Honda Gresini tetap akan hadir pada seri penutup yang akan digelar di Valencia pekan depan. Menyiapkan penghormatan untuk mendiang Marco Simoncelli, tim tersebut belum memastikan apakah akan turun membalap.

Honda Gresini melalui tim principal tim Fausto Gresini sempat memberi indikasi kuat kalau mereka tidak akan tampil pada seri penutup musim di MotoGP Valencia yang akan digelar 6 November mendatang. Kematian Simoncelli pada balapan di Sepang menjadi alasan dibalik keputusan tersebut.

Namun dalam pernyataan terbarunya, tim tersebut memastikan akan tetap tampil di Valencia. Namun apakah nantinya akan menurunkan pembalap saat race, hingga kini belum diputuskan.

Kehadiran di Valencia disebut kubu Honda Gresini sebagai bentuk penghormatan pada Simoncelli. Nantinya mereka bahkan berencana untuk tetap mendirikan garasi milik pembalap Italia itu.

Dikutip dari Crash, Honda RC212V bernomor 58 yang selama ini jadi tunggangan Simonceli juga tetap akan disiapkan sepanjang akhir pekan.

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Sesi Free Practice atau Sesi Latihan Motogp italia 2011 yang berlangsung selama dua sesi tersebut masing-masing sesi berbeda rider yang unggul, jika pada sesi free practice 1 Simoncelli keluar sebagai rider tercepat yang di urutan kedua Casey Stoner, namun lain halnya dengan sesi Free practice 2 atau sesi latihan yang kedua menjadi miliknya Dovizioso dan di susul oleh Toni Elias. Menariknya pada sesi latihan pertama cuaca sangat cerah sekali, namun pada sesi latihan kedua cuaca tiba-tiba hujan. Nah bagi anda yang ingin mengetahui hasil dari Sesi Latihan 1 dan dua berikut ini adalah hasil lengkap sesi latihan motogp italia 2011, dan sesuai jadwal motogp 2011 Bahwa untuk livenya akan berlangsung pada tanggal 3 juli 2011 ini, so jangan sampai ketinggal untuk menyaksikan:

Hasil Free Practice I MotoGP Italia
1. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 48.987s
2. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda 1m 49.027s
3. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda 1m 49.088s
4. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 49.251s
5. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 49.364s
6. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 49.810s
7. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda 1m 50.104s
8. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro 1m 50.203s
9. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 50.629s
10. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki 1m 50.658s
11. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 50.683s
12. Randy de Puniet FRA Pramac Racing 1m 50.729s
13. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Marlboro 1m 50.780s
14. Hector Barbera ESP Mapfre Aspar 1m 51.153s
15. Toni Elias ESP LCR Honda 1m 51.868s
16. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 1m 51.876s

Hasil Free Practice II MotoGP Italia
1. Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 1m49.272 6
2. Toni Elias LCR Honda MotoGP 1m51.937s + 2.665 10
3. Valentino Rossi Ducati Team 1m52.550s + 3.278 6
4. Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1m54.497s + 5.225 4
5. Randy De Puniet Pramac Racing Team 1m55.279s + 6.007 13
6. Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing 1m58.334s + 9.062 2
7. Hector Barbera Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP 1m58.748s + 9.476 8
8. Cal Crutchlow Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m59.812s + 10.540 2
9. Nicky Hayden Ducati Team 2m06.386s + 17.114 2
10. Hiroshi Aoyama San Carlo Honda Gresini 2m09.337s + 20.065 3
11. Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2m10.026s + 20.754 2
12. Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing 2m26.938s + 37.666 2
13. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory Racing No time
14. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team No time
15. Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team No time
16. Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini No time

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Istanbul - Petenis nomor satu dunia, Caroline Wozniacki mengawali kiprahnya di WTA Tour Championship dengan kemenangan atas Agnieszka Radwanska. Sementara Maria Sharapova menderita kekalahan.

Menjalani pertandingan pertamanya di Grup Merah, Wozniacki dapat perlawanan sengit dari Radwanska. Sempat tertinggal di set pertama, petenis asal Denmark itu akhirnya bisa menang dengan 5–7, 6–2 dan 6–4.

Setelah dibuat kesulitan oleh Radwanska di set pertama, Wozniacki bangkit di set kedua. Dia berhasil membuat enam kali break sebelum menutup setk kedua dengan keungulan 6-2.

Pada set penentuan Wozniacki mampu langsung unggul 4-2, namun servisnya kemudian mampu dipatahkan Radwanska. Lewat perjuangan berat Wozniacki akhirnya menutup laga dengan keunggulan 6-4.

"Saya sangat gembira bisa memetik kemenangan. Itu pertandingan yang berat di sana. Agnieszka belakangan ini bermain dengan sangat baik. Itu membuat frustrasi karena gagal di set pertama meski sudah mendapatkan tiga kali set poin, tapi saya berhasil menenangkan diri dan melakukan perlawanan," sahut Wozniacki usai laga seperti diberitakan BBC.

