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The 2022 F1 British Grand Prix- Not too bad, no? The Championship Battle possibly becoming a 3 team affair

Round 10 of the 2022 F1 season had it all- enthralling racing, spectacular crashes (thank goodness for modern motorsport safety measures), first wins, championship points dropped, teammates crashing into each other (the Alpha Tauri debrief not a fun place to be I’d imagine), brilliant strategies, some really REALLY not-so-brilliant strategy (gee I wonder who this refers too *trots away*), and it has set things up perfectly for the second half of the season.

First off, I just want to say thank you to the marshals and safety crew. The lap 1 crash was horrific. And knowing that Zhou and Albon are safe and doing well is the best news of the weekend. Special mention to Mercedes’ George Russell too who immediately went over to check on Zhou after the big crash. One of those days where it really hits you how dangerous this sport is and reminds you why safety is always the number one priority.

Going into the race at Silverstone, Red Bull and defending champion Max had won the last 6 races. Their longest win streak since Vettel was on top of the world in a Red Bull. It was a strange weekend for Max’s side of the garage, and Red Bull in general. He looked to have tremendous pace and all set to take pole position, but a brief Leclerc spin brought a yellow flag and it was Ferrari man Carlos Sainz who took his first pole position instead. Cut to race day and Max had a blistering start from P2 and took the lead going into the first corner. In the safety car restart, he again showed great pace and hunted down Sainz to retake the lead. But some debris on track had cut through the floor of his car and his pace dropped off a cliff. And on lap 12, Sainz and Leclerc both overtook Max’s clearly damaged Red Bull, and Max would go on to finish the race in P7 after a thrilling battle to hold off Haas driver Mick Schumacher, who took home his first points as a Formula 1 driver!

Adding to Max’s car issues, in the safety car restart, Checo and Leclerc had a brief collision that damaged both their front wings and as a result Red Bull had Checo Perez come into the pits really early in order to replace the nose and front wing. He dropped to P16 from P4 and had it all to do. At the moment, everything going Ferrari’s way. But this is Ferrari so of course things are just not allowed to go smoothly. It’s in our DNA to look at a straightforward situation and go “hmmm this could do with some drama” (it is painful being Tifosi, trust me…). Carlos and Charles were leading the race 1-2 and going well. But everybody could see that Leclerc was clearly the faster of the two, and Lewis Hamilton was fast catching up to these two out front. Leclerc was clearly frustrated and was losing a LOT of race time. Ferrari brought in Carlos on lap 20 and put him on fresh hards. Leclerc had free air and did his best, despite the damaged front wing, to push the pace. Problem was, Lewis and the Silver Arrows were really getting their act together. It was Hammer Time and Hamilton was getting ever so closer lap after lap. Leclerc came in on lap 25 and Lewis was still out on track at a blistering pace on his worn mediums. These were the first time he’d led a race in 2022.

Chasing Lewis out front and with Leclerc increasingly frustrated at being behind Sainz despite having more pace, Ferrari gave Carlos a target time to hit but he couldn’t get there and team orders came into action and the cars were asked to swap positions. On lap 33 Mercedes brought Lewis in to pit for hards and he came out behind both Ferraris. By this time, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez had been ON it and was carrying out a quite incredible recovery drive in P6, effective P4 because Norris and Alonso ahead of him would pit again for softs.

It all looked good for Leclerc out front, but Carlos was in touching distance and both Hamilton and Perez were catching up. Lap 38. 38 of 52. Safety car *dramatic music plays*. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon had some sort of mechanical failure and had to pull aside the old pit straight. Ferrari had plenty of time to make a decision (something that just about everyone BUT Ferrari seem to agree with) to pit both their cars. Instead, they chose to keep out their championship contender Leclerc on used hards and bring in Carlos on fresh softs. Pretty much the entire grid (Kevin Magnusson and Charles Leclerc the only exceptions) made the call to go onto fresh softs for the final 10 or so laps. Softer, fresher tyres = faster pace (Scuderia Ferrari, hire me).

