Stoner proves unstoppable at Donington Park

Casey Stoner proved uncatchable for his MotoGP rivals as he cruised to a second Donington Park victory in as many years. The 2007 World Champion was the fastest off the line from pole position, taking the kind of runaway win typical of his title winning year at the bwin.com British Grand Prix.

With his second triumph of the season, Stoner moved his way up to third in the overall classification. The two riders ahead of him in the standings, Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa, were involved in an entertaining battle some seven seconds back, trading places repeatedly at the midway point of the race. Riding in his 200th Grand Prix, Fiat Yamaha rider Rossi eventually won out, continuing a seven race run of podium finishes in 2008.

Repsol Honda´s Pedrosa also has seven rostrum appearances to his name this year, and came in third at the scene of his 2006 victory. His consistency keeps up the pressure on series leader Rossi, who he trails by just eleven points.

Colin Edwards was the highest placing satellite rider, finishing fourth onboard the Tech 3 Yamaha M1. Whilst his was a positive result, teammate and home rider James Toseland had a miserable time of things in the race, crashing on the first corner and finishing last after picking the bike back up.

Last year´s 250cc racewinner, Andrea Dovizioso had another creditable showing on his first MotoGP appearance at Donington Park. The JiR Team Scot rookie was fearless even when surrounded by experienced campaigners, concluding the race in fifth ahead of fellow debutant and long-time rival Jorge Lorenzo.

Nicky Hayden, Chris Vermeulen, Shinya Nakano and Anthony West completed the top ten, whilst Rizla Suzuki´s stand-in rider Ben Spies earned his first MotoGP points on his maiden appearance. The American will now wait to find out if his services are required for the upcoming A-Style TT Assen, or if Loris Capirossi –injured but watching on in Donington- will be fit for a return to action in the Netherlands.

The only rider unable to finish the race was John Hopkins, the Kawasaki rider retiring with a mechanical problem.

source : www.motogp.com

Schweinsteiger eyes Prem move

Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger claims he could leave Bayern Munich this summer to move to the Premier League.

The 23-year-old winger was sent off in Germany's 2-1 defeat to Croatia in the group stages of Euro 2008, but returned from suspension to net the opening goal in the 3-2 win over Portugal as the pre-tournament favourites progressed to the last four.

Schweinsteiger is approaching the final year of his contract at Bundesliga champions Bayern, and although new boss Jurgen Klinsmann is keen to keep him in Bavaria, a move to the Premier League could be on the cards.

Appeal

"I may stay with Bayern and the coach has promised to be supportive of whatever decision I make," Schweinsteger told the Sunday Mail.

"England does have a good appeal as it is one of the world's best leagues.

"I've always wanted to play there and we'll see if it happens this year."

source : www.skysports.com

Massa romps to French win

Ferrari's Felipe Massa has won the French Grand Prix ahead of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and Toyota's Jarno Trulli.

McLaren Mercedes driver Heikki Kovalainen finished fourth ahead of BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica and Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Renault's Nelson Piquet Jr. finished seventh ahead of team-mate Fernando Alonso.

Meanwhile, after starting 13th on the grid, Lewis Hamilton finished in 10th place, the McLaren driver's attempt to come through the field hampered by a drive through penalty.

However, Hamilton was not the only driver whose afternoon at Magny-Cours was compromised: although Massa took the chequered flag some 18 seconds ahead of Raikkonen, the defending World Champion had led comfortably until suffering a fractured exhaust pipe midway through the race.

Nevertheless, he still finished second and claimed eight valuable Championship points - the 18-second gap he in turn had over Trulli demonstrating Ferrari's advantage over their rivals.

That much was evident from the lights, with polesitter Raikkonen leading Massa off the line, Trulli assuming third place and Kubica - for a few corners at least - getting ahead of Alonso.

Having both straightlined the quick Imola chicane to pass Sebasatian Vettel's Toro Rosso and also clipped the back of team-mate Kovalainen, Hamilton was up to 10th at the end of lap one.

He then passed the heavily-fuelled sister McLaren into the Adelaide Hairpin on lap five with lap seven seeing Hamilton duelling with former GP2 adversary Piquet over eighth place.

source : www.skysports.com

Lakers win Game 5 to send series back to Boston

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Pack up the championship trophy and book a flight back to Boston, the NBA finals aren't over yet. The Los Angeles Lakers are headed East to try a historic comeback of their own.

Kobe Bryant scored 25 points, including a decisive dunk in the final minute - and Lamar Odom added 20 as the Lakers, playing with pride on their star-studded stage, prevented the Celtics from winning a 17th title with a 103-98 win in Game 5 on Sunday night to close to 3-2 in this restored rivalry.

"We didn't want to see any champagne popping," Odom said. "It wasn't easy. I wouldn't expect it to be."

