Andrea Iannone snatched a bizarre win in the 125cc race in the Catalunya MotoGP on Sunday when leader Spanish pole-sitter Julian Simon celebrated victory a lap too early and eventually finished back in fourth.
Simon and Italian Iannone battled for top spot throughout at the Circuit de Catalunya until Simon crossed the line in first place with one lap left in the 22-lap race. He promptly slowed down and raised his fist in mistaken triumph.
Iannone zipped past into the lead for his third win of the year and Spaniard Nicolas Terol and compatriot Sergio Gadea also finished ahead of Simon in second and third.
PHOTO: AFP
THE MAIN EVENT
Italian Valentino Rossi won the main event on Sunday, beating Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo after an audacious move on the final corner of a thrilling last lap.
In what must have been one of the most exciting finishes to a major Grand Prix race, the lead exchanged three times on the final lap as Lorenzo desperately tried to give the Spanish fans a home victory.
However, Rossi displayed all the nervelessness and talent that have brought him so much success over the years to get past him on the final corner to take the checkered flag for his 99th victory in a major race.
“It was a great race and so exciting,” Rossi said. “It was so unbelievable and Jorge was so great.”
Lorenzo, who has admitted that he is not the best of friends with Rossi off the track, said: “It was a memorable race. Valentino and me did our best to give a spectacle.”
“We will see what happens in the next race,” said the 22-year-old, who now shares the overall standings lead with Rossi and Australian Casey Stoner, the trio locked on 106 points after six races.
Stoner, the 2007 world champion and the series leader going into the race, was third, eight seconds adrift.
Lorenzo and Rossi swapped the lead over several laps and the Italian bided his time before overtaking his Spanish rival with three laps remaining.
Lorenzo then edged ahead with two laps remaining, but very briefly as Rossi got down the inside of the Spaniard with a daring move that saw the Italian have to bring his leg in so as not to touch Lorenzo.
With five laps to go Stoner was completely out of contention, trailing by over seven seconds, and had to settle for third and a share of the overall lead.
BAUTISTA ON TOP
Earlier, Spaniard Alvaro Bautista, riding an Aprilia, won the 250cc race.
Bautista, whose victory consolidated his position atop the riders’ overall standings, finished more than seven seconds up on second-placed Hiroshi Aoyama of Japan.
Defending world champion and winner in Catalunya last year, Marco Simoncelli, fell during the third lap and although he tried to get back on his bike, was forced to pull out.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) is considering reducing its pitch clock by two seconds to help players better adjust to the rules applied at the World Baseball Classic (WBC). The proposal aims to shorten the pitch timer from 25 seconds to 23 seconds with the bases empty, and from 20 seconds to 18 seconds with runners on base. Currently, the WBC mandates that pitchers deliver a pitch every 18 seconds with the bases empty and 15 seconds with runners on base. The issue was raised during a pre-season CPBL managers’ meeting on Tuesday by Rakuten Monkeys bench and batting