Sports
Brilliant Marquez poised to seal seventh MotoGP title in Japan | The Express Tribune
MOTEGI:
Marc Marquez can clinch his seventh MotoGP world championship in Japan at the weekend to underline a season of dominance and match the record of motorcycle great Valentino Rossi.
The Spanish Ducati rider is on a whopping 512 points and needs just three points more than his brother Alex Marquez to win the title with five weekends to spare of the 22-race season.
Sealing a first championship since 2019 at Motegi would crown a comeback from an injury nightmare which began when Marquez broke his right arm in 2020.
The 32-year-old has been in unstoppable form this year and his points total is already a single-season record for a MotoGP rider.
The last of his three Japanese MotoGP wins came in 2019, but such is his brilliance that Marquez’s victory in San Marino two weeks ago was his 11th in 16 races this campaign. He has also won 14 of the 16 sprints.
“We’ll approach Motegi the same way, maintaining the same performance level we’ve shown in all these races,” Marquez said.
“There are six events left in the season but we want to wrap up the title race as soon as possible.”
Marquez suffered a rare slip-up in San Marino when he crashed while leading the sprint.
He made no mistake in the following day’s Grand Prix, overtaking pole-sitter Marco Bezzecchi to move into the lead on lap 12 before calmly seeing out the win.
It was Marquez’s 99th race win across MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3.
– Messi celebrations –
His charge to the title has been helped by team-mate Francesco Bagnaia’s erratic form and injuries to defending world champion Jorge Martin.
Bagnaia, a twice world champion, has finished no higher than seventh in his last four races and has won only once this season.
Alex Marquez has been his brother’s closest challenger and is almost 100 points ahead of third-place Bagnaia in the standings.
He knows his brother’s coronation as world champion is just a matter of time, but he is looking to postpone the inevitable for as long as possible.
“We’ll continue on our path to the runner-up spot in the championship, which would be a really great result,” Alex Marquez said after the San Marino race.
Last year’s Japanese MotoGP saw Bagnaia win both the sprint and the Grand Prix to cut Martin’s championship lead with four races remaining.
Marquez, then riding for Gresini, finished third after a titanic tussle with Enea Bastianini.
Marquez was all but out of the championship picture by that time but the situation could not be more different 12 months later.
He will be hoping to give Japanese fans a glimpse of his Lionel Messi-inspired celebration, which he unveiled in San Marino.
Marquez whipped off his racing leathers and showed them to the crowd in a similar gesture to the Argentina star’s celebration after scoring a late winner for Barcelona against Real Madrid in 2017.
Marc Marquez said the championship celebrations were “getting closer and closer”.
“It looks like a matter of time but I want to keep the same mentality,” he said.
“Now we need to close as soon as possible, but I know that Alex is also super fast, and he’s also fighting for second place in the championship.”
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Hail or Fail: Lions’ offense goes off against Commanders
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Transfer rumors, news: Liverpool’s Szoboszlai wanted by Man City, Real Madrid
Dominik Szoboszlai‘s Liverpool contract situation is being monitored by Manchester City and Real Madrid, while Brighton & Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh could replace Mohamed Salah at Anfield. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
Transfers home page | Men’s grades | Women’s grades
TOP STORIES
– Christian Pulisic fit to return from injury for AC Milan
– Man United’s Amorim: Sesko ‘struggled’ since big-money transfer
– Miami coach on Luis Suárez playoff match ban: ‘Very strange’
TRENDING RUMORS
– Manchester City and Real Madrid are interested in Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, Diario AS reports. Both clubs are reported to be “closely monitoring” the 25-year-old’s situation, who has directly contributed to six goals in 15 matches across all competitions so far this season. Szoboszlai has a contract at Anfield that runs until 2028, and the reigning Premier League champions are keen to commit him to a new deal to avoid reaching next summer with only two years left on his current terms. As such, they are willing to increase his €135,000-a-week wage as a reward for his recent performances, and to ward off other clubs.
– Liverpool are keen on Brighton & Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh, according to Football Insider. It is said that the Reds are “plotting a move” for the 21-year-old, having identified him as a potential future replacement for Mohamed Salah, who will enter the final 18 months of his deal at Anfield in January. Minteh has directly contributed to four goals in 11 Premier League matches this season, and previously worked under Liverpool manager Arne Slot during his time at Feyenoord.
– Real Madrid are prioritising signing winger Vinícius Júnior to a new contract, according to Cadena Ser. The Bernabéu hierarchy believe that the 25-year-old has been unfairly treated by manager Xabi Alonso, and it looks as though they aren’t looking to consider offers despite him being linked with a potential exit from the club at present. Brazil international Vini Jr. has played 90 minutes in both of the last two matches for Los Blancos, who drew 0-0 in La Liga with Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
– The future of AC Milan winger Rafael Leão is open, according to Matteo Moretto. It was reported on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel that the Rossoneri are satisfied with the 23-year-old Portugal international’s current form and could be willing to offer him a two or three-year deal to stay put at the San Siro following his recent performances under manager Massimiliano Allegri. However, the club would reportedly consider a transfer if they received a significant proposal for him.