The safety car came in and the race got underway on lap 43. Just before the restart, Ferrari asked Carlos to help Leclerc out and create a gap that would allow Charles more room to get his tyres warm and more space up ahead. Carlos instead chose to attack Leclerc (both drivers were free to race) because he felt that he was under threat from the cars behind. And Carlos went on to take the lead immediately after the restart and would hold on to it to take his first ever F1 win! On his 150th Grand Prix start! An amazing moment for him and the team. But while Sainz flew out front, there was some brilliant racing going on behind him. Perez, Hamilton, and Leclerc all battling, wheel to wheel action, hard racing in what was some of the most incredible racing I have ever seen, all the way to the very end. In the end Perez had the pace for P2, Hamilton and Leclerc had a wonderful battle with the Brit taking P3 for Mercedes, and Leclerc brought his Ferrari across the line at P4. Alonso and Norris breathing down his neck in P5 and P6.

Mixed day for Red Bull and Ferrari. A very promising one for Mercedes. And I really think that we’ve got a 3 team battle to the end now. The next race is in Austria, at the Red Bull Ring, the home GP for Red Bull (who’d have guessed. Not like it’s called the “Red Bull Ring” or anything). Will the prancing, not in complete rhythm but still prancing, horses pull one over the Bulls up in the Styrian Alps? Will the Silver Arrows continue to push forward and shoot ahead? Or will Max and Red Bull assert home dominance to get back to winning ways? I CANNOT wait for next weekend.

Quick fire preview of the NBA Conference Finals

We are down to the final 4 in the NBA. Both the Conference Finals have been set. The top 2 seeds in the East made it and the top 2 in the West both got eliminated. With the finalists of last season- Milwaukee and Phoenix, both going out in game 7s (in VERY different game 7s). I predicted the Heat to make it past Philly in 6, Boston to get past a Middleton-less Milwaukee in 7, Golden State to get past Memphis in 6, in my previous article (https://chaiandchill.com/nba-playoffs-2nd-round/). I did think the Phoenix Suns would get past the Dallas Mavericks in 6, but Luka and coach Kidd put on a masterclass, and Chris Paul after game 2 of the series, just fell off a cliff, and the Mavericks have made it to their first Conference Finals since 2011.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Miami Heat (1) vs Boston Celtics (2)

This series is such a fascinating one. Two incredibly deep teams, two very VERY good defenses, two very well coached teams. Miami plays with a chip on their shoulder. They are the #1 seed, and most people still look elsewhere in the East when they talk about potential champions. The Heat play with a point to prove and you can see it. They play hard on defense, aggressive on offense, and are very disciplined. Boston have had a helluva run upto this point. Swept KD, Kyrie and the Nets. Eliminated the defending champions in Giannis and the Bucks in a fantastic 7 game series. Round after round, game after game they show their athleticism, defense, offensive firepower, and brilliant coaching.

My prediction for this series- Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat in 7

I see this series going the distance. Coach Spo for the Heat, and Coach Udoka for the Celtics will play out a tough and closely contested battle. I give the edge to Boston because of their talent. I think they have just that little bit more to offer. We know the role players on both sides will have their good and bad days. We know that Jimmy Butler will do his thing. He’s their closer. But Boston has two of those players in Tatum and Brown. Tatum, this post season, has shown that he is now in that category of NBA superstars. And when it comes down to it, I think that the extra talent on the Boston roster will pull through. Although, I will say that Kyle Lowry being fit and healthy will be a major factor and could sway the series in Miami’s favour.

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Golden State Warriors (3) vs Dallas Mavericks (4)

After an injury riddled 2 years, the Golden State Warriors are back to the Conference Finals. Their 6th appearance in 8 years. Only Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls have done that before. The Warriors come into this series after getting through Memphis in 6 in a very physical and difficult series. But in those crucial, clutch moments, you could see the experience of the side pull them, will them to victory. They are my favourites to win the West, and the NBA Championship. The last time that we saw Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green all healthy and on the court together- they went to 5 straight NBA Finals. And until somebody beats them, they are my pick. It’s your crown until someone takes it. The Dallas Mavericks are coming off of a 7 game series against the #1 seed Phoenix Suns. And that game 7 was something else. Luka Doncic with 27 at the half, matching what the whole Suns roster could put out. It was a capitulation on another level. Luka and the crew, and coach Jason Kidd were absolutely fantastic. But the game felt like one where the Mavericks AND the Suns beat the Suns. Everybody knows how special Luka Doncic is (especially in elimination games). So, to see Dallas go into Phoenix and win a game 7 was not a shock result. But the way it all went down was mind blowing. And thanks to his performance, the rest of the team stepped up, and coach Kidd’s brilliant tactics, they find themselves in their first Conference Finals since 2011- the year they went on to win the championship. Also, the last time these two teams faced off in the playoffs was in 2007 where the 8th seed “We Believe” Warriors knocked out the #1 seed, 67 wins Dallas Mavericks. And it feels like a bit of a reversal of that situation this time around.