Sementara itu dari Grup Putih, Maria Sharapova dipaksa mengakui keunggulan Samantha Stosur. Petenis nomor dua dunia asal Rusia itu menyerah dua set langsung dengan 1-6 dan 5-7.

Setelah tampil buruk di set pertama, Sharapova sesungguhnya punya peluang mencuri set kedua. Namun keunggulan 3-0 yang sempat dia raih gagal dituntaskan menjadi kemenangan.

"Butuh waktu untuk bisa mendapatkan permainan saya. Jelas itu sulit untuk melakukancomeback dan berkompetisi di level ini. Tapi ini sesuatu yang baik karena membuka kesempatan pada diri saya, dan saya melakukan semaksimal mungkin untuk setidaknya berada di sini," ungkap Sharapova mengomentari dirinya yang baru comeback usai mengalami cedera.

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New Jersey - Amerika Serikat akan menjadi tuan rumah untuk dua seri F1 mulai musim 2013 mendatang. Kota terbaru yang akan menghelat balapan jet darat tersebut adalah New Jersey.

Kepastian ditunjuknya New Jersey sebagai salah satu seri F1 di musim 2013 muncul langsung dari gubernurnya, Chris Christie. Balapan tersebut akan digelar di jalan raya, yang membentang sepanjang 5.14 km melewati wilayah Port Imperial, Palisades hingga bagian selatan New York.

"Saya puas New Jersey akan menjadi tuan rumah Formula 1 mulai 2013, membawa salah satu olahraga paling populer dan menegangkan ke halaman rumah kami," sahut Christie seperti diberitakan Autosport.

"Saya bisa pastikan pada Formula 1 kalau ini akan menjadi keputusan paling bijak yang pernah mereka buat, untuk menggelar event ini di New Jersey," lanjut Christie.

Balapan di New Jersey akan menjadi seri F1 kedua yang digelar di Amerika Serikat. Mulai musim 2012 Paman Sam akan menggelar balapan F1 di Austin, Texas, yang waktu penyelanggaraannya adalah pada pertengahan November.

Balapan F1 terakhir yang digelar di Amerika Serikat adalah GP Indianapolis tahun 2007 lalu. Sebelumnya negara tersebut juga menjadi tuan rumah dalam selang 1989 sampai 1991, dan 1961 sampai 1980 yang dilangsungkan di Watkins Glen.

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Arsenal

• Robin van Persie has scored 25 of Arsenal's 48 Premier League goals in 2011.
• Arsenal have won six of their last seven games in all competitions since losing 4-3 at Blackburn last month.
• Gervinho recorded a pass completion of 84% v Stoke - his only misplaced touches were four crosses across the six-yard area.

Aston Villa

• Darren Bent's penalty was Aston Villa's only shot on target against West Brom.
• Six of the last seven matches between Aston Villa and West Brom have ended with a 2-1 scoreline.
• Villa have thrown away more points from a winning position than any other PL team - seven. Those dropped points would put them in fifth.

Blackburn Rovers

• Blackburn attempted a massive 20 shots at home to Tottenham on Sunday.
• They also committed a massive 20 fouls with Steven Nzonzi picking up his fifth yellow card in nine games.
• Blackburn have won just five of 30 Premier League games with Steve Kean as manager.

Bolton Wanderers

• Bolton have lost 12 of their last 14 Premier League games.
• Bolton have not been involved in a PL draw since February 26 v Newcastle.
• Chris Eagles has taken 13 shots in his last two games but scored only once.

Chelsea

• Chelsea have gone eight PL games without a clean sheet - their worst run since 2003.
• David Luiz has given away three penalties in just 14 Premier League games.
• Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge were the only Chelsea outfield starters not to pick up a card at Loftus Road on Sunday.

Everton

• All ten points claimed by Everton this season have come against teams currently in the bottom half of the table.
• Royston Drenthe was the most fouled player of the weekend - drawing a massive eight free-kicks at Fulham.
• The win at Fulham ended a run of nine visits to London without victory for Everton.

Fulham

• Fulham's record of seven points from nine games echoes their 2007/08 season when Lawrie Sanchez lost his job in December.
• Clint Dempsey has had more than twice as many shots (32) as any of his Fulham teammates this season.
• Captain Danny Murphy (34) has been substituted in his last five Fulham appearances.

Liverpool

• Luis Suarez had 11 shots against Norwich on Saturday - more than any other player in any Premier League game this season. He has now had 39 shots this season and scored just four PL goals.
• Stewart Downing had six shots v the Canaries and failed to hit the target once.
• Liverpool would be in second place if they had not thrown away six points from winning positions this season.

Manchester City

• City scored with six of their seven shots on target at Old Trafford.
• They have already scored more goals this season (33) than in the whole of the 2006/07 season (29).
• Samir Nasri, David Silva, James Milner and Micah Richards have been credited with four or more PL assists already this season.

