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☆ Inaugural Indian MotoGP race shortened due to heat
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NOIDA, India, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The inaugural Indian Grand Prix race has been shortened by three laps after MotoGP riders asked for race distances to be adjusted due to hot and humid conditions during practice sessions, organisers said on Saturday. After Friday's two practice sessions, reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia said the conditions were "very demanding". "I thought Malaysia and Thailand were hot but here you feel like you're burning in some parts of the track." Ducati's Bagnaia will carry a 36-point lead over Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin in the 13th race of the year. Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Hyderabad Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Francesco Bagnaia, I've, MotoGP's, Ducati's, Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin, Hritika Sharma, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Buddh, Circuit, Thomson Locations: NOIDA, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Hyderabad

Halep was "shocked and disappointed" and blamed contaminated supplements, adding that she "refused to accept their (ITIA) decision of a four-year ban" which runs until Oct. 6, 2026. "I am continuing to train and do everything in my power to clear my name of these false allegations and return to the court," Halep said in a statement to Reuters. "I intend to appeal this decision to The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and pursue all legal remedies against the supplement company in question." The ITIA said earlier on Tuesday it came to its conclusion based on the collection and analysis of 51 blood samples provided by Halep. The WTA said it was important for players to be aware of the sport's Anti-Doping Programme rules.

Persons: Simona Halep, Serena Williams, Ben Curtis, ITIA, Halep, roxadustat, Karen Moorhouse, Patrick Mouratoglou, Simona, I've, Moorhouse, Novak Djokovic, Rohith Nair, Shrivathsa Sridhar, William Maclean, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Tennis Integrity Agency, Wimbledon, U.S, Reuters, Sport, Halep, Tennis Players, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, U.S, Bengaluru

Halep said she "refused to accept their (ITIA) decision of a four-year ban" which runs until Oct. 6, 2026. "I intend to appeal this decision to The Court of Arbitration for Sport and pursue all legal remedies against the supplement company in question." The ITIA said earlier on Tuesday it came to its conclusion based on the collection and analysis of 51 blood samples provided by Halep. Halep explained that since she had tested negative three days earlier, the exposure could only have been accidental. The WTA will support the decisions reached through the process and will continue to follow this closely," it said.

Persons: Simona Halep, Serena Williams, Ben Curtis, Halep, roxadustat, Karen Moorhouse, I've, Moorhouse, Rohith Nair, William Maclean, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Tennis Integrity Agency, Wimbledon, U.S, Reuters, Sport, Halep, WTA, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Martin holds off wounded Italians to seal San Marino GP double
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MISANO ADRIATICO, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin led the San Marino Grand Prix in Misano Adriatico from start to finish on Sunday to complete a second sprint and race double of the season and cut Francesco Bagnaia's championship lead to 36 points. Ducati's MotoGP world champion Bagnaia, who had his leg run over in a separate crash last week, finished third. Bagnaia is top of the riders' standings with 283 points, with Martin (247) in second and Bezzecchi (218) in third. After his sprint and race double this weekend and a third-placed finish in Catalunya, Martin has reduced Bagnaia's lead by 30 points in just two weeks. Veteran Pedrosa's creditable fourth-placed finish gave KTM some reason to cheer, after they suffered a double blow when Brad Binder and Jack Miller crashed in successive laps.

Persons: MISANO ADRIATICO, Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin, Misano Adriatico, Francesco Bagnaia's, Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Racing, Bagnaia, Martin, Marco, Bezzecchi, leapfrogged, BAGNAIA, Dani Pedrosa, Brad Binder, Jack Miller, Maverick Vinales, Miguel Oliveira, RNF, Marc Marquez, Aadi Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: San Marino, San Marino Grand Prix, Spaniard, VR46, Bagnaia, KTM, Aprilia, RNF Aprilia, Thomson Locations: San Marino Grand, Misano, Catalunya, Italy, Bengaluru

☆ Martin wins San Marino GP as rivals chip away at Bagnai's championship lead
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Martin took the chequered flag 1.445 seconds ahead of VR46 Racing's Bezzecchi to claim his third sprint win of the season. World champion Bagnaia finished third. Bagnaia is top of the riders' standings with 267 points, with Martin (222) in second and Bezzecchi (196) in third. Martin's sprint win reduced the gap to Bagnaia by five points, while Bezzechi's second-placed finish saw him reduce the deficit by two. After Bezzecchi recovered from a slow start to leapfrog Bagnaia, Martin was given more of a challenge, though the Spaniard proved triumphant.

