Marc Márquez to end 11-year partnership with Honda
Madrid, Oct 4: Honda’s MotoGP team and former world champion Marc Márquez will be ending their 11-year partnership at the end of the season, the Japanese engine maker said Wednesday.Driving a Honda, Márquez won six world championships, won 59 races, and secured 64 pole positions in the MotoGP class.His last world championship came in 2019. The 30-year-old Spaniard has struggled with injury since he broke his right arm in the 2020 opener. He is currently 15th in the points standings.The agreement will cut short Márquez’s current contract by a year.”Both parties agreed it was in their best interests to each pursue other avenues in the future to best achieve their respective goals and targets,” Honda said in a statement. Márquez is one of the most successful MotoGP riders of all time. (PTI)
2030 World Cup set to be hosted by Spain-Portugal-Morocco
Geneva, Oct 4: A unique 2030 FIFA World Cup is set to be played in Europe and Africa with the surprising addition of South America in a deal to allow the men’s soccer tournament to start with a 100th birthday party in Uruguay.FIFA reached an agreement Wednesday between soccer’s continental leaders to accept only a candidate for hosting the 2030 tournament, the sport’s governing body said.The Spain-Portugal bid grew to add Morocco this year and now also includes long-time bid rivals Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.A key lure of the unprecedented three-continent project will open in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, where the Centenario Stadium hosted the inaugural 1930 World Cup final. (PTI)
UEFA accepts Italy-Turkey co-host bid for Euro 2032
Rio de Janeiro, Oct 3: UEFA all but confirmed its long-expected hosts for the European Championship in 2028 and 2032 on Wednesday by formally accepting a joint bid proposal from Italy and Turkey for the 2032 edition.Turkey also had been bidding for the 2028 edition against the strongly favoured UK and Ireland combined plan which is now the only candidate.”Turkey’s bid to stage UEFA Euro 2028 is consequently withdrawn,” European soccer’s governing body said. Both 2028 and 2032 hosting decisions must be formally approved by the UEFA executive committee meeting next Tuesday in Nyon, Switzerland. Those should be a formality.UEFA has accepted an Italy-Turkey bid despite its own rules stating that only neighbouring member federations can propose co-hosting. (AP)
