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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. So far, the annual Roar Before the Rolex 24 practice sessions have featured BMW dominating the speed charts during the opening two days of action at Daytona Intl Speedways 3.56-mile road course.
The German brand set fast time in both of Saturdays early Rolex 24 At Daytona practice sessions with the two BMW M Team RLL sister cars ultimately sweeping the first two positions on the speed charts.
While 25-year-old Sheldon van der Linde who claimed the days overall fast lap of 1:36.196 in the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8 on Saturday afternoon was clearly pleased with the teams effort and what that may mean for next weekends iconic Rolex 24 race, the South African cautioned that some competitors had been careful not to show their hand yet.
He was encouraged, however, by the obvious progress his manufacturer and team have made in the last two years competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Its obviously positive to see that all the hard work weve done over the winter this year and through the WEC season last year, weve learned a lot, and were trying to translate that into America obviously, said van der Linde, an FIA World Endurance Championship veteran who will drive full-time in IMSAs Grand Touring Prototype class for the first time this season.
Its only the Roar and we know a lot of people are sandbagging quite a lot, he said. Its quite clear in the GTD class as well, but for sure, a good way to start the weekend and the car feels good so thats positive.
Its hard to say what we expected because we didnt really know where wed be coming into the Roar. Like I said, everyone is doing something different with their program. So, in the end, its very hard to know where we are, but we expected to be a lot stronger than last year and I think that alone really, really shows this year.
Overall Saturday, it was smooth running on track temperatures in the low 70s under mostly cloudy skies with only a single incident in the two practice sessions the No. 22 United Autosports USA LMP2 contacted the tire barrier outside the chicane on the backstretch during the afternoon session.
Although there were no instances for accidents during the morning one hour, 45-minute practice, it was slowed twice a quick yellow for a debris on track and an 11-minute pause to allow the field to practice the new split category restarts for the upcoming race. This season, before restarts, all four classes will be divided on track by category, including a new-for-2025 class split of the GTD PRO and GTD cars.
The general feeling was that the split went better than expected, happening quickly and without incident even with a full 37-car count among the GTD entries (15 GTD PRO and 22 GTD).
That worked fine, said IndyCars Scott McLaughlin, who is teaming with NASCAR stars Shane Van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch and former Rolex winner Ben Keating in the No. 91 Trackhouse by TF Sport GTD PRO class Corvette Z06 GT3.R for the Rolex 24.
It was quick, more just getting the pack up. It was pretty solid. I dont think theres much of a difference.
Franck Perera, who set fast time (1:48.036) in the GTD class Saturday morning driving the No. 78 Forte Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2, was among the drivers who cautioned with the changing weather conditions both expected for Sunday (rain) and next weeks race (cooler temperatures).
For sure it is positive when it is going the way you want, said Perera, a past Rolex 24 class winner. He noted each session is a test and theres still practice, and I think the weather will be tricky the next couple days.
Felipe Fraga took fast time in the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class with a lap of 1:40.108 in the No. 74 Riley ORECA LMP2 07. Andrea Caldarelli was quickest in both sessions in the GTD PRO Class with a fast lap of 1:48.049 in the No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 during the afternoon practice.
One sub, no winner: Arteta envy at Liverpool depth
Mikel Arteta admitted his envy at Liverpool's greater strength in depth after Arsenal lost ground in the Premier League title race with a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.
Hours after Liverpool struck twice in stoppage-time to beat Brentford 2-0, Arsenal surrendered a two-goal advantage at Emirates Stadium to fall six points behind the leaders who have a game-in-hand.
Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz had put Arsenal on track for a vital win before two goals in eight minutes from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins earned Villa a point.
While Liverpool boss Arne Slot was able to call on 85 million ($103m) striker Darwin Núñez -- who scored two stoppage-time goals -- Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones among others to help beat Brentford, injuries left Arteta only willing to make one substitution when chasing the game as Raheem Sterling, on loan from Chelsea, played the final eight minutes.
