A round-up of today's sports news in brief
Bulgaria mount grand prix bid
FORMULA ONE:Bulgarian officials will meet Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone next week in the hope of agreeing a deal for the country to host a grand prix from 2011.
Bulgarian Motorcycling Federation (BMF) president Bogdan Nikolov said in Istanbul yesterday that grand prix organising committee chief Rumen Petkov had been invited by Ecclestone to the German Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring.
Nikolov, who announced Bulgarias plans to host a Formula One race last December, was hopeful a contract could be signed.
He said the BMF had two projects for a circuit and were waiting to hear Ecclestone’s opinion. The track is likely to be near the northern town of Pleven. “We’ve already submitted our plan a few months ago and it was considered by Formula One Management,” he said.
According to the draft, Bulgaria could sign a contract to host a Formula One race between 2011 and 2015.
Vinokourov plans to return
CYCLING:Alexander Vinokourov will return to cycling when his two-year doping suspension ends later this month and hopes to ride with his former Astana team, the Kazakh said yesterday.
“I want to announce that I will return to competitive cycling on July 24th,” Vinokourov told a news conference in Monaco, where the Tour de France starts on Saturday.
“I do not see myself anywhere else than Astana. This team was created in 2006 with the Kazakh cycling federation; it is our baby.”
He said negotiations were underway with the Kazakh cycling federation and team manager Johan Bruyneel. “There are ongoing discussions. This team has been created for me, I do not see how an agreement could not be reached.
“If there is no deal, Johan will have to leave the team,” he added.
Vinokourov was banned for two years after testing positive for blood doping in the 2007 Tour de France. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Lee stakes his Ashes claim
CRICKET:Paceman Brett Lee staked a massive claim to be part of the Australian side for the first Ashes Test with a devastating spell against England Lions at New Road.
Lions batsman Stephen Moore had threatened to dominate the second day with a century on his home ground during an opening stand of 172 with Joe Denly in reply to the tourists’ first innings total of 358.
But Lee altered the complexion of the game with a five-wicket burst – including Moore for 120 – as he bowled with great accuracy and sustained hostility as the Lions finished on 302 for six from 81 overs.
The 31-year-old has not played a Test since facing South Africa in Melbourne in December after undergoing ankle surgery.
Pakistan Cricket Board fine Asif
CRICKET:The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has fined pace bowler Mohammad Asif one million rupees ($10,250) for bringing Pakistan into disrepute, after he was detained in Dubai last year for possessing opium.
However, Asif would be considered for the Champions Trophy in South Africa starting on September 24th, after he had completed a 12-month ban for a positive dope test, a senior board official said yesterday.
“The probe committee that examined his 19-day detention in Dubai last year in June has found he had violated the code of conduct and brought the country into disrepute,” Salim Altaf, chief operating officer, said. “That is why he has been fined one million rupees.” Asif, who has played 11 tests and 31 one-day internationals, was detained in Dubai after a small amount of opium was found on him.
Anderson makes his presence felt
CRICKET:James Anderson signalled his determination to play a key role in the Ashes with a timely display for England to help them take control of their warm-up match against Warwickshire.
Anderson claimed five for 34 to dismiss Warwickshire for 102 and establish a 188-run first-innings lead after the hosts had resumed the second day on 31 for one. England reached 185 for two by the close to secure a 373-run lead.
Young riders finish fifth in Nations Cup in Netherlands
EQUESTRIAN:There was mixed luck for the Irish squads competing at the European show jumping championships at Hoofddorp in The Netherlands yesterday when the young riders' team finished fifth in their nations' cup competition but the juniors failed to qualify for their second round, reports Margie McLoone.
David Simpson recorded the young riders’ only clear on Cruise With Me while David Blake picked up a single time penalty with Fabienne. Alex Duffy had five faults with Tampa and, having amassed 21 faults, Kelly O’Connor had the discard score on Doc Holliday. France won the team event on five faults while the British squad proved successful in the earlier junior nations’ cup.
Cian O’Connor, who, last night was a member of the Irish team competing in the FEI Meydan Nations’ Cup team in Aachen, won the afternoon’s speed Derby at the German showgrounds with Dermot O’Rourke’s Baloufina.