No team has overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals to win a title. The first 28 failed, and now the Lakers, who blew a 24-point lead and lost Game 4 and nearly squandered a 19-point lead in Game 5, have a chance to do something extraordinary.

They'll have to win on the Celtics' parquet floor Tuesday night to force a winner-take-all Game 7, where anything is possible.

Especially with Bryant, the game's best player, on hand.

"We've won on the road before," Bryant said. "We've played in tough environments before."

But the league's MVP and uberforce, who spent much of last summer grumbling to Lakers management for help to get him a fourth championship ring, didn't have to fly a solo mission to extend L.A.'s season for at least another game.

Pau Gasol had 19 points and 13 rebounds, Odom had 11 rebounds and four blocks and Derek Fisher added 15 points.

"We were aggressive. We played hard," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "Not smart all the time, but we played hard."

Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 38 points, Kevin Garnett added 13 points and 14 rebounds, and Ray Allen had 16 points. But Boston's Big Three couldn't close their first chance at winning it all, and now will get two cracks at home to finish the job.

"Guys are down and upset because they thought they could have, they thought they should have," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "We played all year to have home court."

After scoring 15 points in the first quarter, Bryant went cold from the floor and finished just 8-of-21. But he made a big steal, poking the ball away from Paul Pierce and streaking down to deliver a two-handed dunk with 37.4 seconds left.

"I just was kind of reading the play and I was able to get my hands on the ball and get out and get a dunk," Bryant said.

The Celtics called a timeout, Jack Nicholson jumped to his feet and the scoreboard in Staples Center flashed: Not In Our House!

When the final horn sounded, purple and gold streamers fell from the ceiling and the public address announcer said, "Game 6 will be Tuesday night in Boston. This is not over yet."

On Saturday, Bryant had said "this is far from over," and he could be right.

Accused of being selfish and too tough on his not-as-talented teammates, Bryant can bow to the other Lakers for sending the series back across country.

Gasol, the 7-foot Spanish center criticized for being pillowy soft, didn't back down underneath and was able to get Garnett into foul trouble.

But just as they did in Game 4, when they staged the biggest comeback in finals history, the Celtics pushed the Lakers to the brink of summer with another rally. This one fell a little short, but the outcome was still in doubt when Pierce, who grew up hating Boston like every other kid from L.A., made two free throws with 1:14 remaining to get the Celtics to 97-95.

Fisher then missed a jumper and the Celtics appeared to be in business when Pierce fought off two Lakers for a rebound. But as he dribbled toward the basket, Bryant reached around and knocked the ball away to Odom, who then fed Bryant for his slam.

Still, the Celtics wouldn't go away.

After Bryant missed one of two free throws with 16 seconds left, Eddie House nailed a 3-pointer to make it 101-98 with 14 seconds left. House then nearly stole the ensuing inbounds pass, but Bryant, sprawled out on the floor, got the ball to Fisher, who drew a desperation foul.

Fisher then made two free throws and stole Boston's last pass as Lakers fans, stunned to silence a few nights ago, left the building dreaming of seeing another improbable comeback.

This is the 11th meeting - and first since 1987 - between the league's two most stories franchises, and it could be headed for a crescendo befitting the matchups between Bird and Magic, McHale and Abdul-Jabbar, and Russell and West.

Before the game, Lakers coach Jackson said the only way for his team to approach a close-out game was to keep playing.

"A lot of things can happen," he said. "We're young enough and dumb enough to be able to do this."

With Bryant, they have the smarts and skills to get it done.

He made four 3-pointers in the first eight minutes and his free throw gave the Lakers a 25-15 lead. The Celtics were forced to extend their defense, and Bryant made them pay when he faked a long-range shot and fired a pass underneath to Vladimir Radmanovic to make it 29-15.

Odom, a model of inconsistency in the series, drove the lane for a hoop to put the Lakers ahead by 16, and Gasol's bucket in the final second made the overhead scoreboard read: Lakers 39, Celtics 22.

Most teams might panic. Not the Celtics. They were in a bigger hole - 21 points - after the first quarter in Game 4 when they staged their epic rally.

And, sure enough, back Boston came.

When Sasha Vujacic scored, the Lakers' lead bulged to 19 and the oh-so-trendy L.A. faithful were carrying on like a rowdy East coast crowd. That's when the Celtics began chipping away as Pierce scored six points and Allen, Tony not Ray, scored two quick baskets.

The Celtics' rally seemed short-lived when Garnett picked up his third personal, but with the Lakers unable to get anything to drop, Pierce made a layup and 3 to make it 43-39 before Odom finally ended Los Angeles nearly six-minute scoring drought.

