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Ferrari’s Alonso Fires Off Warning Shot to Rivals

With only a few laps under his belt in a Ferrari, former two time F1 Champion Fernando Alonso has not only clocked the fastest time of this morning’s session, but fastest of all thus far with a 1.11.470. While none of us know what configuration and setup or fuel load Alonso may have been running when he set that time, it must have struck fear into some of the rivals who have only seen Ferrari at the top of the timesheets since the beginning of the tests.

This was Alonso’s first drive in Ferrari’s new F10 challenger. He is quickly proving himself to have adapted to both the team environment and the car immediately. If the car remains quick and reliable, Fernando and Massa both are going to be serious contenders for the title.

As expected, the Valencia circuit was a popular place this morning, with tens of thousands of fans and media rushing to catch a glimpse of local hero Alonso at the wheel of “La Rossa”. On track this morning were former champion Schumacher posting a time of 1.12.438 (3) and reigning champion Button posting a time of 1.12.951 (5). The consistently quick Sauber in the hands of Pedro Del la Rosa posted a time of 1.12.034 (2). Toro Rosso, Williams and Renault are also testing today and running through various programs.

It was pointed out to me that this morning’s top five times feature 3 Ferrari powered car

Source: http://ferrarif1forum.com

Barry plans practice rally

Written by Scott Coursey

Daniel Barry is planning to enter a rally in the United Kingdom or Ireland in order to stay match fit ahead of his next appearance in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Barry, who finished 21st overall on his debut in the series on Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo last month, isn’t due to contest an IRC event until the Geko Ypres Rally in Belgium from June 24-26.

The Mitsubishi Lancer driver said: “Ypres is the next event. There is a big gap until then so I will probably fit a small rally in between to keep our hand in.”

Barry said the Monte Carlo event had proved a tough start to his IRC campaign, especially after he was forced to complete a 100-kilometre road section with only first and second gears after the gearbox blew on the fourth stage of the rally.

“It was the toughest test of endurance I’ve ever experienced,” Barry said. “I’ve done entire rallies that were shorter than the 45-kilometre stage on leg one. The longest straight in that stage was about 200 metres, so there was no let up from start to finish. Anyone who got to the finish deserved a medal.”

After Ypres, Irishman Barry is due to contest a further four IRC events, including the Tarmac rallies in Czech Republic and Italy and the gravel-based RAC MSA Rally of Scotland.

source: http://www.rallybuzz.com

Stoner slashes anti-spin with big bang

Message from fivefilters.org: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it. Images of Casey Stoner wrestling a bucking and weaving Ducati could be a thing of the past after the former MotoGP world champion revealed that his new ‘big bang’ powered Desmosedici GP10 is almost too tame. The Australian was second fastest, behind Valentino Rossi, on both days of testing at Sepang in Malaysia, eventually finishing 0.395sec from Yamahas reigning seven time world champion. Rossis M1 has used ‘big bang’ technology continuously since 2004, while Ducati reverted back to a ’screamer’ design for the first three seasons of 800cc racing – with spectacular results. However, Ducati now believes they have sufficient horsepower to make ‘big bang’ a better choice for 2010 – and Stoner revealed the only difficulties so far are associated with too much traction. Weve found nothing but positives with the new engine, said Stoner. The engine is very smooth, very easy to ride and is giving me a lot of confidence. We expected top speeds to be lower [with the 'big bang'] but in fact they are faster than they were last year in the race. Were very happy. With this engine weve been able to halve the amount of [electronic] anti-spin. Weve taken most of it off, he revealed. Instead of the bike always wanting to buck and weave, with this engine, because its got that much more torque, its trying to drive the bike out [understeer] instead. So were having to change the set-up completely to get the bike to turn better on the exits. Its something we never really had a problem with on the old bike, because it spun so much we always got good turn on the exits. Now were working on the chassis to try and keep the [new] grip while still getting the bike to turn. My arms are actually having trouble hanging on because its getting so much more traction. Stoner, a 20-time MotoGP race winner, already believes the GP10 will be a more all-round package than the previous 800cc Desmosedicis – and would be happy to race it tomorrow. In general I think its going to be a better package for a whole championship, rather than one or two tracks, which is sort of what weve had in the past, he said. We have a much better all-round feeling with…

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Stuttgart stay in German title race with win at Schalke

BERLIN (AFP) – Stuttgart remained in the Bundesliga title race on Wednesday after Romanian striker Ciprian Marica scored the winner in a 2-1 win at Schalke to stay two points behind leaders Wolfsburg with two games left.