Manchester United

• The 6-1 defeat to City was the biggest loss in their Premier League history.
• It was their biggest derby defeat since 1926.
• The last time they conceded six at Old Trafford was in 1930 against the mighty Huddersfield Town.

Newcastle United

• Newcastle have remained unbeaten for 12 PL games for the first time since 1997.
• Newcastle have scored fewer goals this season than last season (12 v 14) at this stage but have picked up eight more points (19 v 11)
• If games ended after 45 minutes, Newcastle would be languishing in 11th place.

Norwich City

• Norwich hit the target with 57% of their shots on Saturday at Anfield. Liverpool's figure was 31%.
• Keeper John Ruddy was still credited with eight saves at Liverpool.
• Left-back Marc Tierney is the only player to start every PL game for Norwich. He has attempted zero shots.

QPR

• Heidar Helguson is QPR's top scorer this season with a grand total of two goals.
• QPR have recorded their first home win since beating Sheffield United in April.
• Joey Barton conceded the same number of free-kicks v Chelsea (5) as the previous five games put together.

Stoke City

• Stoke have lost all three Sunday games after Europa League clashes by an aggregate of 9-1.
• They managed a grand total of five shots on target in those three defeats.
• Stoke have won only ten away games in 62 attempts in the Premier League.

Sunderland

• Nicklas Bendtner has scored or assisted five of Sunderland's ten goals scored with him on the pitch this season.
• Sunderland have conceded the same number of goals as Liverpool and Chelsea this season.
• Stephane Sessegnon finally scored his first PL goal of the season with his 23rd shot on Saturday at Bolton.

Swansea City

• Michel Vorm has been credited with an impressive 38 saves in nine PL games this season.
• Danny Graham has scored with his only three shots on target in his last three games.
• Swansea have picked up just 11 yellow cards this season - the same total as Manchester City.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Tottenham's 16 points from eight games echoes the 2009/10 season which ended with Spurs in fourth place.
• Rafael van der Vaart has averaged a goal every 153 minutes of PL football for Tottenham.
• The Dutchman has scored the opening goal in Tottenham's last four league games.

West Brom

• Chris Brunt has failed to score with three of his last five PL spot-kicks.
• Brunt now has eight PL assists from set-pieces since the start of 2010/11 - more than any other player.
• West Brom have the same away record (seven points from five games) as Chelsea this season.

Wigan

• Wigan have lost six consecutive Premier League games for the first time since Sept/Oct/Nov 2007 when Chris Hutchings lost his job.
• Wigan have had 30 shots in their last two games but only four have been on target.
• The Latics committed a weekend-high 22 fouls on Newcastle players on Saturday.

Wolves

• Wolves have more points after nine games (eight) than at the same stage last season.
• If games ended after 45 minutes, Wolves would be rock bottom of the Premier League.
• Jamie O'Hara scored his first PL goal of the season with his 29th shot v Swansea on Saturday.

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TENNIS chiefs have played down fears that the Asian swing will become the perennial victim of player pull-outs at the end of the season after high-profile absentees at the Shanghai Masters.

The question of burnout was bubbling away again in Shanghai, missing a clutch of top 20 players including Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, taking some of the shine off the high-profile tournament which finished last Sunday.

America’s Andy Roddick said the no-shows from world No1 Djokovic and 16-time Grand Slam champion Federer were stark evidence of the toll put on players by heavy playing commitments.

The Asian swing consists of five events, taking players to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Tokyo and Shanghai. Andy Murray, the winner in Shanghai, made clear last month that players’ patience was wearing thin, even floating the possibility of a strike, although he sought to play down the issue last week.

Despite the weakened field in China, ATP chief executive Brad Drewett remains unperturbed and is convinced that players are still keen to come to Asia even towards the end of a long and arduous season.

"Events in Asia are some of the most prestigious of the year and the players very much enjoy playing here. Typically the fields for the Asian swing events have been very, very strong," he told AFP.

"Top players consistently say how much they enjoy playing here and they mean it. Players are very well treated here and that’s part of what makes playing these events so attractive," he said .

Drewett said withdrawals were not unique to Asia and it was important not to draw sweeping conclusions from just one tournament. "Just last year, eight of the top 10 players played in Beijing and Tokyo (held simultaneously), and Shanghai had 19 of the top 20 competing. You can’t look at playing patterns based on one year alone," he said.

The vast majority of the top players remain based in the US and Europe but while Drewett concedes local stars would help drive the tennis boom in Asia, he said the game was nevertheless making major strides.

"The ATP World Tour has made huge advancements in this region in the last decade and has a bona fide Asian swing with five strong events over three weeks with prize money nearing $8m, and a strong roster of corporate sponsors supporting them.

"This region definitely remains a focus for us. Of course, local stars always help to drive interest and I believe it’s really just a matter of when, not if, China will have a top player on the circuit. You look at (Kei) Nishikori’s achievements ... and it’s just fantastic. He’s already a huge star in Japan and rapidly increasing his profile globally." Nishikori reached the semifinals in Shanghai.