Persons: Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin, Lisi Niesner, Marco Bezzecchi, Francesco Bagnaia, Martin, Bezzecchi, Bagnaia, Marco, Spaniard Martin, leapfrog Bagnaia, Dani Pedrosa, I'm, Jorge, Aleix Espargaro, Luca Marini, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, Marc Marquez, Aadi Nair, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: San Marino, San Marino Grand Prix, Ducati, Catalunya, Thomson Locations: Ernstthal, Germany, San Marino Grand, Misano Adriatico, VR46, Misano, Modena, India, Japan, Bengaluru

☆ MotoGP's Trimby, head of team body IRTA, dies at 74
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 8 (Reuters) - MotoGP announced the death of Mike Trimby, a MotoGP paddock stalwart and founder and head of the race teams association IRTA, at the San Marino Grand Prix on Friday. The 74-year-old Briton, a former motorcycle racer, was hired by his fellow riders in 1982 to represent them and co-founded IRTA in 1986. "Mike was one of the most important figures in the history of motorcycle Grand Prix racing," MotoGP said in a statement at Misano. "His life, achievements and memory will be celebrated during the remainder of the San Marino Grand Prix as the paddock joins together to honour him." In March Trimby was awarded the Royal Automobile Club's Torrens Trophy for his outstanding contribution to UK motorcycling.

Persons: Mike Trimby, Irene, Mike, Trimby, Alan Baldwin, Ken Ferris Organizations: MotoGP, San Marino, San Marino Grand Prix, Royal Automobile, Thomson Locations: San Marino Grand, London

☆ Ducati's Bagnaia passed fit for San Marino GP
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 7 (Reuters) - Ducati's MotoGP championship leader Francesco Bagnaia was passed fit to take part in the San Marino Grand Prix on Thursday, only days after his leg was run over at the previous race in Spain. "I was very lucky," added the reigning world champion, whose leg was hit by KTM's Brad Binder before the race was red-flagged. The San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix is the 12th round of the 20-race season. Bagnaia has a 50-point lead over Spanish rider Jorge Martin, who races for Ducati-supported Pramac Racing. Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Francesco Bagnaia, KTM's Brad Binder, Bagnaia, Jorge Martin, Pramac, Alan Baldwin, Ken Ferris Organizations: MotoGP, San Marino, San Marino Grand Prix, Barcelona's, Catalunya, Sky, Rimini Riviera, Ducati, Thomson Locations: San Marino Grand, Spain, San Marino, Spanish, London

☆ Aprilia's Espargaro wins in Britain with last-lap pass
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Espargaro denied Bagnaia his fifth grand prix win of the season by 0.215 of a second, with the top four separated by just 0.750. Espargaro was up to second by lap six, helped also by team mate Maverick Vinales and Jack Miller clashing and running wide ahead of him. "At that time, my plan was to pass him (Bagnaia) and try to go away," said Espargaro. "But when it started to rain I said 'OK, stay quiet behind Pecco, it's better that he open the track'. Honda's six-times MotoGP champion Marc Marquez fell five laps from the finish, continuing a grim run for the struggling Spaniard who has yet to complete a grand prix this season.

Persons: Aleix Espargaro, Francesco Bagnaia, Binder, Marc Marquez, Espargaro, Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia, Bagnaia, Brad Binder, Marco Bezzecchi, Pramac Ducati's, Jorge Martin, Espargaro's, Maverick Vinales, Jack Miller, Portugal's Miguel Oliveira, Martin, Younger, Alex, Alan Baldwin, Alex Richardson, Ed Osmond Organizations: Prix, Silverstone Circuit, Aprilia, Ducati Lenovo, Red Bull KTM Factory, MotoGP, KTM Bezzecchi, Silverstone, South, KTM, Stowe, Spaniard, Ducati, Thomson Locations: Silverstone, Britain, Bagnaia's, Argentina, London