My Prediction for the series- Golden State beat the Dallas Mavericks in 6 As special as Luka and Dallas had been in that game 7, I don’t see it carry on to this series. Luka will continue to be special. But the rest of the guys will have to step up big time. Offensively, nobody can guard Luka Doncic. He is going to get his. It’s about limiting the others. And that is how Golden State has approached their opponents in the playoffs, in years gone by and even this season. They let Nikola Jokic be the dominant scorer and shut off the help around him. They employed the same strategy against Ja Morant and his Grizzlies. And I don’t see that strategy changing. They will obviously try to limit Luka to a degree- have Green, Wiggins, Klay, and Kuminga guard him. But they know that he will get his shots one way or another. It’s about stopping the likes of Brunson, Bullock, Dinwiddie, Finney-Smith and co. This Dallas team is very similar to the Houston teams led by James Harden. One primary ball handler and scorer, and a 5 out offense where everyone on the court can shoot. And we saw the Warriors get past that Houston team successfully every time, so we know they can beat that system. On the defensive side of things for Dallas, they will have a lot of running around and chasing to do when they guard the Warriors. That is another area where Luka might be targeted to wear him down a little. Even if they trap Steph, the off-ball movement of the Warriors will be a handful. And in the end, I think the movement and fluidity on offense, along with the defensive switch that Golden State can turn on late in games will be the difference and see them

Quick fire preview of the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs

WEST

Phoenix Suns (1) vs Dallas Mavericks (4)

Both these teams are coming off 6 game series, with The Suns beating the Pelicans, and Dallas getting past Utah. Both these teams also closed out their series wins on the road. And they’re both led offensively by their superstars who are coming back from injury. Neither series going to a game 7 is good because it allows the teams to have just that little bit of rest and recovery period.

My prediction for this series- Phoenix wins it in 6. I think this will be a VERY closely fought series. Luka will obviously carry the offensive load on the Maverick’s side. Everybody knows that. Stopping it is another matter. And the rise of Brunson will definitely keep the Suns defense honest. On the Suns’ side, CP and Booker will be huge of course. But the wing depth and the size inside the paint is where I think the Suns will take this series. Their centers aren’t one dimensional like Rudy Gobert for Utah, who Dallas just took out of the game

Golden State Warriors (3) vs Memphis Grizzlies (2)/Minnesota Timberwolves (7)

Golden State got past a depleted Denver Nuggets team in 5. Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic was incredible this series for Denver, but it was just too much to overcome. The emergence of Jordan Poole, playing his first playoff series, has been a revelation. And the 3rd iteration of the Warriors death line-up seems set, and ready to go. Steph, Klay, Poole, Wiggins, and Draymond at the 5. They play very small (got out rebounded 50-37 by Denver in game 5). But their offense is lethal. The 3 guards can shoot lights out. Wiggins has had a career year from beyond the arc. And the constant movement with Dray running point means endless opportunities to cut to the rim. The Memphis-Minnesota series is pretty much shaping out to be as expected- 2 very young and inexperienced teams who play with a lot of energy, make highlight plays, make stupid mistakes, and nobody can predict what’s going to happen next. Explosive talents on both sides. Minnesota should have won the series 4-1 but instead Memphis leads in 3-2 and go to Minnesota looking to close it out.

My prediction for the Warriors second round series- Firstly, Golden State will be hoping that whoever they face, the other series goes 7 games. You want your opponents to be as mentally and physically exhausted as possible. Whoever comes out of the Griz-Wolves series will dominate the paint against Warriors (Memphis led the league in rebounds). They have the talent and depth (Memphis even more so) to go toe to toe against Golden State. But they play rash and make bad decisions. I think this is where the experience of the Warriors will come through and they take the series in 6. Homecourt comes into play (if they play Memphis), but the Warriors will look to split the first 2 against Memphis and neutralize that.