The Lakers briefly regrouped but P.J. Brown scored on a putback and Pierce hit another 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left as the Celtics closed to 55-52 at half and bounded toward their locker just 24 minutes from a title.

source : http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/8249932/Lakers-win-Game-5-to-send-series-back-to-Boston

UNITED RUBBISH FERGIE QUIT TALK

Manchester United have rubbished reports that Sir Alex Ferguson could bring forward his retirement if Cristiano Ronaldo is sold against his wishes.

The Daily Express reported on Monday that Ferguson had told close friends he would walk away should the Glazer family sell Ronaldo to Real Madrid behind his back, but United have dismissed the story and reiterated their intention to hold on to the Portugal winger.

"It is absolute nonsense," said a spokesman.

"It is simply tiresome. We are not selling Cristiano Ronaldo."

source : http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/06/16/manual_160717.html

No case for the defence: Capello must ditch the Terry-Ferdinand option and turn to Liverpool's Gerrard as England captain

A series of meaningless friendlies under his belt, it's time for Fabio Capello to get serious as he faces the biggest decision of his tenure so far - who will lead his team?

In the aftermath of England's easy but underwhelming win over Trinidad and Tobago, Capello revealed he had whittled down his prospective candidates to two. Although he has used four different captains in his first four games - David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and John Terry - press reports seem to suggest that the "two" mentioned by Capello are Ferdinand and Terry.
Oh, when will England be blessed with a manager who learns from previous mistakes? Terry's tenure as England captain showed that England do not need a defender as captain.

Terry, an influential and inspirational captain at Chelsea, could not exert his influence as England skipper despite working in tandem with Ferdinand in what should be the most formidable defensive line in Europe. I would envisage Ferdinand having a similar impact upon the team as Terry did during his time as captain under Steve McLaren.

England's tame surrender in the Euro 2008 qualifiers was a signal that the team require a leader who can drag them back into games from the brink of oblivion - which leaves Steven Gerrard as the only genuine option.

The moment he had the extra burden of responsibility thrust upon him when made Liverpool captain, Gerrard embraced it, and his game improved tenfold.

Admittedly his form for England has had its highs and lows. However, he has been the victim of his own versatility and forced to repeatedly play out of position. But there is no denying his class.

On countless occasions he has pulled results out of nowhere for Liverpool at the highest level. Champions League games against Olympiakos and AC Milan, and the FA Cup "Gerrard Final" spring to mind.

It is this kind of determination and inspiration that England need to ensure safe passage to the World Cup 2010, and Capello needs to recognise Gerrard's leadership qualities quickly.

SOURCE : http://www.sportingo.com/football/a9038_no-case-defence-capello-must-ditch-terryferdinand-option-turn-liverpools-gerrard-as-england-captain
BY Adam Uren

Hamilton sets the pace

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in Friday's practice sessions for the Canadian Grand Prix after Ferrari's Felipe Massa had earlier topped the timesheets.

Hamilton, who won his maiden grand prix in Montreal last year, posted a quickest lap of one minute 15.752 seconds during the second 90-minute long session at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Fresh from a victory in Monaco two week ago which propelled him into the lead of the World Championship, Hamilton had completed only eight laps during Friday morning's first practice session.

He was then sixth fastest in his McLaren Mercedes as Massa went quickest with a lap timed at 1:17.553s around the 2.71-mile track.

Hamilton started the afternoon session moderately, and was lying fifth fastest before upping his pace.

A time of 1:15.766s knocked World Champion Kimi Raikkonen off the top spot before the McLaren man went quicker still on his 42nd and last lap.

Raikkonen, three points behind Hamilton in the Drivers' Championship heading into Sunday's race, was then supplanted by BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica, the Monaco runner-up, who continued his good form with a fastest lap of 1:16.023s.

The Pole had also been second quickest behind Massa in the morning's session on a track that had dried out following overnight rain.

Raikonnen had been last out of the pits and vied with team-mate Massa for much of the afternoon's session, with the Finn clocking a fastest 1:16.093s for what would be the third fastest time.

Hamilton's McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen was fourth fastest with a 1:16.331s effort, with Massa next (1:16.413s) despite coming to a stop out on the track with 20 minutes remaining.

Nick Heidfeld rounded off the top six for BMW Sauber with a time of 1:16.589s.

But the second session was a bad one for Renault, with Nelson Piquet Jr. grinding to a halt as he entered the pit lane, while team-mate Fernando Alonso spun off the track at Turn One and proved unable to get going again.

The pair ended the afternoon in 17th and 20th positions respectively.

Timo Glock was another early finisher, brushing one of the walls and damaging the right wheels on his Toyota, forcing him to abandon the car at Turn Six.

Massa was the next to stop, his premature finish affecting the whole field as marshals struggled to steer his Ferrari through a gap in the safety barriers.

When the session resumed, Hamilton proceeded to turn in his quickest laps ahead of Saturday's final practice and qualifying sessions for Sunday's race.

source : http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12433_3659132,00.html