☆ Alex Marquez beats Bezzecchi to Silverstone sprint victory
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 5 (Reuters) - Spaniard Alex Marquez beat late-charging Marco Bezzecchi to become the fifth different sprint winner in nine rounds of the MotoGP season with victory in the 10 lap race at Silverstone on Saturday. The Gresini Racing Ducati rider, who started on the front row in third place, beat VR46 Ducati's pole-sitter Bezzecchi by 0.366 seconds with Aprilia's Maverick Vinales third. The younger brother of six times MotoGP champion Marc, who finished 18th for the struggling Repsol Honda team, Marquez took the lead from KTM's Australian Jack Miller on the second lap on a drying track after heavy rain. Alex Marquez was one of several fallers in qualifying, with some riders questioning whether the sprint should go ahead on safety grounds before conditions improved. "I didn't expect such difficult conditions in the race," said Bezzecchi, who had a big crash in qualifying after securing pole and came back at Marquez in the closing stages.

Persons: Alex Marquez, Marco Bezzecchi, VR46, Bezzecchi, Aprilia's Maverick, Marc, Repsol, Marquez, Jack Miller, Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin, Pramac, couldn't, Alex, Alan Baldwin, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Silverstone, Ducati, Repsol Honda, Pramac Ducati, Marquez, Vinales, Thomson Locations: London

After six seasons in the Champions League, where Klopp's side reached the final three times and won the trophy in 2019, Liverpool now find themselves back in the Europa League. Premier League clubs sacked 14 managers last season but Klopp, currently the longest-serving coach at a single club in England's top flight, was never in danger of losing his job. Liverpool did not inject fresh blood into an ageing midfield while injuries in the forward line scuppered a title challenge. This year Saudi Arabian clubs have forced Liverpool's hand, with the cash-rich league tearing up the Anfield club's transition plans by luring away their two midfield stalwarts. Returning to the Champions League will be their first priority, which is why a top four finish -- or even winning the Europa League -- will be the bare minimum that is expected of Liverpool.

Persons: Klopp, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade, Chamberlain, It's, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Szoboszlai, Fabio Carvalho, Romeo Lavia, Thiago, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Trent Alexander, Arnold, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Rohith Nair, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Liverpool, Premier League's, Champions League, Europa League, Premier League, Anfield, Saudi Pro League, RB Leipzig, Thomson Locations: Liverpool, England's, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Bengaluru

Jabeur was one set away from becoming the first African woman and Arab player to win a Grand Slam singles title before Rybakina mounted a fierce comeback. I was telling my mum - I want to win a Grand Slam, I want to be number one," she told reporters. But as soon as she was done, she immediately set her sights on Rybakina. Since her maiden Grand Slam triumph, Rybakina has cemented her place in the sport's new 'Big Three' in the women's game along with Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. "Every player has weaknesses, you always try to play there, listen to your coach more often," Jabeur added.

Persons: Elena Rybakina, Jabeur, Rybakina, Petra Kvitova, I'm, STERN, Iga Swiatek, Elena, Shelby Rogers, Rohith Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Wimbledon, Rybakina, Thomson Locations: Wednesday's, Kazakh, Bengaluru

With a straight sets victory over Alexander Zverev without dropping serve in the third round, Berrettini has suddenly emerged as a dark horse at Wimbledon. "I'm not seeded but it's a tough draw," said a smiling Berrettini, a finalist in 2021. Berrettini missed the 2022 Wimbledon with COVID-19 while injuries in the past year saw the Italian's ranking plummet. "Every match that I win on Centre Court is better for me to get into this court, this atmosphere ... I feel that I belong to that court," Alcaraz said.

Persons: Carlos Alcaraz, Matteo Berrettini, Berrettini, Alexander Zverev, I'm, Carlos, it's, Alcaraz, Nicolas Jarry, Elena Rybakina, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Petra Kvitova, Jabeur, Petra, Rohith Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Wimbledon, All England Club, Thomson Locations: Australia, COVID, Wimbledon, Bengaluru

Wildcard Svitolina will be looking to get the better of Azarenka for the first time, having lost to the former Grand Slam champion in their last five meetings. Yeah, I'm looking forward to this challenge," Svitolina said after she dispatched Sofia Kenin in the third round. "It's another match but in a way, a lot of Ukrainians will be watching, will be supporting me. While Svitolina took a year off for the birth of her daughter Skai with husband and fellow tennis player Gael Monfils, her return to the Tour in March was seamless. Azarenka, however, said she was happy for Svitolina after she had a baby and returned to the court.

