Klitschko in change of plan
BOXING: Wladimir Klitschko's manager has admitted a world title defence against David Haye is no longer his fighter's top priority. British heavyweight Haye was yesterday forced to pull out of his scheduled June 20th bout due to a back injury.
Manager Bernd Boente said: “At the moment the priority is Ruslan Chagaev because Wladimir does not want to wait any longer.”
Mosley signals FIA will not give in to teams' demands
MOTOR SPORT:Motor racing head Max Mosley has told Formula One teams to set up their own series if they do not want to compete next year under rules laid down by the governing body.
In a clear sign that the International Automobile Federation (FIA) was not about to give in to the teams’ demands after weeks of negotiations over the 2010 regulations, the FIA president presented a simple choice.
“I say (to them): if you want to formulate your own rules, then you can organise your own championship – assuming the rules satisfy the safety requirements,” he told Swiss weekly Motorsport Aktuell.
“But we have the Formula One world championship and we make the rules for that,” he added.
Grael on cusp of victory as crews set to depart Galway for Sweden
SAILING: The eighth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race departs Irish waters tomorrow as the seven-boat fleet sails the 950-mile leg from Galway to Marstrand, Sweden, as the 39,000-mile event draws to its finale, writes David Branigan.
The start has been delayed to 3pm to allow for the tide, and the farewell ceremonies will get under way at 11.30am.
Brazilian multiple Olympic medallist Torben Grael on Ericsson 4 stands on the cusp of overall victory. However, his team’s 13-point lead hinges on avoiding poor performances for the remaining three legs, such as the fifth place in last weekend’s light-airs dominated In-Port Race.
Ireland’s Green Dragon departs having achieved third place in the previous stage from Boston for which skipper Ian Walker and his crew were feted during one of the most successful stop-overs ever.
Chinese media crew member Guo Chuan will step down for the next leg from Galway to Marstrand. Stepping onboard to carry out the media role will be Green Dragon cameraman Huang Jian. Also stepping back onboard will be boat captain James Carroll – he will replace Ian Budgen.
A short display course will be staged off Salthill before turning south-west and the passage between Innisheer and Doolin. The fleet is expected to stay offshore for the best wind and should pass Dingle shortly before sunset. The Fastnet Rock has been included as a mark and the boats will be obliged to leave this to starboard before turning towards Land’s End and on to a demonstration course off Rotterdam.
The original route was intended to sail north past the Scottish Isles but the support of Delta Lloyd for the Ger O’Rourke campaign last summer led to a change of route past the Dutch port.