Drewett played down the chances of Asia ever having its own Grand Slam but nevertheless sees the region as a crucial growth area for the game.

"These events in Asia can be significant events on the ATP World Tour by having fantastic facilities, strong support from their governments and commercially from their sponsors and television. The opportunities are endless in this region."

This year’s schedule started with the Brisbane International on January 2 and finishes with the Davis Cup final starting on November 28.

But despite mutterings of discussions over the heavy schedule among players in Shanghai, it was more a matter of talks about talks with no sign of definitive action.

Murray made it clear that none of the players he knew wanted to strike and he had only said it was a possibility, adding they would try to meet before the end of the year. He said it was not a matter of root and branch reform.

"It’s basically just a matter of two or three weeks in the year that really I think need to change."

World No2 Rafael Nadal said the players were generally of one mind. "There is something there but it is not the right moment to talk about it," he said.

But despite the persistent rumblings Drewett is adamant that the players’ views have been taken on board. "The calendar has long been a topic of conversation and just last year we announced that we would be lengthening our off- season by two weeks beginning in 2012, meaning players will have seven weeks in between ATP World Tour seasons."

He said players’ wellbeing was paramount and the ATP had implemented changes such as reducing draw sizes, giving byes to the top eight seeds, and eliminating five-set finals.

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The body of MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli has arrived back in Italy following Sunday's fatal accident in the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Simoncelli's father Paolo and fellow rider Valentino Rossi were aboard the flight that arrived at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci airport on Tuesday.

They were greeted by Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Petrucci.

Devastated: Marco Simoncelli's father Paolo (left) is embraced by Italian Olympic president Giovanni Petrucci

Home: Airport officials remove the container with the coffin of Simoncelli on the Rome runway on Tuesday

Petrucci ordered a minute's silence before all football matches Sunday and players wore black armbands as a tribute to the young rider.

'On Sunday when we held a minute's silence there was a total demonstration of how much this kid was loved,' Petrucci said. 'We're here to demonstrate the love and affection for this kid.'


Simoncelli died of chest, head and neck injuries after he lost control of his Honda and swerved across the track, straight into the path of American rider Colin Edwards and Rossi.

Rossi, the seven-time world champion, was a good friend of Simoncelli's.

A public viewing of Simoncelli's body is planned for Wednesday in the city theatre of his hometown, Coriano, with the funeral scheduled for Thursday.

Tribute: A biker pays homage as the car with the body of Simoncelli leaves the airport in Rome

Rossi led the tributes for Simoncelli after he became the second high-profile death in motorsport in a week.


Simoncelli was killed exactly a week after British star Dan Wheldon died at the IndyCar 300 in Las Vegas.

Loss: Marco's father Paolo as the hearse drives away on Tuesday morning

The Gresini Honda rider lost control of his bike on the second lap of the circuit in Sepang and was hit by Edwards and Rossi.

The 24-year-old's helmet came off in the collision and he was taken to the medical centre for treatment, but died from his injuries.

Simoncelli suffered 'serious trauma' to the head, neck and chest in the accident.

The organisers cancelled Sunday's race as soon as the extent of Simoncelli's injuries became apparent.

Gresini Racing has now withdrawn its teams from the season-ending races at Valencia.

Team boss Fausto Gresini also confirmed his riders would miss the end-of-season tests which follow on from the November 6 races.

Shattered: Marco's girlfriend Kate at the Fiumicino Airport in Rome as his body returns home

'The only certainty is that my team won't participate in the upcoming Valencia Grand Prix and in the tests programmed after the race,' Gresini told Corriere dello Sport.

'Everything happened so fast. I'm lost for words. I know our job is dangerous, that risk is part of the game, but you always hope nothing happens.

'When it does happen and you find yourself in the middle of it, everything changes, it's difficult to accept it.

'The crash was caused by a sequence of incredibly negative circumstances, the bike that moved towards the inside of the turn instead of the outside, being run over on the widest track of the season.'

Hero: Fans laid flowers in Cattolica after the death of Mario Simoncelli

Rossi said: 'Marco was a star and I'll never forget him. There are a lot of memories that I'll hold onto. We were together everyday, we trained together and racing was our passion. We already knew that this was something that can happen.'

Rossi, who is struggling with Ducati this season, dismissed speculation that he might retire in the aftermath of the crash.

'I never said that. It was probably made up just to sell newspapers,' Rossi said.

Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa had a dispute with fellow factory Honda rider Simoncelli earlier this season, but news of his rival's death left last season's championship runner-up reeling.


Repsol Honda's Pedrosa said: 'In a tragedy like this there is not much to say. I just want to give my condolences to his family and all the people who love him.