Persons: Elina Svitolina's, Aryna Sabalenka, Azarenka, Svitolina, Sofia Kenin, Skai, Gael Monfils, Russia's Andrey Rublev, Alexander Bublik, Iga, Belinda Bencic, Novak, Hubert Hurkacz ., Djokovic, He's, Rohith Nair, Clare Fallon Organizations: Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, Wimbledon, neutrals, Olympic, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Sunday's, Ukraine, Moscow, Belarus, Sabalenka, Belarusian, Kazakhstan, Bengaluru

☆ Brad Pitt's F1 movie: Filming to get underway at Silverstone
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Apple Original Films has unveiled details of Oscar winner Brad Pitt’s eagerly awaited Formula 1 feature film, as crews begin filming scenes with the actor at Silverstone, where Sunday’s British Grand Prix is being staged. The movie is being made in collaboration with F1, and stars Pitt as a former driver returning to the sport with fictional team APXGP, alongside “Snowfall” actor Damson Idris as his teammate. And what better place to film such a feature than Silverstone, famously the first circuit to ever host an F1 race in 1950. The fictional team will even have its own pit-stop at the track, and filming is due to take place amid this weekend’s British Grand Prix. The fictional team will even have a space on the grid at Silverstone.

Persons: CNN —, Oscar, Brad Pitt’s, Pitt, Damson Idris, Andrew Boyers, lister, Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes, Joseph Kosinski, Jerry Bruckheimer, Chad Oman, “, ” Hamilton, we’ve, Hamilton, “ Joe, …, ‘, Brad, hasn’t, he’s, Billy Beane, ” Organizations: CNN, Silverstone, Prix, Hollywood, UK’s PA Media, Pitt, Apollo Films, Hamilton, Oakland Locations: Towcester , Northamptonshire

It's a really sharp pain if I think about it," Berrettini told reporters. "I think he's one of the best grasscourt players that we have. In the last few years he's made a Wimbledon final, he's won Queen's two times. I think he's an incredible player on grass," Zverev said. I think (grass is) his favourite surface, probably my least favourite.

Persons: Matteo Berrettini, Australia’s Alex De Minaur, Toby Melville, Alexander Zverev, Berrettini, Lorenzo Sonego, Alex de Minaur, Zverev, Roland Garros, he's, Carlos Alcaraz, Nicolas Jarry, Bianca Andreescu, Elena Rybakina, Katie Boulter, Rybakina, Rohith Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Australia’s Alex De Minaur REUTERS, showcourts, Wimbledon, Stuttgart, Queen's, Roland, Court, U.S, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Halle, Bengaluru

☆ Hamilton confident Brad Pitt can take F1 to new heights
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The movie cars are also set to feature on the grid, without driving a formation lap, and be on track in between the sessions. The Apple TV film is being directed by Joseph Kosinski, the director of "Top Gun: Maverick", with producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Hamilton said the movie would also do justice to a sport where cars can hit top speeds of 370kph. I think it’s going to look faster than it does on TV," he said. "You already saw what he (Kosinski) has done with fighter jets, what he did with Maverick... bringing that technology into our world; I think it’s going to be amazing."

Persons: Brad Pitt, Ricardo Arduengo, Brad Pitt's, Lewis Hamilton, We’ve, Hamilton, Joseph Kosinski, Jerry Bruckheimer, Aston, Fernando Alonso, Pitt, Brad, he’s, hasn’t, Alan Baldwin, Clare Fallon Organizations: United, Prix, Silverstone, Netflix, Apple, Maverick, Thomson Locations: United States, Americas, Austin , Texas, U.S, England, Los Angeles, LA