"There are moments [in the title race], obviously," he said. "[Liverpool] managed to do that, they made the subs and the subs made the impact and managed to change the game. In our side, it was the opposite even though after conceding the two goals very close to each other, the danger was because I knew how the team was, that we could go downhill because we were physically drained.
"Suddenly the team found another gear to go again and put Aston Villa in their box and go and go again and trying to find the goal that we haven't been able to score in the end."
Arsenal are attempting to add at least one player before the transfer window closes in just over a fortnight and asked whether the gap widening in the title race put extra pressure on the club to act, Arteta replied: "When you look at the performances -- I don't know how many teams are playing at this level in the league.
"But when you look at the bench, probably you say we are very short."
Frank: Liverpool best side in world, not just Prem
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has labelled Liverpool "the best team in the world" and believes they are "huge favourites" to win the Premier League title following their late win over his side.
Substitute Darwin Núñez scored twice in stoppage time to hand Arne Slot's men their first league victory of 2025 after Brentford had defended valiantly for 90 minutes at the Gtech Community Stadium.
While Liverpool's form has taken a slight dip since the turn of the year --- with back-to-back draws against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest preceding their clash with Brentford -- Frank was full of praise for Slot's side and has backed them to beat Arsenal to the trophy.
"We just played City and Arsenal and now Liverpool, in a short amount of time," the Brentford boss told the BBC after the game. "For me they're a level above the two teams. They're complete.
"Their work ethic, the way they track back, are good indicators. They're so good all over the pitch. Such a threat going forward. These are really, really good. It's the best team in the Premier League and the world. They're huge favourites to win it [the title]."
Reflecting on his own team's performance on Saturday afternoon, Frank added: "I thought we played a really good game against the best team in the world right now. We did a lot of things right. We defended very well. We gave the opportunities away but not too big.
"We probably lacked the final cutting edge. We had some good chances and opportunities that never became opportunities because of the last pass or touch. Their centre-backs were exceptionally good."
Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher has been voted the 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, capping off a year that saw her win an Olympic gold medal and retire from international soccer.
Naeher received 40.8% of the weighted vote, beating out last year's winner, San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma, who received 32.2%.
Votes for U.S. Soccer Female Player were collected from respective national team coaches, national team players who earned a cap in 2024, members of the U.S. Soccer board of directors, U.S. Soccer Athletes' Council, National Women's Soccer League head coaches, and select media members and administrators. Fans also vote for the award, with their votes weighted at 15% of the total.
Naeher, 36, is only the second goalkeeper to win the award since its inception in 1985. Another United States women's national team goalkeeping legend, Hope Solo, won the award in 2009. Abby Wambach won it six times, the most of any player. Mia Hamm won it five times.
The award was one of several Naeher received for her exploits in 2024. She was also voted The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper of the Year for 2024 and was selected for The Best FIFA Best Women's 11. She is the 21st different player to win the U.S. Soccer award.
"This is an incredible honor, to cap off what has been a very special year with this team," Naeher said.
"This team is made up of a special group of players, coaches and staff and all year you could feel that energy and that we had the opportunity to achieve something great. I was inspired all year long by my incredible teammates; the work we put in, the commitment to the team and our goals, and all of their love and support."
Naeher was a vital piece of the USWNT's Olympic triumph, playing every minute of the tournament, and delivering several crucial saves, including a stellar kick-save in overtime of the semifinal against Germany. She allowed just two goals during the Olympics, and with her shutout of Brazil in the gold medal game, she became the first goalkeeper in women's soccer history to keep clean sheets in a World Cup final and an Olympic final.
She ended 2024 with 18 starts, 1,170 minutes played, a 13W-1L-3D record and a 0.50 GAA while allowing just 11 goals.
Naeher announced her retirement last November and finished her career with 115 caps and a record of 89-15-6 (W-L-D). In 2024, she became just the third U.S. goalkeeper to hit 100 caps and
Naeher will continue her professional club career with Chicago during this upcoming NWSL season.