Moment of horror: Simoncelli loses control on the second lap

Fall: Edwards spins off the track along with Simoncelli's bike as the 24-year-old Italian devastatingly lies motionless

'I've been with his father and all we could do was to hug, nothing else matters. It was a fatal accident and everybody in the paddock remains in shock.

'Many times we ourselves forget how dangerous this sport can be and when you lose people on the way nothing has any meaning. It's clear that we all do what we like, what we love, but on days like this nothing matters.'

Newly-crowned MotoGP champion Casey Stoner added: 'I'm so shocked and saddened by the loss of Marco. When things like this happen it reminds you how precious life is, it makes me feel sick inside.

'All I can say is how sorry I am for Marco's whole family. I can't imagine what they are all going through and our thoughts and wishes are with them at this time. I hope they all stay close and pull through this tragedy together.'

Speaking at a press conference following the tragedy, medical director Dr Michele Macchiagodena said of Simoncelli: 'Because of the crash he had during the race, in which he was hit by other riders, he suffered a very serious trauma to the head, to the neck and the chest.

Agony: Marco Simoncelli's father is comforted as he waits outside a medical centre where the rider was taken following a crash at the Malaysian Grand Prix

Sorrow: Honda team members (above and below) react to the sad news

'When our medical staff got to him he was unconscious. In the ambulance because there was a cardiac arrest they started CPR (cardiac pulmonary resuscitation).

'Immediately in the medical centre, with the help also of the doctor of our staff at the Clinica Mobile and local doctors, he was intubated and it was possible to take off some blood from the thorax.

'The CPR was continued for 45 minutes because we tried to help him for as long as we thought it was possible. Unfortunately it was not possible to help him and at 16:56 (local time) we had to declare he was dead.'

Simoncelli's compatriot and Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso said: 'I watched the images and I'm shocked: in a race you fight and push hard and disaster is often around the corner.

'Marco was a strong rider and he always pushed hard. We raced together since we were kids, I saw him always pushing to the maximum, he crashed many times, but without major injuries, he was seemed invincible. What happened today seems impossible.'

Simoncelli, who won the 250cc world championship in 2008, clinching the crown in Sepang, stepped up to MotoGP in 2010 and he finished eighth overall last season.

Losing control: Simoncelli (No 58) crashed on the second lap of the race, riding between Edwards and Valentino Rossi

Emergency: Race marshalls quickly arrive at the scene to assist the stricken Simoncelli

His death was the first fatality in MotoGP since Japan's Daijiro Katoh died from his injuries sustained at the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix.

When asked about Simoncelli's helmet coming off, race director Paul Butler said at the press conference: 'I think if I may reply, that will be for another occasion. Quite clearly the consequences and circumstances surrounding the accident will be thoroughly investigated.'

Tributes poured in for Simoncelli from both MotoGP and the wider world of motorsport.

Formula One driver Mark Webber wrote on Twitter: 'R.I.P Marco A special talent that will be missed... Thinking of your loved ones, and all the motogp paddock..mark."


Britain's Jenson Button wrote on his Twitter account: 'R.I.P Marco... Such an exciting talent lost. My thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone involved in MotoGP. Motorsport can be so cruel...'

Wheeled away: Track officials remove Simoncelli's motorcycle after the dreadful accident

British rider Cal Crutchlow added on Twitter: 'RIP Marco Simoncelli ! A great rider and all round nice guy. My thoughts are with all his family & friends.'

Cancelled: Rubbish covers the track after the race was abandoned early in Sepang

Delivering the news: MotoGp officials relay the tragic announcement

'An inconceivable death which has stunned Italian sport. For this reason we decided that all sport today should honor him with a minute's silence.'

A statement on the MotoGP official website read: 'On Sunday 23rd October, during the MotoGP race at the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, San Carlo Honda Gresini's Italian rider Marco Simoncelli suffered a serious accident in which he received critical injuries.

'The race was stopped immediately with the red flag and Simoncelli was transported by ambulance to the circuit medical centre where the medical staff worked to resuscitate him.

'Despite their efforts, Marco sadly succumbed to his injuries at 4:56pm local time.

Support: Simoncelli's girlfriend Kate is consoled by a TV crew member following her partner's tragic crash

Agony: Simoncelli's mother Rossella is inconsolable

'Everybody involved in MotoGP extends its deepest condolences to Marco's family, friends and team at this tragic loss.'

Simoncelli, who won the 250cc world championship in 2008, clinching the crown in Sepang, stepped up to MotoGP in 2010.

A message on Simoncelli's Gresini Honda team website read simply 'CIAO "SUPER SIC"'.

The Rizla Suzuki team wrote: 'All at Rizla Suzuki are deeply affected by today's tragic events and send their deepest condolences to Marco's family and friends during this time of great loss.


'R.I.P Marco Simoncelli, 20 January 1987 - 23 October 2011 - A true competitor.'

Of the other riders involved, Edwards suffered a dislocated shoulder after being thrown from his bike, while Rossi managed to limp back to the pits.