That's the role he played (in my career), beating me in two Grand Slam finals," a smiling Djokovic said ahead of their third round encounter on Centre Court. Wawrinka sensationally won three Grand Slam titles, beating Djokovic at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows. "After several knee surgeries, he keeps going strong and trying to create some more history for himself and tennis," Djokovic said. "We cannot forget that he's a three-time Grand Slam champion, Davis Cup winner and also (won) Olympic gold (in doubles). With Wimbledon still clearing the backlog of matches postponed due to rain, world number one Carlos Alcaraz will be playing his second round match on Friday when he takes on Frenchman Alexandre Muller.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Australia's Jordan Thompson, Dylan Martinez, Novak, Stan Wawrinka, Djokovic, Wawrinka, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray, Wawrinka sensationally, Roland Garros, Carlos Alcaraz, Frenchman Alexandre Muller, Iga Swiatek, Croatian Petra Martic, Rohith Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Australia's Jordan Thompson REUTERS, Wimbledon, Davis, French, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Serbian, Flushing Meadows, Croatian, Bengaluru

I haven't played a lot of matches in the last few years and not by choice," Williams said. I put my head down and put even more work in and got myself in a much better position." Of those three matches, her only win came against Camila Giorgi -- a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist -- in Birmingham. "Last year I felt a lot of pressure here because I was number one," she said. Four Americans will be in action against each other with Sofia Kenin taking on seventh seed Coco Gauff while fourth seed Jessica Pegula faces Lauren Davis.

Persons: Venus Williams, It's, Williams, Elina Svitolina, Serena, haven't, Camila Giorgi, there's, Iga Swiatek, Zhu Lin, Nick Kyrgios, David Goffin ., Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Lauren Davis, Rohith Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Wimbledon, Court, U.S, All England, WTA, David Goffin . Four, Thomson Locations: Auckland, Birmingham, Bengaluru

☆ Marquez withdraws from Dutch GP after being declared unfit
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 25 (Reuters) - Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez on Sunday said he will miss the Dutch Grand Prix after failing to recover from injuries suffered at last weekend's German Grand Prix. The 30-year-old Spaniard pulled out of the German Grand Prix after crashing five times before the race at the Sachsenring - a track where he has won eight times in his MotoGP career. The Honda driver has yet to finish a race this season and languishes in 19th place in the standings, in a season so far dominated by Ducati. "I have not arrived at Assen (race track) at 100% physically. In addition to the sprain and the finger fracture, there is a fractured rib that has been causing me a lot of pain," Marquez said in a statement.

Persons: Marc Marquez, Marquez, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Christopher Cushing Organizations: MotoGP, Honda, Ducati, Thomson Locations: Assen, Bengaluru

☆ Bezzecchi breaks lap record to take pole at Dutch Grand Prix
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] MotoGP - TT Assen - TT Circuit Assen, Assen, Netherlands - June 26, 2022 Mooney VR46 Racing Team's Marco Bezzecchi in action during the race REUTERS/Piroschka Van De WouwJune 24 (Reuters) - Marco Bezzecchi smashed the Assen lap record on Saturday to claim pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix ahead of championship leader Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati and VR46 Racing team mate Luca Marini. Japanese manufacturer Yamaha have struggled this season but Fabio Quartararo finished a creditable fourth and will be joined on the second row by Red Bull KTM's Brad Binder and Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro. Honda's troubles followed them to Assen as Marc Marquez collided with the back of Ducati's Enea Bastianini in Q1, bringing out the yellow flags. Marquez, who has yet to finish a race this season, will start 17th on the grid as a result. Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mooney VR46, Marco Bezzecchi, Van De Wouw, Francesco Bagnaia, Luca Marini, Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin leapfrogged, Bezzecchi, Fabio Quartararo, Red Bull, Brad Binder, Marc Marquez, Marquez, Rohith Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: TT, REUTERS, Ducati, VR46, Speed, Yamaha, Thomson Locations: Assen, Netherlands, Germany, Bengaluru

☆ Marquez says commitment to Honda is 'maximum' amid exit rumours
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 22 (Reuters) - Honda rider Marc Marquez said he is committed to the Japanese manufacturer and already has an eye on next year's project after a disappointing season. "If I'm here, my commitment with Honda is maximum. I want to work with them to improve for the future, improve our project," Marquez told the MotoGP website ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix. "At the moment, of course I'm here to work with them for the future, which means next year's project. It's important to be here because two of the main Honda riders are injured - Mir and Rins.