Balde alleges racist abuse from fans in Barça game
Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde said he was racially abused by Getafe supporters during Saturday's 1-1 draw at the Coliseum.
Balde, who is Black, revealed the incidents took place during the first half of the LaLiga fixture and that he advised the referee Pablo González Fuertes.
"I received several racists insults from the fans here," the left-back said in a post-match interview with Movistar.
"It's lamentable and something that should not keep happening. I advised the referee what had happened in the first half.
"He activated the league's protocol in the second half, but I don't know exactly how it works from there."
LaLiga's protocol allows a referee to stop a match if they observe racist behaviour or are alerted to the occurrence of a racist incident by a player.
An announcement is then broadcast over the stadium PA system, explaining why the game has been halted and adding that if the incidents continue the players will be taken off the pitch.
If, once they return, the behaviour does not desist, the fixture will be abandoned.
Barça coach Hansi Flick condemned the actions of those who insulted Balde.
"There is no space for this in football or in life," Flick told a news conference.
"This is unbelievable. It's totally wrong. They have to stay at home, not go to matches. We have to fight against them.
"Also, the people around them, they can also do something. At the end, it's not the respect we want to live together."
It was the second incident of racism reported in Spain on Saturday, with second division side Elche also saying defender Bambo Diaby suffered abuse during a 1-1 draw away at Sporting Gijón.
Elche said one alleged perpetrator had already been identified by local police in Gijón, while LaLiga also released a statement denouncing what had happened and saying they would file a case with the public prosecutor for hate crimes.
There have been multiple cases of racist insults against players in Spanish football in recent years, with Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior repeatedly targeted.
LaLiga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have worked to combat racism in the game.
Last June, three Valencia fans were jailed for eight months for racially abusing Vinícius during a LaLiga game in May 2023, the first verdict of its kind in the country.
In September, a court then handed a 12-month suspended sentence to a Mallorca supporter that used racists insults against Vinícius and Villarreal's Samuel Chukwueze in February 2023.
A month later, Spain's national police arrested four people responsible for a hate campaign against Vinícius.
A heavily-rotated United States men's national team earned a 3-1 victory over Venezuela in the first of its two international friendlies this month.
Saturday's U.S. squad was made up almost entirely of players from Major League Soccer due to the game falling outside of a FIFA international window.
Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored about two minutes apart late in the first half and Matko Miljevic, whose third-minute penalty kick was saved, struck in the 64th minute.
McGlynn connected on a left-footed strike from about 30 yards in the 37th minute, Agyemang deflected a shot off goalkeeper Wuilker Faríñez not long afterward and the Americans were off and running. Milijevic scored on a counter, joining Agyemang to raise the total to 61 players who scored in their U.S. debuts.
The result means manager Mauricio Pochettino has now won four of his five games since he took charge in September -- his lone defeat came in a friendly against Mexico in October.
The USMNT will be in action again when it faces Costa Rica on Wednesday.
Carl Kafka/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF
DaMarcus Beasley, Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, DeAndre Yedlin and Landon Donovan are among the players whose national team careers were boosted by January camps.
The U.S. controlled much of the match and had a chance to grab the lead after Daniel Pereira's foul in the penalty area. Miljevic, a Miami-born forward, didn't have much on the spot kick he tried pushing past Faríñez's left side.
Six U.S. starters made debuts before a crowd of 18,008: left back Max Arfsten, central defender George Campbell, wingers Brian Gutierrez and Carden Clark, along with Miljevic and Agyemang at forward. Emeka Eneli and Indiana Vassilev made debuts in the second half.