Stuttgart are fourth in the table, but only two points separate the top four teams with Wolfburg, Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin – who all won on Tuesday – still in contention to be crowned champions when the season ends on May 23.

“That was a very important win for us,” said Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel, whose side now face Energie Cottbus and Bayern in their last two games and need to finish in the top three to qualify for the Champions League.

“Now we have to be just as focused against Cottbus and then set ourselves up for the last day of the season clash with Bayern Munich. It is important to keep winning and try to get the European place.”

Stuttgart’s Brazil striker Cacau put his side ahead on 15 minutes with a good strike from 20 metres, but Schalke came back when Croatia midfield Ivan Rakitic curled in a free-kick on 39 minutes to make it 1-1.

In the second-half, Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger drove a shot at Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who could only parry his shot and Marica stabbed home the ball on 56 minutes to give his side three points.

Hamburg are fifth, but stay five points behind the leaders and effectively out of the title race, after Croatia striker Ivica Olic netted twice as they hammered Bochum 3-0.

Germany midfielder Torsten Frings scored twice, including a penalty, as Werder Bremen routed Eintracht Frankfurt 5-0 as the UEFA Cup finalists stay 10th in the league.

In the relegation battle, Borussia Moenchengladbach took a huge step towards safety with their second consecutive win when Brazilian Dante scored in injury time to seal a 1-0 win over Energie Cottbus.

The result leaves ‘Gladbach 14th, but only three points separate the bottom four places while Hoffenheim are seventh after their 2-0 win at Arminia Bielefeld.

On Tuesday, Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko scored twice along with Grafite in the German league leader’s 3-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.

With Hertha winning 2-0 at Cologne and Bayern Munich enjoying a 3-0 victory over Bavaria neighbours Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg stay top only by virtue of a better goal difference.

Bayern also have 63 points, but are two goals worse off. Hertha are third on 62 points.

Defending champions Bayern, who on Wednesday named Louis van Gaal as their new coach, scored all their goals after the half-time break with Luca Toni, Franck Ribery and Lukas Podolski all on target.

Hertha Berlin are in touch with the leaders after their 2-1 win at Cologne thanks to Brazilian Cicero and midfielder Patrick Ebert while the home side pulled back a late consolation goal.

Bottom side Karlsruhe look almost certain to be relegated as they squandered a 2-0 lead to slump to a 3-2 defeat at home to Hanover and the league’s last team are four points from safety with two games left.

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

Bayern target leaders Wolfsburg

BERLIN (AFP) – Bayern Munich welcome back Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger for Saturday’s Bundesliga clash at Bielefeld as they look to put their Champions League heartbreak behind them and chase league leaders Wolfsburg.

Schweinsteiger scored in last Saturday’s 4-0 league win over Frankfurt, but a knee injury kept him out of Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Barcelona which knocked Bayern out of the Champions League.

“We hope that the problem will be healed by the weekend,” said Bayern boss Jurgen Klinsmann with his side second in the table.

Schweinsteiger’s Germany team-mate Lukas Podolski is still out with a calf problem and the striker has not trained with the team this week.

As Bayern focus their thoughts on retaining their Bundesliga title, Klinsmann says it is all about points now and the ex-Germany boss was booed by his own fans at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

“We have to concentrate purely on the Bundesliga and win points, points, points,” said Klinsmann, with Italians Carlo Ancelotti and Robert Mancini both being linked to his job by the Italian media.

Bayern are three points behind leaders Wolfsburg, who are at home to Bayer Leverkusen.

Wolfsburg have few injury worries as they prepare to host Leverkusen. Strikers Edin Dzeko and Brazilian Grafite have scored 36 league goals between them, but coach Felix Magath is keeping his feet on the ground.

“Look at Hertha Berlin: three rounds ago, they were four points ahead of us. Now, they are five points behind. It can happen so fast,” said Magath, with Hertha now fourth in the league.

Hamburg, who qualified for the UEFA Cup semi-finals on Thursday, are at home to strugglers Hanover, who shocked Hertha Berlin 2-0 last weekend.