Persons: Marc Marquez, Marquez, Joan Mir, Alex Rins, Rohith Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Honda, Ducati, MotoGP, Thomson Locations: Germany, Bengaluru

☆ Martin wins in Germany after thrilling duel with Bagnaia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] MotoGP - German Grand Prix - Sachsenring, Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany - June 18, 2023 Prima Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin celebrates on the podium after winning the race REUTERS/Lisi NiesnerHOHENSTEIN-ERNSTTHAL, Germany, June 18 (Reuters) - Spaniard Jorge Martin won the German Grand Prix for Pramac Racing after a thrilling duel with Ducati's reigning MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia of Italy on Sunday. The pair crossed the line just 0.064 of a second apart, their bikes also touching in the heat of battle two laps from the chequered flag. Martin's French team mate Johann Zarco completed the podium at the Sachsenring circuit as Ducati riders filled the top five places and eight of the top nine. Bagnaia's championship lead was cut to 16 points as Martin, winner of the Saturday sprint, celebrated a weekend double and his first grand prix victory since the Styrian round at Austria's Red Bull Ring in August 2021. Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin, Lisi Niesner HOHENSTEIN, Jorge Martin, Francesco Bagnaia, Johann Zarco, Martin, Alan Baldwin, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Pramac Racing, Ducati's, Sunday, Ducati, Thomson Locations: Ernstthal, Germany, ERNSTTHAL, Italy, London

☆ Martin claims second sprint win at German Grand Prix
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HOHENSTEIN-ERNSTTHAL, Germany, June 17 (Reuters) - Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin scorched to his second sprint win of the MotoGP season at the German Grand Prix on Saturday to move up to second in the world championship standings, while Ducati's world champion Francesco Bagnaia finished second. Martin took the chequered flag 2.468 seconds ahead of Bagnaia, denying the Italian a fourth sprint win of the season. I'm happy, it's another sprint win and I hope we fight for the win tomorrow." "It was fun in the first laps, I really liked the fight with Jack (Miller), it was intense," overall leader Bagnaia said. MotoGP said no further action would be taken after reviewing the incident, with the Frenchman finishing ahead of the Australian.

Persons: Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin, Francesco Bagnaia, Martin, Bull, Jack Miller, Bagnaia, Miller, Marco Bezzechi, Jack, Jorge, It's, Marc Marquez's, Pramac, Johann Zarco, Brad Binder, jostling, Frenchman, Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, Aadi Nair, Hugh Lawson Organizations: MotoGP, Honda, Thomson Locations: ERNSTTHAL, Germany, Bagnaia, Nashik, India

The unassuming and soft-spoken German never displayed the same flashy traits as his fellow superstars, instead quietly going about his business - overlooked by many but always an integral cog in the City winning machine. Haaland may have scored 52 times this season but Gundogan has always been a constant threat. In a tense title race where City had played catch-up for months, Gundogan scored twice against Leeds United as City maintained their advantage at the top of the Premier League in the home stretch last month. He then repeated his heroics with a brace against Everton as they kept Arsenal at bay to win a fourth league title in five seasons. Gundogan then stunned arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup with another double, scoring his first by volleying home 12 seconds into the game.

Persons: Pep Guardiola, Ilkay, Gundogan, Yaya Toure, Guardiola, Erling Haaland, pip Liverpool, volleying, what's, Rohith Nair, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Manchester City, Germany, Guardiola, City, Leeds United, Premier League, Everton, Arsenal, Manchester United, League, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Istanbul, City, Bengaluru

Djokovic won a record-extending 10th Australian Open in January - despite coming into the tournament with a hamstring issue - to equal Nadal's tally of 22 Grand Slams. An elbow injury forced Djokovic to pull out of the Madrid Open this month and he needed a painkiller during his quarter-final loss in Rome, but the 36-year-old is now back in shape. Djokovic, who starts against Aleksandar Kovacevic, said world number one Carlos Alcaraz was the "biggest favourite". Alcaraz and Djokovic are in the same side of the draw and could potentially meet in the semi-finals. Alcaraz won three titles on clay this year before his shock third-round exit from the Italian Open, but the Spaniard will be expected to resume normal service in his French Open first-round match against Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli on Monday.

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