EAST

Miami Heat (1) vs Philadelphia 76ers (4)

Miami have been excellent throughout the regular season. Despite injuries to their stars, they convincingly claimed the 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Yet most people around the league will pick Milwaukee, Boston, and Philly above them to represent the East. And Miami play like they have a point to prove. They dispatched Trey Young and his Atlanta Hawks in 5. Defensively they completely nullified Trey like nobody had before. Offensively, they are unique. Jimmy Buttler leads the way but the playmakers and shooters around him in Kyle Lowry, Herro, Duncan Robinson, Struss and co compliment each other nicely. Defensively, PJ Tucker, Jimmy Buttler, and Bam Adebayo are brilliant. It will be interesting to see how Bam and Miami defend Embiid though. They can’t switch everything like they usually do because Joel Embiid will put the game away by pounding the paint. Bam vs Embiid will be fun. Philly on the other hand are more superstar driven than system driven. Embiid, and especially James Harden, have to play great. They dodged a bullet and a potential collapse against Toronto and closed the series in 6. But their superstars have to perform better.

My prediction for this series- Miami Heat in 7. I think this series goes the distance. It is system vs star power. Will Miami’s system be able to contain Philly’s stars? Will the “others” on the 76ers be able to take on and hold off the depth and talent of the Heat? Embiid will get his. Jimmy will get his. Which one of them has a better supporting cast will dictate the series.

Boston Celtics (2) vs Milwaukee Bucks (3)

Boston will be the most confident team remaining in the playoffs. The only team to sweep their opponent. And for the opponent to be the KD and Kyrie led Brooklyn Nets? They will believe that they can go all the way. And with good reason. They are by far the best defensive team in the league. They can switch everything. Jason Tatum has taken his game to another level and is now a superstar in the league. Jaylen Brown has been fantastic and a brilliant 2nd option. They’re both among the best 2 way players. Add the Defensive Player Of the Year point guard Marcus Smart to the mix? That defense looks formidable. Rob Williams, Al Horford, Daniel Theis are all solid bigs. Milwaukee though will feel like they have enough to shut down teams and to score a ton too. Jrue Holiday is a defensive savant. Giannis is a wall to get past. And he is unstoppable offensively. Apart from game 2 of their first round series where Demar DeRozan went OFF to carry the Chicago Bulls to a win, every other game was a comfortable and dominant win for the Bucks. Giannis is growing from strength to strength and is the best player in the league right now, without question.

My prediction for this series- I’m saying that the Boston Celtics win it in 7. Khris Middleton being out of the entire series due to injury is a massive blow for the Bucks. I think if he was available, Milwaukee win it. But he is such a loss on both ends of the floor. And Giannis isn’t going to have enough to power the Bucks to the conference finals. They are the defending champions though, so I am not going to say that Boston will have it easy. I think this goes 7 games and right down to the wire.

Aprilia and Aleix Espargaro are finally MotoGP Grand Prix WINNERS!

In Aprilia’s 6th season in the premier class- MotoGP, they have finally achieved their dream of being race winners. The RS-GP is a grand prix winning motorbike! And the rider to put the bike, and himself, on the top step of the podium- Aleix Espargaro. On his 200th race start he delivers the perfect performance and result to claim his first win in MotoGP. Aleix was with Aprilia for their 6 year project and has seen the ups and downs. The Aprilia project looked so poor that a couple old seasons ago Aleix even contemplated retiring altogether. But he stuck with the team, and they kept chipping away and putting the work in- and it has paid off big time. This did not feel like a fluke victory. Aleix topped all but one session on Saturday and the warm-ups on Sunday. He qualified on pole. He clocked the fastest lap time en route to his and the teams first ever win. There were genuine signs of Aleix having the pace and the Aprilia having the performance good enough to compete for the win.

Aleix did not have the best of starts off the line, and Martin and his Ducati lead the race going into turn 1, with Aleix and his younger brother Pol, on his Honda, almost coming together even before getting past the first corner. The two riders in the front, Martin and Aleix, managed to pull away from the chasing pack and consistently maintained a 2 second gap. The Aprilia and the Ducati out front kept trading places. The Ducati power getting Martin out front on the straights, the better handling of the Aprilia (along with some slipstream help) meant that Aleix was right behind the rear tire of the Ducati. Aleix had the better race pace, and on lap 20 of 25, he made the move stick and carried the lead all the way to the chequered flag. Jorge Martin came home in 2nd place and will gladly take the 20 points after 2 DNFs in the first two races of the season.

