The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Alonso fastest in Monaco’s rain-hit second practice Posted: 22 May 2014 08:56 AM PDT The 32-year-old Spaniard clocked a best lap of one minute and 18.482 seconds to finish fastest, in a brief flurry of 15 minutes' late dry weather action, ahead of championship leader Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. But Hamilton was fastest overall for the day, having clocked a best lap of 1:18.271 in the morning when he and Mercedes team-mate German Nico Rosberg dominated the session. Two-time champion Alonso recorded his best lap in the brief dry run in the afternoon with 1:18.482 ahead of Hamilton on 1:18.901. They were the only two to dip below the 1:19 barrier in the afternoon session. Defending four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull was third ahead of Jean-Eric Vergne in his Toro Rosso car and Valtteri Bottas of Williams. After a heavy downpour during the interval before second practice began, the track was left so wet that most of the field declined to venture out for 45 minutes or more. When a few drivers led the way only a handful followed and with 20 of the 90 minutes remaining, the action was limited to a few laps set by the two McLaren men, Vettel and Raikkonen. The Finn was one of the first out, but suffered a gearbox problem that left him stuck in third and forced him out of the session leaving Button on top ahead of Vettel and Alonso. Hamilton, who was fastest ahead of Rosberg in the morning session, delayed his participation until 15 minutes from the end when he went out on intermediate tyres. At that stage, the track was still damp and potentially treacherous. Venzuelan Pastor Maldonado of Renault said: "It's been a bit boring, but we're just waiting for the track to dry. We want the best conditions. "It's quite risky and, in my opinion, it's not important to be out on track on the intermediate or full wet tyres." His views appeared to represent the majority of a pit lane that saw little point in taking risks in tricky conditions when dry weather has been forecast for Saturday's critical qualifying session. With ten minutes remaining, only nine of the 22 drivers had set a time, but in a final flurry of action – as the track dried in warm sunshine – all of the remaining drivers went out on the "supersoft" tyres to gain experience and data ahead of Saturday. Vergne, followed by Hulkenberg and then Alonso set fastest times as the leaders trimmed their best efforts in the final seconds. – AFP, May 22, 2014. |
| Rooney ready to deliver at World Cup Posted: 22 May 2014 08:52 AM PDT Rooney broke through on the international stage at the 2004 European championships as an 18-year-old where his performances earned him a place in the team of the tournament but his subsequent displays at major competitions have been undermined by injuries. The Manchester United forward was rushed back from a metatarsal injury in time for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where he was sent off in England's quarter-final loss to Portugal, while his preparations for the tournament in South Africa were hampered by an ankle problem. However, the 28-year-old insists he has fully recovered from a groin injury that caused him to miss the final three games of the Premier League season. "I have no issues whatsoever and I am ready for this tournament," Rooney told British media at England's pre-World Cup training camp in the Algarve. "I am going to give everything and leave everything on the pitch. "I've been here before and I've said what I feel I can deliver and what I can do and it hasn't happened. "I think this is the one where I have to show what I can do. I believe I am in the best possible shape and the best condition I can be in to do that." Rooney, who has yet to score at a World Cup, believes the finals in Brazil represent his best chance to belatedly leave his mark on the world stage. "For me personally, I feel the World Cup in 2018, I'll be a bit older then so it will obviously be difficult to impact that the way I believe I can do. "So, I feel this is the really last big one that I feel will probably get the best out of me. I feel ready, fresh and as good as I can do to go into this tournament. "I am ready for it. I am excited for it. There will be no excuses this time if I don't perform. I certainly won't be looking for any excuses this time," said the Manchester United frontman. Rooney and his teammates will start their World Cup campaign against Italy on June 14 before further Group D clashes with Uruguay and Costa Rica. The striker believes the blend of youth and experience in Roy Hodgson's side will serve England well in Brazil. "I believe we can go far. I believe we've got the players and our aim is to win the tournament. "We don't want to be going there saying we would be happy getting to a quarter-final or even a semi-final. "Our aim is to win the tournament and that's what we are preparing. That is what we hope is going to happen." - AFP, May 22, 2014. |
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