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Smaran, Shrijith, Manohar power Karnataka to Vijay Hazare title
Karnataka 348 for 6 (Smaran 101, Manohar 79, Shrijith 78, Nalkande 2-67) beat Vidarbha 312 (Shorey 110, H Dubey 63, Koushik 3-47, Shetty 3-58) by 36 runs
Dubey built on Shorey's third successive century, by hitting a 25-ball half-century lower down the order, to bring the equation down to 37 off 12 balls. In the end, Dubey ran out of partners and was the last man dismissed when he heaved left-arm seamer Abhilash Shetty to deep midwicket as Karnataka sealed victory to break a five-year trophy drought.
The game was fought on an even keel for most parts. Karnataka, who were put in to bat, lost the in-form Devdutt Padikkal in the sixth over, before KV Aneesh and Mayank Agarwal steadied the innings.
Shrijith's dismissal in the 38th over brought Manohar out to the middle, and he enhanced his reputation of being a finisher with some pristine hitting, not once giving the impression that he was slogging. On 24 off 25 at the end of the 44th over, Manohar began the surge by hitting Bhute for a sequence of 4, 4, 6 to begin the 45th.
When Bhute bowled length into the pitch, Manohar used the angle to pick a boundary behind point. When Bhute bowled a wide yorker, he scythed it to the deep-cover fence, and when he missed a yorker, Manohar stayed deep inside the crease and shovelled it to clear long-off.
Thakur bore the brunt of Manohar's fury in the following over when he was picked away for two fours in the 46th, and three back-to-back fours in the 48th, as the wheels started to come off Vidarbha's attack. The last seven overs fetched Karnataka 83 as they got the perfect finish.
Vidarbha started the chase briskly but lost the centurion of the previous game, Yash Rathod, for 22 when he got a leading edge to Padikkal at slip. Nair and Shorey were then involved in a half-century stand to lift Vidarbha's hopes.
Nair was particularly sparkling in his short stay, punching and pulling Prasidh Krishna through covers and midwicket, and then going after legspinner Shreyas Gopal at the first sign of spin being introduced. But he fell for 27 off 31 balls when he failed to cover the line of a Prasidh inducker that kept slightly low.
Vidarbha then chugged along with Jitesh Sharma giving Shorey company in a half-century stand before holing out to long-on. That wicket not only galvanised Karnataka but also freed up Vidarbha to go for broke, like Dubey did. With some support, he may have yet been able to pull off a heist, but it wasn't to be.
Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
Rohit on BCCI making domestic cricket mandatory: 'You hardly have any time'
Rohit, who is the first current player to talk about the guidelines, told the press conference that while he understood the BCCI's call, there had not been much opportunity for India players to play domestic cricket of late, and none of them were taking their spots in the team for granted. "[In the] last six-seven years, if you go back and see our calendar, there hasn't been a time where we were sitting at home for 45 days and there is cricket going on," Rohit said. "You do get that time when you finish the IPL and if there's nothing happening right after that. But if you see our domestic season, it starts in October - maybe September - and it gets over by February-March. And that is the time India plays a lot of [international] cricket as well. So, guys who are not playing certain formats and have time, and then there is domestic cricket happening, then they will play.
"But the last six-seven years - I can at least tell about what has happened with me since I've started playing Test cricket regularly, which is from 2019 - you hardly have any time. When you play so much international cricket through the year, you need some time off as well as a cricketer just to refresh, get your mind right, just to be ready for the upcoming season. But we have addressed it now and nobody takes it for granted or anything like that."
Agarkar conceded that it is difficult for players who play all formats to take part in domestic cricket but insisted that such guidelines are place to strengthen the Indian domestic system. "We'll probably talk about it endlessly if we keep going on but I think everyone should [play domestic cricket] when available," he said. "Sometimes, to be fair to a lot of the players, it's difficult if you're playing all three formats, you don't get as much time... You'll probably find most of the guys playing this round of Ranji Trophy. There's been a little bit of [down] time.
"But the last six-seven years - I can at least tell about what has happened with me since I've started playing Test cricket regularly, which is from 2019 - you hardly have any time. When you play so much international cricket through the year, you need some time off as well as a cricketer just to refresh."
