Lorenzo wins a 2008 title

Jorge Lorenzo became the highest ranked MotoGP rookie since team-mate Valentino Rossi's runner-up finish in the 2000 500ccc World Championship, by securing fourth in the final 2008 rankings - despite a disappointing season finale at Valencia.

After struggling for grip on Saturday, Lorenzo started from seventh on the grid and things got worse as the race got underway. He was unable to find a rhythm and slipped to eleventh until mid-race distance. From then on he began to improve and he was able to make up three places, finishing strongly and setting his fastest lap of the race on the 30th and final lap.

“I feel a bit disappointed with this result today because I really wanted to finish the season with a podium, but in the end we couldn't manage it here," said Jorge. "We had some problems though so I have to be happy that I was able to finish the race strongly, passing people and doing my best lap of the race on the last lap, especially when you consider that yesterday in qualifying I was the slowest on race tyres!"

Nevertheless, the Spaniard's first season in MotoGP has seen him win a race and take a further five podiums and four pole positions, helping Yamaha to secure the Team and Manufacturers' titles to add to Rossi's Riders' World Championship.

Lorenzo took the rookie of the year title by 16 points from JiR Team Scot's Andrea Dovizioso, despite missing the Catalan Grand Prix due to injury.

"The best thing about today is that I am the leading rookie, so I get a trophy all the same and this makes me very proud of my first season in MotoGP with Yamaha," said Lorenzo, following his last race with Michelin tyres. "I want to thank all of my team, engineers and everyone who has helped us. I also have to say a special thank you to Michelin for their work this season because this is our last race with them. I am very proud that I was able to win my first MotoGP race with them."

Lorenzo will make his Bridgestone debut with an early version of next year's YZR-M1 during testing on Monday and Tuesday.

"Tomorrow we begin straight away to work on the 2009 bike and I am very excited to try it," he said.

Source:
http://www.crash.net

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Pedrosa: Stoner had something extra

Dani Pedrosa has been forced to wait until 2009 to claim his first Bridgestone MotoGPvictory after watching Casey Stoner edge away from him during Sunday's Valencia season finale.

The Repsol Honda rider came into the event having won the two previous Spanish rounds - albeit on Michelin tyres - and seeking to improve on the two wins per season that he has now recorded in all three years of MotoGP competition.

Pedrosa's chances looked good when he got yet another scorching start to blast past Stoner into turn one, but the Ducati rider retaliated at the next corner. Stoner then pulled slightly away with every lap, while Pedrosa steadily increased his advantage over third position.

Dani finished 3.390sec behind Stoner and 8.804sec clear of world champion Valentino Rossi. By beating Pedrosa, Stoner - who had already secured second in the world championship in front of the Spaniard - handed Ducati second in the constructors' championship over Honda.

"I am happy with second place today. I pushed Casey as hard as I could but he had something a little extra and he managed the gap very well," confessed Pedrosa, who rode in a special retro Repsol livery. "We worked hard all weekend, so my thanks to my team and also to Repsol, the bike I rode today was one of the best-looking bikes I've ridden. The crowd was great, it was fantastic to see so many fans here, packing the grandstands and obviously really enjoying the spectacle and pushing us along."

Pedrosa began the 2008 season injured and did further damage when he fell from the lead of a wet German Grand prix, round ten of 18, a mistake that also cost him the world championship lead.

Nevertheless, Dani battled back to end the year with two wins, ten podiums and third in the championship - despite withdrawing from the US GP due to his Sachsenring injuries, then falling on lap one of the Australian Grand Prix.

Reflecting on the year, Pedrosa admitted his switch from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres after round twelve at Brno had generated plenty of criticism, but was happy with how he has finished the season.

Source:
http://www.crash.net

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Liverpool sweat on injured trio

Liverpool hope Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane and Xabi Alonso will face Chelsea on Sunday despite sustaining injuries against Atletico Madrid.

The trio failed to finish Wednesday's 1-1 Champions League draw in Spain.

Keane is causing Reds manager Rafael Benitez the most concern: "We need to check with Keane. I don't think it will be serious.

"It was a little bit of a muscle problem for Robbie. Gerrard is okay and Alonso has a knock on his knee."

Benitez admitted he was disappointed with a draw because his team "had chances to finish off the game".

Liverpool took the lead at the Vicente Calderon stadium in the 14th minute when Keane calmly finished a trademark Gerrard through ball beyond Atletico keeper Leo Franco.

And the Merseysiders dominated the first half, but did not make the most of their supremacy, with Keane missing a straightforward chance to put Liverpool further ahead.

In the end, the visitors were grateful for a point after being forced onto the back foot for most of the second period with Simao Sabrosa equalising in the 83rd minute.

"We made a mistake in the 83rd minute and we paid for it," admitted Benitez, whose side are now joint top of Group D with Atletico with both on seven points.

"If you said to me before the game that we would have seven points it might have been good, but after leading until the 83rd minute and the chances that we had, in my opinion we have lost another two points.

"We didn't have one or two of situations, we had plenty of them on the edge of the box and we didn't finish them off.

"I think we have played a very good match, we have controlled the match and when you play well the other team looks worse.

"I think the entrance of Kun (Sergio Aguero) gave more depth to their play and we defended worse, and they also took advantage of the favourable wind in order to play long passes against us."

The injuries to Keane, Gerrard and Alonso may have contributed to Liverpool's poor second-half performance.

And with striker Fernando Torres already struggling with a hamstring problem, the possibility that the trio could miss the visit to Stamford Bridge leaves Benitez with a headache.

Keane was the first to be taken off when he was replaced by Dirk Kuyt just after half-time, and then Gerrard was the next to make way in the 61st minute before Alonso left the action with 15 minutes to go.