Meanwhile, Rossi's mentor has denied the Italian great will be retiring from the sport in the wake of his Simoncelli's death.

Davide Brivio, Rossi's manager at former team Yamaha, responded to widespread internet rumours that the 32-year-old was too upset to carry on racing.

'Many are asking about Vale stopping races. This is absolutely not true and I'm sorry even that I have to explain it,' Brivio wrote on Twitter.

Tribute: A huge screen shows a picture of Simoncelli during a minute's silence at the Roma v Palermo at the Olympic stadium

Read more >>

Soaring temperatures and humidity levels are causing concern for the stellar field assembled for this week's CIMB Classic in Malaysia.

The co-sanctioned $6.1million PGA Tour and Asian Tour event begins on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, where temperatures are touching highs of 32 degrees and humidity is above 90 per cent.

American Brandt Snedeker - a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year - said: "I got in Monday night and kind of walked around and got acclimatised to it.

"We try to compare the weather here to Memphis because we play Memphis in June. Memphis in June is hot, but I think this takes the cake.

"This is mild today, they said. It's all overcast, but I walked outside and I was sweating at 9:00am."

Swede Fredrik Jacobson added: "I always had a tough time playing in Malaysia and in Thailand because coming from Sweden and living there, those were the first tournaments of the year for us in the 90s.

"I was coming straight out of the wintry climate in Sweden and coming into the hot, humid weather was always difficult. Now coming from Florida, the weather feels more like what I am used to in Florida."

American Jonathan Byrd, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour, said he had never known heat like it. "I grew up in South Carolina and that's hot. But it's very different here, I sweated a lot today."

But not everyone was concerned. Asian Tour regular Siddikur, who prefers to go by the one name, said: "Coming from Bangladesh, this is normal for me. I like it."

Temperatures and humidity levels are expected to remain sky-high throughout the week and are unlikely to be tempered by the heavy rains that are also forecast.

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CLARK FREEPORT -- More than 100 aspiring athletes from different schools in Pampanga participated in a one-day intensive basketball training sponsored by the AirAsia Philippine Patriots last Saturday at the Philippine Air Force gymnasium here.

Maan Hontiveros, AirAsia Philippines Incorporated chief executive officer, said the airline has constantly dedicated itself to supporting sports, not only abroad but also in the Philippines.

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“We are the title sponsor of the AirAsia Philippine Patriots, the country’s representative to the AirAsia Asean Basketball League. Today, we are taking our partnership a step farther with a community project that aims to involve Filipino kids and their parents in the sport of basketball,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros even paid tribute to Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) legend Billy Ray Bates, who displayed his skills in shooting and ball handling during the clinic.

Bates has been appointed as coach of the AirAsia Philippine Patriots. He was awarded as a PBA Hall of Famer recently.

“These kids may not be familiar with Mr. Bates but I am sure their parents can very well recall how Billy made an indelible impression as one of the best players in the Philippine basketball,” Hontiveros said.

“He is an inspiration to all of us. More than mastering the skills of the game, these young athletes will bring home a unique experience that they can share with their friends,” she added.

Jacque Ruby of the AirAsia Philippine Patriots affirmed Bates’s role in the team.

“Billy is not a coach to us but an inspiration. We look forward to practicing with him and hopefully we will bring home the championship ring next year,” Ruby said.

The basketball clinic provided participants fundamentals on the game. It was also aimed at developing discipline and confidence among the aspiring athletes.

AirAsia Philippines has also slated three more trainings on November 6 in Caloocan City, November 25 at Don Bosco School in Makati, and December 5 in Angeles City.

For his part, Bates said the level of basketball in the Philippines has improved tremendously.

“If these little boys and girls start learning the skills now, the Philippines will have a good shot at winning world championship and Olympic medals,” Bates said.

Hontiveros underscored the importance of sports in nation building. She even lauded parents for encouraging their children to participate in the sports activity.

“Sports is important not only for physical and mental development of our children but for national development. It is a source of national pride and self-esteem. Like what the Philippine Patriots team has been doing in the Asean basketball league and many others who came before them, sports bring together classes, races, and communities in shared pride,” Hontiveros said.

AirAsia is key partner of other international team such as Team Lotus (Formula 1), AirAisa British Grand Prix (MotoGP), Team AirAsia-Sepang International Circuit-Ajo (MotoGP), and Oakland Raiders (NFL).

It runs its own motorsport talent development program through the AirAsia Team Lotus Driver Development Program. It has recently announced major partnership with the English football squad, the Queens Park Rangers (popularly referred to as QPR).

AirAsia keeps abreast with the social media community through Facebook and Twitter accounts. Guests are able to receive real-time updates on the latest promotions and interact with AirAsia via facebook.com/AirAsiaPhilippines and twitter.com/AirAsiaPh.

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British number three Anne Keothavong breezed into the semi-finals of the Luxembourg Open with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Bibiane Schoofs. 

