Event of the Day: Americas MotoGP
Our event of the day is the Americas MotoGP at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. The surprising leader after the first two races of the championship is Britain’s Cal Crutchlow of LCR Honda with 38 points, in front of Italian Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati team who has 35 points. The Italian racer won the season opener in Qatar by beating reigning champion Marc Márquez in a thrilling finish, while Crutchlow proved best two weeks ago in a hectic race in Argentina that started in rainy conditions. It was Crutchlow’s only third win in the MotoGP class, but was also the 750th Grand Prix win for Honda.
This is the first time a British rider has the lead in the championship since Barry Sheene in 1979. Four-time MotoGP world champion with Repsol Honda (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), Márquez left Argentina without a single point after picking up three penalties during the race to finish 18th. However, he has five triumphs at the Circuit of the Americas, between 2013 and 2017, so will hope to get back to winning ways here and improve on his current 20 points in the standings. In yesterday’s qualifying, the Spaniard clinched his sixth consecutive pole position in Texas with a lap time of 2:03.658 ahead of compatriot Maverick Viñales of Movistar Yamaha but has been stripped of pole for interfering with Viñales qualifying lap. Viñales now sits in pole position with Team Suzuki Ecstar rider Andrea Iannone in 2nd, Márquez now starts in fourth. We’re in for another dramatic MotoGP race in Austin today.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the eighth and final day of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters tournament from the ATP Tour at the Monte Carlo Country Club in Monaco. In the singles tournament final, Rafael Nadal of Spain clashes with Japanese player Kei Nishikori. Elsewhere in tennis, it’s the second day of the Fed Cup semi-final between France and USA at the Arena du Pays d’Aix in Aix-en-Provence. The 2018 London Marathon takes place in London. In the AFL, North Melbourne face Hawthorn at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne. In MLB, there is a duel between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets at SunTrust Park in Atlanta. In the Indian Premier League, the Rajasthan Royals host the Mumbai Indians at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur; while in the County Championship Division One it’s Day 3 of the match between Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire at Headingley in Leeds. There is a crucial match in the chase for the Serie A Scudetto title between Juventus and Napoli at the Juventus Stadium in Turin. In the second semi-final of the FA Cup, Chelsea take on Southampton at Wembley Stadium in London. It’s the fourth and final day of both the PGA Tour Valero Texas Open at the TPC San Antonio and the European Tour Trophée Hassan II at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, Morocco. In the European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final, Racing 92 go head-to-head with Munster Rugby at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux. The Snooker World Championship continues at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. At the 2018 Volvo Ocean Race, Leg 8 starts starts from the port of Itajaí in Santa Catarina, Brazil. In the NBA Playoffs, the Washington Wizards face off with the Toronto Raptors at the Capital One Arena in Washington.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by Moto GP