EXPERT TAKE
1:03
Ogden: Liverpool have made too many changes to title winning team
Mark Ogden questions Liverpool’s next move after a heavy 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
OTHER RUMORS
– An enquiry has been made by Chelsea regarding Como attacking midfielder Nico Paz. (Caught Offside)
– Manchester United are unable to recall striker Rasmus Højlund from his loan spell at Napoli in January. (Daily Star)
– It is expected that Chelsea defender Axel Disasi will leave Stamford Bridge in January. (Foot Mercato)
– Newcastle defender Emil Krafth is on the radar of FC Copenhagen. (Shields Gazette)
– Celtic are braced to receive offers for winger Sebastian Tounekti in January, with Leeds interested in him. (Football Insider)
– Udinese are keen on signing on-loan Galatasaray forward Nicolò Zaniolo permanently. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Talks are ongoing between Parma and defender Enrico Delprato regarding a three-and-a-half-year contract extension. (Nicolò Schira)
– Clubs in Europe are monitoring CS Sfaxien left-back Hichem Baccar. (Rudy Galetti)
– Former Italy manager Roberto Mancini has dismissed an approach from Qatar Stars League side Al Sadd. (Fabrizio Romano)
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Giants’ Dart suffers concussion in loss to Bears
CHICAGO — New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart suffered a concussion in the second half of Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears.
Dart took a hard hit on a fumble in the third quarter, getting hit from the side as he ran by a defensive lineman tracking back to make the play. His head hit the ground, and he got up slowly, eventually walking to the sideline after remaining on the field for a few seconds on his knees.
Dart returned to the game the following drive for two plays and then went to the blue medical tent in between quarters. He walked slowly into the locker room afterward with a trainer.
The first-round pick was ruled out later in the fourth quarter.
“Yeah, it’s unfortunate,” coach Brian Daboll said. “Unfortunately, he got hurt.”
The Giants realized something was wrong between quarters. Dart went to the blue medical tent, and his helmet was eventually taken out and placed on the side.
“So, with Dart it was going back out on the field, just didn’t seem right. So called the trainers over and said, ‘Let’s get him out and make sure he gets looked at,'” Daboll said. “So, he went in and got looked at, evaluated for concussion.”
Daboll later added “somebody said something” on the sideline that indicated that Dart wasn’t right.
His teammates didn’t notice anything in the huddle. They didn’t realize Dart was potentially leaving the game until Wilson began taking snaps on the sideline with backup center Austin Schlottmann.
“I don’t remember what the stoppage was. But Austin went over to take snaps over with Russ and we saw the blue tent up, and we just kind of assumed, like, all right, I guess something happened to Jaxson at some point,” guard Greg Van Roten said. “And, you know, he was out. And that was it.”
Dart was replaced in the game by Russell Wilson, who finished 3-of-7 passing for 45 yards and rushed twice for 12 yards. The Giants led 20-10 during the fourth quarter but were unable to hold off the Bears’ rally.
The Giants (2-8) drove down the field in the initial drive with Wilson before stalling at the 1-yard line.
“We have to find a way to get a touchdown there,” Wilson said.
The Giants went three-and-out on the ensuing possession with Wilson at quarterback and stalled in the final minute with a chance to win the game. It was their franchise-record 11th straight road loss and their fourth loss when leading by double digits this season. They are also just the second team since the 1970 merger to lose multiple games in a season after leading by 10+ points in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter, joining only the 2004 Seahawks.
Daboll did not directly answer a question afterward about whether Wilson would start next week against the Green Bay Packers if Dart were unable to play. The Giants also have veteran Jameis Winston on the roster.
Wilson said he began to prepare to enter the game after seeing Dart get up slowly following the fumble.
“He made a great effort trying to make a play. He did a good job just trying to be tough and all that,” Wilson said. “I was just prepared. You always have to be ready to go.”
Before leaving, Dart was 19-of-29 passing for 242 yards and had 66 rushing yards on six carries with a pair of scores. He became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to record a rushing touchdown in five straight games.
But all the hits have started to add up. Dart had been contacted the second-most of any quarterback since becoming the starter in Week 4, taking an average of almost 13 hits per contest. In addition to the normal flow of the game, the Giants have called multiple designed quarterback runs each of the past few weeks. Dart, however, did slide on multiple occasions Sunday before the concussion.
This is the fourth time Dart has been evaluated for a concussion this year, including the preseason.
“I’d just say it’s unfortunate that he got hurt,” Daboll said about the idea his quarterback was taking too many hits.
The Giants have talked for weeks about not wanting to take away Dart’s aggressiveness. It’s a part of what makes him effective.
Dart was asked this past week about balancing his desire to win with playing smart. It’s something he’s still working on.
“Maybe a little bit. That’s definitely something that when you watch the tape back on, you try to think of those moments where you can save your body, a hit or not,” he said. “At the same time, it’s really hard for me in those moments because I just want to compete. Ultimately, I just want to score.”
He later added: “I’m going to play the game the way I want to play the game.”
Dart has been an instant sensation since taking over as the starter in Week 4. He has produced 17 total touchdowns in his seven starts.
The Giants are 2-5 in those contests.
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