Rohit Sharma
"And those who are available and fit, obviously, you expect people to play. I don't think it is a diktat. It's one of the things that BCCI has obviously put forward. As selectors, we expect people, when they're available, to play because that can only strengthen our domestic structure. Not just for their form or their fitness and playing cricket, but it can only strengthen our domestic structure."
In its guidelines, the BCCI reiterated that not being available for domestic cricket could cost players their place in international cricket as well as impact their central contracts. The sanctions, it laid out, could also include barring them from participating in the IPL.
Agarkar said while this was not "school", certain rules still needed to be followed. "When the time permits, we expect everyone to play," he said. "Various things you see over the last few months where you can improve as a team, where you can get a bit closer as a team. It's not a school. It's not a punishment.
"You have some rules in place and when you're playing for the national team you just follow those rules. Again, these are mature individuals. They are superstars in their own right in international sport. But at the end of the day, you're eventually representing your country. There are certain things that you just inherently follow as every team does.
"A lot of them have been in place. Maybe we've spoken about it now and it's been put out, but a lot of them have been in place in any case. You keep on refining it as you go along. Eventually what suits the team, you want to try and do."
Although Rohit spoke about the mandatory participation in domestic cricket guideline, when asked about his take on the "new policy" for players, he replied: "Who told you about this? Has it come officially?"
S Sudarshanan is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @Sudarshanan7
Bumrah to test Champions Trophy fitness by playing third ODI against England
"With Bumrah, we are waiting to hear about his fitness and when he's likely to be available," Agarkar said in Mumbai on Saturday while announcing the Indian squads for the England series and the Champions Trophy. "At the moment I don't think he [Bumrah] is likely to be fit for the first couple of games [of England series] at least from what we gather. We will probably hear more in the next week or so about his fitness."
Accordingly, on advice from medical experts, the BCCI decided to allow Bumrah to rest for at least five weeks (the Sydney Test finished on January 5) after which he will undergo another scan to determine if he can return to action. Agarkar confirmed the time frame.
"I know he was asked to offload for five weeks of bowling, which is early first week February if I'm not wrong," Agarkar said. "And we'll probably find out a bit more around that time what exactly and with regards to what his medical condition is. I'm sure BCCI might just put something out from the physio itself. It's better it comes from the medical department than me trying to explain what exactly is wrong with him. But that's the time frame that we've been told. And hopefully, he's okay after that."
Asked if the selectors had pencilled in a reserve if Bumrah doesn't recover in time for the Champions Trophy, which starts on February 19, Agarkar said his panel was "just hoping Bumrah's fit. We will have a chat if he's not fit."
India play three ODIs against England on February 6, 9 and 12 - their first ODIs since the tour of Sri Lanka in August last year - before the Champions Trophy. India are in Group A at the Champions Trophy and begin their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, after which they play Pakistan on February 23, and New Zealand on March 2. India play all their matches in Dubai because their government refused to let the team travel to Pakistan.
IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant set to be named Lucknow Super Giants captain
India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul led LSG for their first three seasons (from 2022); the franchise made the playoffs in their first two years, though they failed to make the final on either occasion. The 2024 season was forgettable as they finished seventh on the table.
For Pant, this is the second franchise where he will be captain. It was captaincy which was the sticking point for Pant at Delhi Capitals (DC); he opted to head back into the auction after failed talks with DC, who wanted to retain him but were not necessarily committed to having him lead.
Ahead of the auction, LSG retained five players: Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan.
However, they were on the lookout for an Indian player who could replace Rahul as captain. Pant, along with Shreyas Iyer were on top of their list. At the auction, they initially won a fierce bidding contest with SRH to bag Pant at INR 20.75 crore and then raised that to 27 crore to stub out the right-to-match challenge from DC.
Pant, who represented DC from 2016, took over their captaincy from IPL 2021 and was in charge all through except for the 2023 season, when he was out injured after his life-threatening car crash in December 2022.
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