The race long scuffle between the two out front also meant that Alex Rins on his Suzuki was able to cut the gap to the front to less than a second. His teammate Joan Mir finishing just behind in P4. The Suzukis once again displaying their improved power this season, but they need to do better in qualifying, so that they can make the advantage count come race day. Still, promising signs for Suzuki and if they string a full weekend of top performance, they will really take the fight to the rest of the grid.

Elsewhere, it wasn’t the best of Sundays for Ducati, Yamaha, or Honda. Martin was the only bright spot for Ducati. Pecco Bagnaia also did well to finish 5th after starting 14th. But Ducati will be hoping that they and Pecco- last season’s runner-up, will be doing more than recovery jobs. They will hope that this P5 is something to build on. Jack Miller and Enea Bastianini having poor weekends on their Ducatis, and Zarco crashing out. Same story with Honda- Marc ruled out of this grand prix due to illness and Pol crashing out. The Yamahas had a weekend to forget too with Morbidelli having to retire due to a rear tire issue (an issue on both the Yamaha bikes, and not one that the riders or team saw coming when prepping for this season). Current champion Quartararo finished a disappointing P8 and was visibly frustrated after the race. This is a big season for him as his contract with Yamaha expires at the end of the season. He has been vocal about his frustrations with the team and the seemingly lack of progress and will not have a shortage of offers should he choose to leave.

But all of this chaos means one thing- this season is continuing to deliver with top quality racing and unpredictability. 3 races in and we have had 9 riders on the podium. And the last 5 races have been won by European manufacturers. Something that seemed so unlikely with Yamahas and Hondas dominance over the years. This is a welcome change though. New riders on top, MORE riders competing for places, more teams fighting for wins. This is shaping up to be one of the most competitive seasons we have ever seen in MotoGP. Bring on Austin, USA in a week’s time!

2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix- The perfect second round to follow up the season opener in Bahrain

Round 1 of the 2022 Formula 1 season gave us a lot to talk about, and simultaneously left us with a fair few questions to be answered. But, considering the new regulations, more unknowns than known variables was expected. Testing was always going to be something that we used as an opportunity to look at the cars out on track. No real significant conclusions to be drawn from there. Reliability is arguably the most important thing you look for in there. You can’t finish first if you can’t finish the race. Testing lap times don’t really matter either because nobody really pushes hard and goes all in. Despite that, the fact that McLaren looked pretty solid in Barcelona, to then turning up for the race at Bahrain and finishing 14th and 15th (this is after 3 other drivers DNF) is a concern. It’s not just that they finished terribly low down the order. It’s that they genuinely looked like the car with the slowest race pace. And that is surprising to say the least. McLaren have been on a steady upward climb for the past few years. To be this far off? Definitely things to work on.

And yes, I know that this is just the first round in a 23 race season. Overreaction and over analysis is not the right thing to do. But I need to put out content, so let’s go ahead and overreact & over analyse just a little bit more. FERRARI ARE BACK! Bahrain was painted scarlet red last weekend as the Scuderia Ferrari team got their first win in 46 races, which was also a 1-2! The last one was in Singapore, with Vettel taking the win and Leclerc taking P2. Ferrari have been quietly confident with their car this season. Team principal Mattia Binotto has been calm and cool and quietly confident- very un-Ferrari like. The team as a whole feels a lot calmer. Even during and after the race, Leclerc looked and sounded like a more seasoned campaigner. They know that they have a solid package in this F1-75 car of theirs, but Red Bull still look like the car to beat.

Speaking of Red Bull. They had a mixed weekend. Topping the time charts during free practice. Looked all set to take pole position with Max when Charles and Ferrari had something to say about that. But despite that, they looked like they have a very good, fast, competitive car on their hands. Even during the race when Max reported a steering issue, he was still quick enough to build a gap to Sainz in P3. That Red Bull still looks like the car to beat, for me. And yes, 3 of the 4 cars with a Red Bull Powertrain DNF. And people love to jump on that and question the reliability of the cars. But that’s not how it works. 1. We still do not know the exact issues on the cars. 2. All of them had different problems. Max had a steering issue, and a loss of power that just shut down his car. Checo had the loss of power issue too. Gasly and Alpha Tauri though had an MGUK issue and not the same problems as the Red Bull cars. They just have to put this down to a bad weekend (0 points hurts) and focus on Jeddah in a couple of days time.

