Jorge Lorenzo is seeking to close in on his second MotoGP world title at the Malaysian Grand Prix this weekend when emotions will be running high after the Italian rider Marco Simoncelli was killed in an accident last year.
Simoncelli's Honda team principal Fausto Gresini told reporters yesterday: "It left a void that can never be filled. Marco was a special person to all of us and we miss him a lot."
The popular Simoncelli died in a horror crash at last season's race in Sepang after being hit by the bikes of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi as he slid across the track.
The race was stopped immediately and subsequently cancelled.
"With heavy hearts we will give our best this weekend to honour his memory," said Gresini, who also lost the Japanese rider Daijiro Kato in a gruesome crash at Suzuka in 2003.
Casey Stoner, the world champion, said it would be a difficult few days for the riders.
"This weekend marks the anniversary of Marco's death so I'm sure it will be a strange feeling when we all get on the track," the Australian said.
A bronze plaque is to be fixed at the scene of Simoncelli's accident at Turn 11 in memory of the rider, organisers said.
Dani Pedrosa's victory in Japan last weekend kept his slender title chances alive but Spanish compatriot Lorenzo leads the standings by 28 points with three races left.
"I'm really enjoying racing at the moment and I want to continue like this, pushing the maximum from our side without thinking about the others," Pedrosa said.
A fourth win in the last five races for Pedrosa has given Lorenzo something to think about but the championship is still the Yamaha rider's to lose.
Lorenzo, the 2010 champion, can finish third in the last three races and still win the title regardless of where Pedrosa finishes.
"We must stay very focused and put on a good show this weekend," Lorenzo said. "The track is more suited to our bike than Motegi [in Japan] so we'll be aiming for the best possible result.
"Sepang is a track with difficult memories for all of us from Marco's tragic accident last year.
"It is also a track which has very good memories for me from 2010 when I became world champion."
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Poland Statement
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.
The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.
All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.
No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Liverpool v Manchester United - 3.30pm
Burnley v West Ham United - 6pm
Crystal Palace v Chelsea - 6pm
Manchester City v Stoke City - 6pm
Swansea City v Huddersfield Town - 6pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth - 6pm
Watford v Arsenal - 8.30pm
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Everton - 4.30pm
Southampton v Newcastle United - 7pm
Monday
Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion - 11pm
RESULT
Bayern Munich 0 AC Milan 4
Milan: Kessie (14'), Cutrone (25', 43'), Calhanoglu (85')
RESULTS FOR STAGE 4
Stage 4 Dubai to Hatta, 197 km, Road race.
Overall leader Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal) 2. Matteo Moschetti ITA (Trek - Segafredo) 3. Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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