Marquez wins in Australia
Phillip Island: World champion Marc Marquez secured his 11th victory of the season at the Australian MotoGP after disaster struck fellow Spaniard Maverick Vinales, who crashed on the last lap. The Monster Energy Yamaha rider had dominated all weekend at Phillip Island and was leading for much of the race until Repsol Honda’s Marquez darted past in the dying stages. In desperate bid to retake the lead, Vinales pushed too hard and skidded out to hand his gifted rival, who clinched his sixth MotoGP world title in Thailand this month, a fifth win in a row. Britain’s Cal Crutchlow, who suffered career-threatening injuries at Phillip Island last year, came second on his LCR-Honda with Australian Jack Miller third on a Ducati. Italian veteran Valentino Rossi, racing in an amazing 400th Grand Prix, was eighth. (AFP)
Verstappen takes pole
Mexico City: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) triumphed here in qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix (GP), posting a tremendous final lap to take pole position. The Dutchman, who has won the event at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez here in each of the last two years, made it around the track in 1:14.758 late on Saturday. Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel took the second and third spots, respectively, while Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) will start Sunday’s race in fourth position, reports Efe news. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Alex Albon, secured the fifth spot, alongside Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) in sixth. The McLaren team will occupy the fourth row on the starting grid. For Spain’s Sainz, it will be a fifth consecutive top-seven start. (IANS)
WI call back Campbelle
Antigua: Shemaine Campbelle and Chedean Nation are set to make a comeback, after West Indies announced a 14-member squad for the first two women’s one-day international against India next month, the ICC said in a statement. West Indies will be bolstered by the return of the experienced pair, both of whom last made an ODI appearance in the three-match series against England in June. They missed the following home series against Australia because of injuries. They will be joined by two new faces — pacer Shamnsha Hector and all-rounder Aaliyah Alleyne — who have earned their maiden call-ups after impressing the selectors in a training camp. The squad features a good mix of experience and youth, and it will be led by their regular captain, Stafanie Taylor. Deandra Dottin, who has been out of the squad since February due to a prolonged shoulder injury, will miss out on the India series. (IANS)