Benitez added: "We are trying to keep players with fresh legs and 100% fit, so we were trying to protect all of them."

The Spaniard admitted the result may have been different had Torres played but did not want to dwell on the matter.

"Obviously he's a special player and it could have been a different match," he said.

"But he was unavailable so it doesn't matter. He couldn't play."

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk

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Hurley praises 'fantastic' Jones

Sunderland legend Charlie Hurley has admitted he is a big fan of striker Kenwnye Jones ahead of Saturday's visit of Newcastle United.

Jones, 24, could make a first-team return from injury in the opening Tyne-Wear derby of the season and Hurley believes Jones' presence could be key.

"I would have found Kenwyne a real handful, he's fantastic in the air," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"You lose that little bit without him and he can play a bit too."

Between 1957 and 1969 Hurley, now 72, became a fans favourite at Sunderland with his efforts as a tough, uncompromising centre-half.

That affection was demonstrated during the club's centenary celebrations in 1979 when 'The King' as he was known around Roker Park was voted as the club's 'Player of the Century'.

And Hurley, who also figured for Millwall and Bolton during his 18-year career, confessed his passions have always lain with Sunderland since his time on Wearside.

"The Sunderland fans are my friends and it doesn't matter if it's bad or good, watching Sunderland always makes me tense," he said.

"If we get a result then it makes my day, I'll have a few drinks."

Saturday's derby comes just months after the Wearsiders were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle at St James' Park in last season's encounter.

Having figured in 10 derbies, the most notable a 3-0 win at Roker Park in April 1962, Hurley is adamant that matches between Sunderland and Newcastle are the most passionate in football.

"You cannot beat a better derby than Newcastle and Sunderland," he said.

"I used to be up for every game but there was a certain magic about playing against Newcastle and the fans depended on your so much to get a result.

"Middlesbrough, Newcastle - games against Middlesbrough don't come into the same street as this."

Supporters continue to make derbies between Sunderland and Newcastle as explosive and spectacular an experience as any football match in the world.

However, Hurley can recall a time when the fans were closer to the players and helped give them a boost ahead of the game.

"We used to go to the Roker Park Hotel, have our lunch, then we'd walk down to the ground and the fans would walk with us.

"They'd chat with us, they'd say: 'Come on Charlie, you've got to beat these!'

"They didn't mess about, and they didn't have to tell us, but by the time we got to the ground they'd wound you up to not get beaten."

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk

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Gallas admits to slump

Arsenal and France centre-back William Gallas concedes he has suffered disappointing form for both club and country.

The Gunners captain's defending has come in for criticism following the side's stuttering beginning to the new campaign.

France have also struggled after they slumped to defeat in their first World Cup qualifier, following a poor showing at Euro 2008.

The former Chelsea player, 31, is aware he has not been at the top of his game but has vowed to return to his best.

Most difficult
He said: "I can say we have not seen the Gallas from 2006 this term so far. In a few matches, I have not been so good. With the French team in Sweden and Austria, I was not very good at some moments.

"I would close my eyes if I would say I am strong. That would mean I don't recognise I did have a few bad performances, as recently with my club against Hull City. Maybe I feel a little tried.

"Do I experience the most difficult period since I joined Arsenal? We could say yes. Above all I miss consistency. One match is good, the other one is not so good. However, I am doing everything to get to my best again."

Source:
http://www.premierleague.com

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Silvestre relishing responsibility

Mikael Silvestre is happy to be the elder statesman helping guide a young Arsenal side he feels can grow in stature.

Arsene Wenger's Gunners - who were without injured captain William Gallas plus fellow defenders Kolo Toure and Bacary Sagna - look a huge step towards the Champions League knockout stages following following their stunning 5-2 Champions League win over Fenerbahce in Istanbul.

Silvestre, who put through his own net, was making only his second appearance since signing from Manchester United because of a thigh problem. The 31-year-old, though, maintains he is relishing working alongside such a talented young bunch.

"At United, I didn't have to shout that much to guide my partners. It is a responsibility, but when I signed for Arsenal I accepted it straight away," said the former France defender.

"It was not easy to come here with a good atmosphere against us and I think we coped not too bad with the experienced players we played against.

"It was a good game to improve and learn from. Hopefully we can get some consistency."

Source:
http://www.premierleague.com

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Balotelli puts Italy through to Euro U21 2009

What can you say about Mario Balotelli? He may be arrogant, he may be overly confident, he may get too many yellow cards, but say what you want because the fact of the matter is that the 18 year old Inter striker is the real deal. Balotelli is easily Italy’s best young talent and is definitely a future superstar. Technique, power, agility, speed, Balotelli has it all and the future is his (as long as he keeps his head on straight). The latest example of his talent came yesterday in Italy’s U21 play-off in Tel-Aviv, Israel. Balotelli missed the first leg because of the flu and Italy were drab and uninspired in the 0-0 draw. He recovered for the second leg and started upfront. In the 4th minute Italy obtained a free kick from around 35 yards out. Balotelli stepped up to take it, and this happened:

A perfect free kick, hit with power and accuracy that just blazed into the top corner. (Thank God Giovinco was suspended or else Balotelli wouldn’t be taking that free kick, if anyone remembers Giovinco went on a little rant a month ago saying how he has seniority on the U21 squad when it comes to free kicks). All I can say about that goal is “wow”. In the 25th minute, he then decided to do this:

And now his record with the U21 is 3 games, 3 goals. Italy second another later on in the game through the excellent Ignazio Abate, but Italy can thank Balotelli for their qualification to the Euro U21 2009 tournament in Sweden this summer.

Source:
http://italy.theoffside.com

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