The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- McDowell downs Simpson in Heritage playoff
- Marquez becomes youngest MotoGP winner
- Sato first Japanese driver to win IndyCar race
| McDowell downs Simpson in Heritage playoff Posted: 21 Apr 2013 05:43 PM PDT HILTON HEAD (South Carolina): Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell defeated Webb Simpson at the first hole of a sudden-death playoff on Sunday to win the US PGA Tour's Heritage tournament. McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, defeated the reigning US Open title holder Simpson with a par at the first playoff hole. McDowell had fired an impressive two-under par 69 at wind-swept Harbour Town Golf Links, marred only by a bogey at the final hole that left him on nine-under 275. He was joined there by Simpson, who carded an even-par 71 that included three birdies and three bogeys to force the playoff. England's Luke Donald also posted a 69 to share third place with American Kevin Streelman, who carded a 72 for seven-under 277. Overnight leader Charley Hoffman struggled in the windy weather and his six-over 77 saw him fall into a tie for sixth place on five-under 279. McDowell notched his first US PGA Tour of the season. When they returned to the 18th for the playoff, McDowell shrugged off his regulation bogey at the hole and landed his approach shot some 15 feet from the pin, and then two-putted for par. Simpson, who missed the green, nearly holed his next shot with his putter from the green, only to see it caught by the wind and roll six feet past. After McDowell had safely parred, Simpson missed his par attempt coming back. "I never thought a putt was in more than that one," Simpson said of his first effort. "With a foot to go, it was in." McDowell thought the wind was a factor in Simpson's miss. "I'm disappointed for Webb," he said. "He hit a great putt up there on this playoff hole - he got a terrific gust of wind." But McDowell was pleased with his first PGA Tour win of the season - a first for a European on the US circuit in 2013. "I played nicely all week," he said. "I played great Friday. The putter was cold most of the week and I really got it going today." - AFP |
| Marquez becomes youngest MotoGP winner Posted: 21 Apr 2013 05:40 PM PDT AUSTIN (Texas): Spain's Marc Marquez won the Grand Prix of the Americas on Sunday, becoming the youngest rider to win a race in the sport's elite MotoGP series. The 20-year-old Catalonian, last year's Moto2 world champion, triumphed over his Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa, with Yamaha factory rider Jorge Lorenzo in third. Marquez started from pole position in just his second MotoGP race, and with a time of 43min 42.123sec finished 1.534sec ahead of Pedrosa and 3.381sec in front of Lorenzo, the reigning world champion and winner of the season-opening race in Qatar earlier this month. Marquez had finished third in Qatar in his first MotoGP start and his qualifying performance on the new Circuit of the Americas made him the series' youngest ever pole winner. He will go into the next race in Jerez, Spain, in two weeks atop the world championship standings - level with Lorenzo on 41 points but leading as the most recent Grand Prix winner. Marquez said he had not expected the victory to come so early in his MotoGP career. "To be third in my first race in Qatar was a dream and now, to take the victory in the second race - that's even better!" he added. "The race was quite hard, especially in terms of physical condition towards the end, with corners like turn one. I had some problems with the front that I hadn't had in practice, but even with that, I was able to push and keep up a constant rhythm - not so fast, but enough." Lorenzo, a four-time MotoGP world champion, notched the 100th podium finish of his career - 10 years after posting his first with a win in Brazil in 2003. "I never thought to get this unbelievable number of podiums so today is a magic day," he said. Lorenzo said the Yamaha team made progress after qualifying, learning that taking the circuit's hairpin corners in second gear rather than first gave them better acceleration. It wasn't quite enough to challenge for the win. "Just a little bit more, maybe two-tenths quicker, and I could have fought with Dani and Marc," he said, offering his congratulations to the young winner. "He is a phenomenon," Lorenzo said. While Marquez started from pole, it was the more experienced Pedrosa who seized the lead at the start. LCR Honda rider Stefan Bradl shot into second place, but was soon overtaken by Marquez, Lorenzo and Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow. Marquez clung tenaciously to Pedrosa, and made his move past into the lead on the 13th of 21 laps. Crutchlow, who wasn't among the small group of riders to test at the new circuit before race week, was pleased with fourth, ahead of Germany's Bradl and Italian Valentino Rossi. Italian Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso, Spain's Alvaro Bautista, American Nicky Hayden and Andrea Iannone of Italy rounded out the top 10. Pedrosa congratulated his young teammate. "It's just a super start to the season," he said. "I'm really happy with my second place and now I'm just trying to get better and better for the next round." All three of the day's races went to Spanish riders. Nico Terol won the Moto2 race, while Alex Rins won the Moto3 race that was marred by a wreck by Dutch rider Jasper Iwema. Rins triumphed in a furious five-lap finish after the re-start, while Iwema, who went spectacularly airborne after losing control coming out of a turn, was hospitalized after coming down on his head. His RW team manager Jarno Janssen said the rider was "OK." "Jasper refused to go to hospital because he was feeling fine," Janssen said, "but the doctors insisted." - AFP |
| Sato first Japanese driver to win IndyCar race Posted: 21 Apr 2013 05:40 PM PDT LONG BEACH (California): Takuma Sato became the first Japanese driver to win an IndyCar series race on Sunday, delivering a dominant performance to win the Grand Prix of Long Beach. Sato, who drives the No. 14 car for A.J. Foyt Racing, led 50 of 80 laps on the 1.968-mile Long Beach street circuit and held off American Graham Rahal in a race that ended under caution because of an accident involving Tony Kanaan. Sato was making his 52nd IndyCar start and his previous best finish was second at Edmonton in 2012. He had nearly pulled off an upset in the 2012 Indianapolis 500 when he battled Dario Franchitti for the lead and the win on the final lap. Both drivers made contact, with Sato slamming into the outside wall. He finished 17th, while Franchitti won the Indy 500 for the second time. - AFP |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Star Online: Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan