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Akiyoshi in for Pedrosa

Overweight Japanese test mule Kousuke Akiyoshi has been un-sensationally drafted in to replace the injured kneecap of Dani Pedrosa for the upcoming MotoGP test at Jerez.

"He's piled on the noodles for sure" exclaimed one eye witness "We half expected him to start hoying great handful of salt around and shoving folk out of his 'doyo'. That said we're really glad Pedrosa's not here."

It's believed that the Evil Honda Corporation decided to use Akiyoshi due to him being both fat yet likeable and thus would be able to give valuable feedback on the bike from the exact opposite end of the spectrum to Pedrosa.
More importantly, however, is that the move strengthens the rumours that HRC, bored with Dani and annoyed with his wigged manager, are set to ditch Spaniard at the end of the season and go back to having correctly proportioned riders.

Meanwhile, back in donkeyland, Dani Pedrosa's chances of being fit for the opening round in Qatar are said to be on schedule.
"Sadly I think Pedrosa and his aura of misery will be ready to pollute all at the opening race of the season" bemoaned one Lorenzo loving Doctor "He'll still be short and boring though - medical science could never fix that chronic issue."

Source:
http://www.motogpnews.com

Gibernau elated to be back in competitive action

Finishing eighth in the BMW M Award at Jerez was a significant achievement for MotoGP comeback star Sete Gibernau and his new team Grupo Francisco Hernando.

Despite major worries about his fitness before the Official MotoGP Test, the trip to southern Spain was a success for veteran rider Sete Gibernau as he plots his return to premier class racing.

A reoccurrence of an old shoulder injury in a private training session earlier this year meant the Spanish star missed the second MotoGP test of 2009 in Qatar and before Jerez he was unsure of how much he would be able to ride at the weekend.

Indeed during the course of Saturday’s six hour free practice Gibernau undertook fewer laps than anyone else and ended the day sixteenth on the timesheet. However, he took heart from his 39 turns of the atmospheric Andalusian venue and on Sunday he used all his experience to up the pace.

Having finished the BMW M Award session in eighth place, just 0.471 behind third placed Loris Capirossi, Gibernau was delighted to have returned to competitive riding. He stated, “I’m really excited and I had a lot of fun. Ducati have been really fantastic with us. We went last week to visit them in Italy and they really worked with us. I am very proud of my team, they are helping me so much and I really think we are doing a great job. We have started from zero and it is hard. Right now we can say that we are progressing hard.”

Extending his thanks beyond Ducati and his own technical team, Gibernau added, “I really want to thank Grupo Francisco Hernando for all their support as well, as they are doing an excellent job and I want to acknowledge the work of Pablo and Gelete Nieto in particular. They are new to this experience and they are overcoming every obstacle they encounter as they build this project into a real MotoGP team from nothing. In the past I was able to put all my energy into riding but now I am doing a lot more than that, but thanks to my experience I feel I am able to deal with all the challenges.”

Asked what he expected for round one, which takes place in less than two weeks at the Losail International Circuit, he replied, “Physically we will struggle, we know that. But, mentally what we achieved in Jerez was great for the whole team. I think once again we are going to have to be very focused on our jobs as a team and myself physically in my preparations for Qatar. We will do our best to take whatever we can from that. To keep enjoying it and working hard is our main goal.”

Source:
http://www.motogp.com

Elías disappointed at conclusion of preseason testing

Last weekend San Carlo Honda Gresini's returning rider Toni Elias finished ninth in the BMW M Award and he was not happy about his preseason concluding pace.

Toni Elías has a big opportunity this year as he is re-united with Fausto Gresini, who has provided the likeable Spaniard with a factory Honda machine in 2009.

Riding a satellite Ducati last season Elías was a disappointing twelfth in the final standings, but having returned to the Honda Gresini team over the winter he hopes to find consistent form this season.

At the conclusion of last weekend’s Official MotoGP test, however, the 26 year-old was dismayed that he could not finish higher than ninth in the BMW M Award and lagged 1.62s behind pace setter Casey Stoner.

Having been tenth and twelfth respectively in the Saturday Free Practice 1 and Sunday Free Practice 2 sessions, Elías knows there is work to do if he is to run near the front in the season-opening MotoGP race in Qatar on 12th April.

“Well I’m not happy because we were so far behind Stoner,” Elías reflected on the Jerez test. “But anyway, we had the same problems as we had in the Qatar night test. We were working hard to try and find good solutions but we didn’t see any big improvements. I think the most important thing is that we acknowledge the problem and we know the direction we need to go in.”

He continued, “There are still two weeks before the start of the championship and I think away from the track we can work a lot and I hope to be readier for the first race. I think we need to work more with the frame, we need more solutions. I really believe in Honda and I believe in the power of the bike. It is an incredible machine so if we work a little bit harder we can be really good this season.”

Source:
http://www.motogp.com

Head Chef - Modern Contemporary Restaurant - Melbourne

Job description
This is a fantastic opportunity to join the pre-opening managment team to fine tune the final touches of design and construction of what will be an award winning room. You have a clean slate to build and develop your own crew to open a modern contemporary restaurant located in the heart of Melbourne.

This restaurant will have 150+ seats including a gorgeous private dining room. Open lunch and dinner it will demonstrate modern Australian flavours in a contemporary format.

Your experience will match all the qualities of this superb restaurants exemplary service and stylish designer decor. The menu reflects the Chef's passion for creativity, using local and imported products, while each dish is served simply and with panache. With a passion for food and wine and a true understanding of what excellent service truly means this is an exceptional opportunity to join one of Melbourne's outstanding dining experiences.

You must have a proven history as a head chef in well established / award winning restaurants and be able to manage a large team in a consistent and busy environment, with excellent knowledge of domestic flavors and the desire to achieve a award winning restaurant by next year.

Source:
http://www.careerjet.co.uk

Executive Housekeeper at HOCAPS International (Malaysia)

Job description
This is an excellent opportunity to join this luxury five star resort. Located on a beachfront overlooking the South China Sea it consists of 400 rooms and suites and a number of villas.

On behalf of our client we are looking for an experienced Executive Housekeepers with international five star hotel background. A college diploma in tourism or business management would be an asset.

The successful candidate will ensure adherence to guest services standards within established departmental policies and procedures. Enforce operating procedures and standards for Housekeeping department.

You will be responsible for the entire hotel presentation, encompassing the guest rooms, conference rooms, restaurant and public areas. Must be an enthusiastic, well presented, customer focused, team player with:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Good time management and the ability to multitask

• Strong leadership skills

• Attention to detail

• Fluent written and spoken knowledge of English.

For further information, please contact Magdalena Dubinska by email: magda@hocaps.com. If already registered with HOCAPS, it is not necessary to send a CV unless it needs to be updated from our last contact with you. It may be easier to just send an email expressing your interest. However, if you have not registered with HOCAPS, please send a full CV in Word or PDF format. For international assignments, it is essential that we also receive a business style photograph. We always require three referees with email contact details, in order to progress with any suitable candidates.

Source:
http://www.careerjet.co.uk

MEP Project Manager at Hostec International (Hong Kong)

Job description
- Global leader in Luxury!
- Move up in Management - Second in Charge for the entire group's Projects
- Hong Kong Based - though travel the region

Our client, a globally admired luxury hotel operator with major presence across Asia, currently has an outstanding opportunity for an MEP Project Manager to oversee their existing and new properties.

To be based in corporate office (Hong Kong) and reporting to the Head of Projects and Technical Services, you will drive the ongoing construction and design progress for all of their stunning properties.

In line with expected duties, you will define contractor responsibilities and expectations, create and manage project budgets, as well as ultimately managing the execution of sub-contractors to ensure that they meet or exceed all local regulatory standards.

Working within a strong team of in-house professionals (Onsite Project Managers, Architectural Managers, and various coordinator’s), you will be second in charge for the department.

To be successful in this role, you must have:

• Qualification as an Mechanical Engineer (with overall MEP Experience)

• Full Project Management experience of luxury hotel developments (Essential) and Value Engineering

• Solid communication with fluency in English (Mandarin would be very beneficial though not essential, or ideally French)

• Ability to travel extensively throughout Asia and Europe

This is an outstanding opportunity for a leading hotel MEP Project Manager to lead the development of a new luxury hotels and take the next step into Corporate Management.

On offer will be an excellent salary package with extensive benefits negotiable for the right candidate.

Source:
http://www.careerjet.co.uk

Nadal, Serena sparkle in Miami

World number ones Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams advanced to the third round of the ATP and WTA Miami hardcourt tournament but Serbian third seed Jelena Jankovic was ousted.

Nadal dismissed 72nd-ranked Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia 6-2 6-2 while Williams, a two-time defending champion seeking her sixth title in eight years here, beat fellow American Alexa Glatch 6-2 6-3.

"I'm very happy," Nadal said. "I think Gabashvili didn't really play a bad game. He played hard and I think I played well."

The biggest shocker so far at the nine million-dollar event saw Argentina's Gisela Dulko, ranked 35th in the world, eliminate Jankovic 6-4 7-6 (7-5) to set a third-round matchup against Czech Iveta Benesova.

Nadal seeks a third title this season after capturing the year's Grand Slam start at the Australian Open and last week's event at Indian Wells.

"I didn't practice as well as I did in Indian Wells," Nadal said. "More wind here. It's more difficult to play but it's important get the rhythm right with the match."

Also advancing after first-round byes were reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams, the fifth seed, and British fourth seed Andy Murray

Williams defeated Israel's Shahar Peer 6-3 6-3, to sustain hopes for an all-Williams semi-final while Murray, who reached last week's final at Indian Wells, dispatched 59th-rated Juan Monaco of Argentina 4-6 6-3 6-2.

Nadal, who made just 10 unforced errors to 32 by Gabshvili, will next face Portugal's Frederico Gil, who ousted Croatian Ivo Karlovic 6-4 6-4. Nadal has found his form on hardcourts after his first Slam win on the surface in Melbourne.

"I play more on hard than other surfaces. It's tougher on other surfaces," Nadal said. "I played a little bit behind the court and on this court it's important to play a little bit more inside."

Murray needed a comeback to pull through.

"I was finding it difficult," Murray said. "I don't tend to think the match is finished when you lose the first set but I knew it was going to be tricky. He was playing very well. I was struggling a little bit to get into a rhythm.

"He was getting into a lot of rallies and hitting the ball better than me from the baseline. I knew I needed to change something. I started going for my serve more and won a lot of free points. My serve was really the difference."

The Scotsman will next face Chile's Nicolas Massu, who battled back to defeat US 27th seed Mardy Fish 5-7 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.

Serena Williams booked a third-round date against China's Peng Shuai while Venus Williams will next face Germany's Anna-Lena Gronenefeld, who defeated Italy's 30th-seeded Sara Errani 6-4 6-3.

Serena Williams won her 10th Grand Slam title in January at the Australian Open and has three other semi-final runs this season. Improving to 48-5 at the event for her career, she shook off first-match nerves to defeat Glatch, 19.

"I played OK," Williams said. "I definitely think I could have played better. Just a little jitters going out there.

"Alexa played well. She has a really good game," Williams said. "She's really young, so she has a bright future."

Venus Williams trailed 0-3 before fighting back to win 12 of the final 15 games against Peer and stretch her win streak to 11 matches, including titles at Dubai and Acapulco.

"At that point I'm thinking I've got to get started," Venus Williams said. "It was only one break. And I haven't played in almost four weeks, so just a little bit of a slow start. But I always felt confident."

Now Venus hopes march through the bracket into what she hopes will be a semi-final sister act with Serena.

"She's obviously a great player and if I can beat her, then that means I'm on top of the game, so I hope we can meet in the semifinals," Venus Williams said.

Source:
http://www.news.com.au