The world number 93 backed up Thursday's defeat of Ana Ivanovic with a performance of authority against the Dutch qualifier. 

Keothavong dominated behind her serve, producing three aces as well as winning 70 percent of point on her second serve, as she won in an hour and five minutes. 

The 28-year-old will take on Monica Niculescu in her seventh WTA Tour semi-final after the Romanian defeated Lucie Hradecka 6-4 6-4. 

Azarenka through 

Niculescu, ranked 34 in the world, will be a tough opponent for Keothavong as she bids to become the first British finalist in a main tour event since Jo Durie in 1990. 

Top seed Victoria Azarenka moved through with a straight-sets defeat of Iveta Benesova. 

The world number three was inconsistent with her serve, her two aces overshadowed by five double-faults. 

However, the Belorussian prevailed and won 6-3 6-2 in one hour and 17 minutes. 

Azarenka will now meet Julia Goerges, who progressed when her opponent Anastasija Sevastova retired with the German 5-2 ahead in the first set.

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While watching David Silva and Spain dismantle a dogged and compact Scotland on Wednesday, it struck me: this was hardly Spain’s best outfit and they were dominating.
Silva cemented his bona fides as one of the top half-dozen players in world football and Spain, with a team featuring second-choice players like Thiago Alcantara, Jordi Alba and Santi Cazorla, passed Scotland into an uneasy submission. The Scots, bless ‘em, tried hard but the Spaniards seemed at times to be playing not just another game, but on another plane.
The players who didn’t feature on Tuesday – Torres, Casillas, Xabi Alonso, Iniesta, Mata – mean it’s now apparent that Spain’s second XI could be one of the world’s ten best international outfits. Not accounting for squads (only first teams), they are helped by a healthy youth league and a relative dearth of great opposition: realistically, only the Netherlands and Germany are able to hold a candle to the Spaniards. Brazil and Argentina today are still good, but only resemble their most terrifying best.
The FIFA world rankings (hardly the greatest indicator, but the only one we’ve got) suggest the world’s top ten sides are Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Uruguay, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, England, Croatia and Argentina.
In living up to their position description as confusing and nonsensical, the FIFA rankings have Croatia ranked ninth and Greece sitting in eleventh position. This is in spite of both squads finding themselves in the same qualifying group for Euro 2012; a group from which Greece qualified and Croatia now face a tricky playoff tie with Turkey.
We can, however, suggest this is a fairly accurate representation of the best teams in world football.
Were Spain’s Second XI to feature in the FIFA rankings, they’d come up against three great teams (Germany, the Netherlands and Uruguay), two inconsistent ones (the other South Americans) and four eminently beatable squads, each with major weaknesses. Apart from perhaps a perceived weakness in central defence, Spain II play a similar brand of football to their first-choice brethren, have pace in abundance and, as they showed on Tuesday, discipline.
Using Spain’s favoured 4-2-3-1, the second furia roja would probably include: Valdes; Alba, Jose Enrique, Alvaro Arbeloa and Raul Albiol; Thiago, Javi Martinez, Cesc Fabregas, Santi Cazorla and Pedro; and Fernando Llorente.
Wow.
The argument could be made that this team also features some of the best players dozen players in Spain. In this lineup Pedro plays for the twos, yet started in their World Cup triumph last year – superseded by Mata and Silva. Valdes’ recent success in head-to-head battles with Casillas now invites, rather than discourages, comparison between the two. Fabregas is shuttled out of the Spain midfield (as with club) by players comfortably in the World’s top five. Spain has played better recently when Llorente – rather than Torres – has led the line.
This club may even trouble the the vaunted Spain first team. The Spain Second XI are, on paper, a better team than Croatia, Portugal and even Italy. Place Spain v2.0 in any one of the Euro 2012 qualifying groups (and back them with suitable squad depth) and they at least make the playoffs from each. It’s probably also the case that they’d slice England to pieces also.
The simile used most with Spain (and Barcelona) is “death by one thousand cuts”. Perhaps a more appropriate metaphor may be that Spanish football is at present drowning the rest of the football world – inexorably, constrictingly and (given their outstanding Euro U-21 campaign) shows no signs of receding. All that is certain is the next wave of Spanish attacks could well overwhelm a struggling Scot, Lithuanian or even Oranje. After decades of torment, La Furia Roja is certainly making up for lost time.
While going back-to-back-to-back at major tournaments is so difficult that it’s spoke of in grail-like reverence, the smart money for next year’s Euros is on a three-peat – perhaps simply because the difficulty of staying focused for such a period is balanced by the failure of chief rivals Germany and the Netherlands to bridge a gaping talent gap.

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We look a statistical preview ahead of Manchester United v Manchester City, the key football statisticsleading into the game, comparing the forward lines of both clubs and Manchester United’s defensive weaknesses this season.

MANCHESTER’S GOAL-HUNGRY STRIKERS SETTING LEAGUE ALIGHT

Both Manchester clubs have been in superb goalscoring form in the Premier League, with City netting a league-high 27 goals so far, followed by United in second place with 25.

Both sides’ frontlines have hit the ground running this season, with eight of the top 10 places in the Minutes per Goal rankings coming from either the blue or the red half of Manchester.

Mins per goal – PL 2011/12                                      Top Goalscorers – PL 2011/12

Prem Lge 11/12	Team	Goals	Mins per Goal		Prem Lge 11/12	Games	Goals
Agüero	Man City	8	55		Man City	8	27
Rooney	Man Utd	9	62		Man Utd	8	25
Dzeko	Man City	6	69		Chelsea	8	20
Balotelli	Man City	3	75		Tottenham	7	13
Sturridge	Chelsea	4	78		Arsenal	8	12
Ba	Newcastle Utd	5	79		Bolton	8	12
Welbeck	Man Utd	3	106		Liverpool	8	11
Hernández	Man Utd	3	107		Newcastle Utd	8	11

*Only including players to score 3+ goals

For City, summer signing Sergio Aguero has been their top scorer, with the Argentine netting a goal every 55 minutes on average, while he has also managed to provide two assists. The Citizens two other regular strikers this season, the in-form duo of Balotelli and Dzeko have also started the season superbly, netting nine goals between them so far. Interestingly, despite his image as a physical target man, the Bosnian has also created 13 goal-scoring chances so far this season, a haul only Wayne Rooney and Kevin Doyle can better among central strikers.

The ubiquitous Rooney has already notched a league-high nine goals this season as well as providing two assists (and those 18 goal-scoring chances), while Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Danny Welbeck have also been reliable scorers, netting three a piece so far.

The forgotten men Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov have yet to set their seasons alight, for different reasons, but with their attacking team-mates scoring for fun so far, they haven’t been missed.

Premier League 2011/12 – Manchester Strikers

Prem Lge 11/12	Agüero	Balotelli	Dzeko	Tévez		Rooney	Hernández	Welbeck	Berbatov
Team	City	City	City	City		Utd	Utd	Utd	Utd
Minutes On Pitch	436	226	412	90		561	321	318	106
Goal Attempts
Goals	8	3	6	0		9	3	3	0
Mins per goal	55	75	69	-		62	107	106	-
Total Shots	21	13	17	5		31	7	10	3
Shooting Accuracy	52%	38%	65%	60%		55%	71%	50%	67%
Conversion Rate	38%	23%	35%	0%		29%	43%	30%	0%
Passing
Goal Assists	2	0	1	0		2	0	2	0
Chances Created	9	6	13	4		18	4	4	0

UNITED GIVING OPPOSITION TOO MANY CHANCES TO SHOOT

Despite their impressive start to the new Premier League season, Manchester United have allowed their opponents to fire in a total of 47 shots on target so far, a figure only Bolton Wanderers can “better”.

Luckily for the Red Devils, only six of those shots have ended as goals for the opposition. Indeed, that total of just six goals conceded is a joint-league low, along with rivals Manchester City and in-form side Newcastle United.

Premier League 2011/12 – Goals and Shots On Conceded

Prem Lge 11/12	Games	Goals Conceded		Prem Lge 11/12	Games	Shots On Conceded
Man City	8	6		Bolton Wanderers	8	51
Man Utd	8	6		Man Utd	8	47
Newcastle Utd	8	6		Swansea City	8	44
Stoke City	8	8		Tottenham	7	44
Aston Villa	8	9		Wigan Athletic	8	44

Interestingly, while United’s regular midfielders Anderson and Darren Fletcher have been impressive going forward this season, they rank quite low in terms of the frequency of their tackles when compared to the top division’s other regular midfielders.

Premier League 2011/12 – Central Midfielders – Top Tacklers

Ranking	Player	Team	Mins per Tackle
1	Lucas	Liverpool	14.3
2	Cattermole	Sunderland	17.6
3	Mulumbu	West Brom	17.7
4	Parker	Tottenham	18.5
5	Cabaye	Newcastle Utd	20.1
13	Anderson	Man Utd	28.4
42	Fletcher	Man Utd	45.0

*only including players to play 300+ minutes

However, the star of the show for Manchester United, defensively speaking, has been young goalkeeper David De Gea, who has blossomed between the posts after enduring a difficult start to his career in English football.

The Spanish shot-stopper has posted the best saves to shots rate in the division so far, while he has also made more saves. His City counterpart, Joe Hart, ranks second in terms of his save percentage, although the England man has kept twice as many clean sheets as the United No.1

Premier League 2011/12 – Top 5 saves-to-shots ratio

Prem Lge 11/12	Team	Saves	Save %	Clean Sheets	Goals Conceded
De Gea	Man Utd	36	85.7%	2	6
Hart	Man City	23	79.3%	4	6
Begovic	Stoke City	27	77.1%	4	8
Krul	Newcastle Utd	20	76.9%	3	6
Given	Aston Villa	28	75.7%	3	8

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