Hamburg are level on points with Bayern and can still win the treble of the Bundesliga, German Cup and UEFA Cup this season.

Hertha Berlin are in danger of dropping out of the title race and another defeat at home to Werder Bremen on Sunday will seriously damage their hopes.

Hot-shot striker Andrei Voronin has been banned for three games after being sent off last weekend, while fellow forward Marko Pantelic is out with a groin strain.

Having climbed up to fifth in the league thanks to Germany striker Mario Gomez scoring an injury-time goal last week, Stuttgart have a good chance to take three more goals at strugglers Cologne.

Gomez has now hit 15 goals in 26 league games this season.

In the weekend’s other games, Schalke 04 are at home to strugglers Energie Cottbus on Friday while bottom club Karlsruhe are home to Hoffenheim who are now 10 points off Wolfsburg and effectively out of the title race.

Mid-table sides Bochum and Dortmund will slug it out Saturday and Eintracht Frankfurt, who were humbled 4-0 at Bayern on Saturday, are up against Borussia Moenchengladbach who are third from bottom and in the relegation zone.

Friday

Schalke 04 v Energie Cottbus

Saturday

Arminia Bielefeld v Bayern Munich, Cologne v VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Bochum v Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia M’gladbach, Karlsruhe v Hoffenheim

Sunday

Hertha Berlin v Werder Bremen, Hamburg v Hanover 96

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

Robben wonder goal sends Bayern top

Dutch star Arjen Robben hit a second-half wonder goal on Saturday as Bayern Munich came from behind to win 3-2 at Werder Bremen as the German giants went top of the league.

Robben’s stunning direct free-kick gave Louis van Gaal-coached Bayern their sixth straight league win while the Holland star hit his fifth league goal of the season.

The flying Dutch winger, who signed for 24 million euros (33.9 million US dollars) from Real Madrid last summer, hit a curling free-kick which gave Bremen’s Germany goalkeeper Tim Wiese no chance of saving on 78 minutes.

It was a bitter blow for the home side who had opened the scoring after midfielder Aaron Hunt slotted home from close range after 10 minutes.

Bayern hit back when rising star Thomas Mueller scored after good work by Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger on 25 minutes before Croatia striker Ivica Olic netted from a Philipp Lahm cross ten minutes later.

It left Bayern 2-1 up at the break as they welcomed back French midfielder Franck Ribery, who came on for Olic in the second-half to make his first appearance for Munich since suffering a knee injury on October 3.

Bremen equalised when Portugal striker Hugo Almeida slotted home a top-class goal on 75 minutes before Robben’s stunning winner.

An injury time goal from Bochum’s Slovakia striker Stanislav Sestak robbed Schalke of the chance to go top as the Royal Blues were held 2-2.

Schalke took the lead when Uruguay striker Vicente Sanchez converted a pass from Jefferson Farfan in the fifth minute before ex-Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi made it 2-0 to the hosts just before the half-time whistle.

The result left Felix Magath-coached Schalke third in the table, but second-placed Leverkusen have the chance to regain the lead on Sunday providing they win at Hoffenheim.

And defending champions Wolfsburg host struggling Cologne also on Sunday while fourth-placed Hamburg have the opportunity to get back into the league race if they win at fifth-placed Dortmund on Saturday night.

Having picked up only their second win of the season last weekened, bottom side Hertha Berlin were held 0-0 at home by Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Hertha’s Czech Republic goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny kept his side in the game when he saved a first-half penalty from ‘Gladbach’s midfielder Juan Arango from Venezuala while Nuremberg drew 1-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Having taken over from Andreas Bergmann as coach last week, new Hanover boss Mirko Slomka got off to a losing start when his side were beaten 1-0 at mid-table Mainz – their eighth game without a win.

BERLIN (AFP)

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

Japan to face Venezuela in friendly

The Japanese national team will begin their 2010 World Cup preparation with a friendly against Venezuela on February 2.

Although Venezuela failed to qualify for next summer’s finals, Japan manager Takeshi Okada feels that it is a good test as “teams from South America always approach matches wanting to win”.

In addition, Okada told reporters that the game, to be played at Kyushu Oil Dome, “will help toughen Japan up”.

Japan have no further friendlies lined up at the moment, although they will face China, Hong Kong and South Korea at the East Asian Championships in February.

At the World Cup, Japan are drawn into Group E with the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark.

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com