Yamaha MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo strikes form ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez.
Yamaha MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo strikes form ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez.
Yamaha MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo strikes form ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez.
Yamaha MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo strikes form ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez.

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Leader Lorenzo vaults to pole

Jorge Lorenzo follows up his win in Japan by qualifying on pole position for the Jerez round of the FIM MotoGP World Championship.

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Jerez // Jorge Lorenzo followed up his win in Japan by qualifying on pole position for the Jerez round of the FIM MotoGP World Championship. The Fiat Yamaha rider set a fastest lap of 1min 38.933sec to build on his victory at Motegi by giving himself the best chance of triumphing in Spain. "It's amazing to have the pole position here again, in my home country," Lorenzo said. "Riding at this track is extra special for a Spanish rider and I felt a great motivation today.

"Yesterday we had some problems and I was a bit worried but we have worked well in the team and today we managed to resolve everything so that I could ride my Yamaha just how I wanted to. I felt very comfortable and I hope that this will be the same for the race." Lorenzo set the quickest time ahead of the qualifying session ahead of fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa on the Repsol Honda and the Ducati Marlboro machine of 2007 champion Casey Stoner.

It was the first time Lorenzo's teammate Valentino Rossi, the defending champion, had qualified off the front row of the grid this season as the Italian was fourth quickest. Randy de Puniet was fifth quickest on the LCR Honda as Rizla Suzuki's Loris Capirossi rounded off the second row of the grid. The third row will feature the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha of Colin Edwards, the Repsol Honda of Andrea Dovizioso and the San Carlo Gresini Honda of Toni Elias.

Capirossi's Rizla Suzuki teammate Chris Vermeulen rounded out the top 10. But the former world champion Nicky Hayden continued his poor form this season as he was only 16th quickest on the Ducati Marlboro bike. Alex de Angelis was thought to be uninjured after he crashed his San Carlo Honda, finishing the qualifying session with the 15th best time. * PA Sport

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Her most famous song

Aghadan Alqak (Would I Ever Find You Again)?

Would I ever find you again
You, the heaven of my love, my yearning and madness;
You, the kiss to my soul, my cheer and
sadness?
Would your lights ever break the night of my eyes again?
Would I ever find you again?
This world is volume and you're the notion,
This world is night and you're the lifetime,
This world is eyes and you're the vision,
This world is sky and you're the moon time,
Have mercy on the heart that belongs to you.

Lyrics: Al Hadi Adam; Composer: Mohammed Abdel Wahab

Haircare resolutions 2021

From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.

1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'

You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.

2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'

Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.

3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’

Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.

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