fastest in final ficult to get into the rhythm, into today,” said the Monegasque. Antonio Giovinazzi following practice, starts fourth with the pace,” commented double “I think it’s going to be dif- minutes later. Sainz qualified in fifth and world champion Alonso of the ficult to keep these two behind “I was kind of committed to McLaren’s Lando Norris sixth session. me,” he added of the title the corner and at that point it on a street circuit with a repu- “It’s a little bit unfair frontrunners. just pushed me a bit deep and I tation for drama and where probably that the people that Hamilton has a record 100 hit the wall,” said Stroll, son of overtaking is possible. crashed. They repair the car and pole positions but his placing team owner Lawrence Stroll. Norris was summoned to they start in that position still came as a surprise, with Hamilton had been fastest stewards afterwards for failing tomorrow,” added the Spaniard. Mercedes struggling for pace in that opening session ahead to return to the pits immediately It remained to be seen through practice and Red Bull of the two Red Bulls. red flags were waved, and was whether Sainz and Tsunoda’s on top. Australian Daniel Ricciardo handed a three place grid drop cars had suffered gearbox “This is such a monumental then crashed his McLaren after -- less than the normal five -- damage, which would incur result for us because we’ve been locking up at turn three in the with three penalty points. grid drops if changed. Leonard scores 45 points as LA Clippers force Game 7 against Dallas Mavericks

REUTERS — LOS ANGELES Sunday at Los Angeles. Tim Hardaway The Mavericks led 77-73 at the start Jr. added 23 points for Dallas, which is of the fourth quarter before the Kawhi Leonard scored 45 points and trying to avenge a first-round defeat Clippers jumped in front 90-85 with Reggie Jackson added 25 as the Los to the Clippers in last season’s playoffs. 5:03 remaining on a Nicolas Batum Angeles Clippers kept their season alive Leonard stepped up in the Clippers’ dunk. with a 104-97 victory over the host elimination game, scoring a series- Doncic followed with a 3-pointer, Dallas Mavericks on Friday to force a high. He went 18 of 25 from the field, his first of the game with 4:41 Game 7 in a first-round Western also a high for shot attempts in the remaining, to get Dallas within one Conference play-off series. series, and was 5 of 9 from 3-point possession before Leonard took over. Paul George scored 20 points with range. The Clippers’ defense was a dif- 13 rebounds as the Clippers rallied from Doncic was content to be more of ference maker, holding the Mavericks a seven-point deficit in the third a ball distributor, reaching double digits to 41.6 percent shooting for the game quarter, while also shaking off a loss in assists in the third quarter. He had and 29.2 percent (7 of 24) in the fourth at home in Game 5 to even the series just 17 points with five minutes quarter. 3-3. remaining after scoring 42 in Game 5. The Mavericks appeared to be on All six games in the series have With the Clippers up 90-88 and just their way early, leading for the bulk of been won by the road team for the first over three minutes remaining, Leonard the first half, and by as many as nine time in NBA play-off history. made a long jumper, followed by con- midway through the second quarter. LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (left) dribbles as Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Luka Doncic scored 29 points with secutive 3-pointers in a decisive stretch The Clippers went on a 6-0 run to end Doncic defends during the fourth quarter during game six in the first round of 11 assists for the Mavericks, who will as Los Angeles went up 99-90 with 1:41 the period and take a 48-45 lead into the 2021 NBA Play-offs at American Airlines Center. get their second chance to advance to play. the break.