The other team who I think will be in the title fight- Mercedes. Right now, they are clearly the third fastest team on the grid. Comfortably ahead of the rest but still a way off from Red Bull and Ferrari. But that’s where having someone like a Lewis Hamilton comes in. Mercedes got more points than even they would’ve expected, with Lewis finishing on the podium after the two Red Bulls DNF. But you need a driver as driven and focused as Lewis in order to always stay ready and pounce on an opportunity. The car clearly is not the easiest to drive. Porpoising, hard to handle, the straight line speed. Some things need fixing. But Merc know what they have to do, and I’m sure that in 4-6 races, they will be right up there, and could potentially even pip Ferrari as the main competitor to Red Bull. It’s hard to write off a 7 time drivers’ champion and an 8 time constructors’ champion- the last 8 years at that. I’m sure they’ll get their act together. I don’t expect a massive performance jump in the next race, or even in the one after that. But I am certain that this will be a three horse race between Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari.

Jeddah should be fun. The fastest street circuit in the calendar. 79% of the track is driven at full throttle. The most corners of any track in the calendar with 27 of them. Under the lights. It is a nice change from Bahrain and offers such a different set of challenges. Will McLaren, Aston Martin, and Williams still struggle? Will Haas and Alfa Romeo prove that they are genuinely here to fight for the “best of the rest” midfield battle against the likes of Alpine? Will Red Bull have sorted out their “reliability” issues (or whatever little fixes they need to look at). And will the Ferrari, who are so good at slow speed corners, show that they are good enough and fast enough for a rapid street circuit, and put another marker down for being a genuine title contender? We shall see! I think we’re in store for a very exciting Saudi Arabian Grand Prix!

A Beauty from the Beast at the Qatar GP

Qatar GP 2022- Round One of the 2022 MotoGP season got underway with Enea “The Beast” Bastianini getting an emotional win for Gresini Racing. Bastianini and the entire Gresini Racing team were visibly emotional as they saw their rider take the chequered flag in the season opener under the lights in Doha, at the Lusail International Circuit. The team dedicating this win to their former team boss- Fausti Gresini, who passed away last year after contracting COVID-19. This was one of those moments where the entire paddock was happy to cheer on Bastianini and Gresini as the riders made their way back to Parc Ferme.

Bastianini started 2nd on the grid, behind pole setter Jorge Martin on the Pramac Ducati, and ahead of Marc Marquez on the Honda, completing the first row. Bastianini overtook Pol Espargaro and his Honda with 4 laps to go, after the Spaniard led the race up to that point. He was eventually 3rd and took the final podium spot as KTM rider Brad Binder overtook him in the closing stages of the race, as Pol was pushing to stay with the lead Ducati. With his 2nd place finish, Binder ensured that this was KTM’s highest ever finish in Qatar. They couldn’t break into the top 6 before this.

Jorge Martin had a race to forget. The Pramac man could not capitalize on pole and was swallowed up by the pack behind him. And to top it all, Pecco Bagnaia on his Ducati lost control and crashed into Jorge Martin on lap 12 and took both of them out. A disappointing weekend for Ducati’s factory outfit as Jack Miller retired the race on lap 6 after facing a technical issue. Fellow Aussie and debutant Remy Gardner on the KTM got his first point as a MotoGP rider, crossing the finish line in 15th.

Elsewhere, the Suzukis of Rins and Mir had a disappointing outing. They showed a lot of promise on Saturday but just couldn’t convert that into a result on Sunday, with Mir and Rins finishing 6th and 7th respectively. The Suzuki did this a lot last year too- a lackluster showing on Saturday that was followed by tremendous race pace and race craft on Sunday. They will need to look at both this time round if they want to get their hands on the championships this year. There were a few positives for Suzuki- the bike still looks like the most balanced, the GSX is a race pace bike and we saw that in spurts, and finally we got to see the increase in power of that Suzuki engine when down the start-finish straight, we in fact did NOT see the Ducati breeze past it, like we would have seen a year ago.

Defending champion and last year’s race winner, Yamaha rider, Quartararo didn’t kick off his title defense the way he would have wanted to. He started in 11th and on the final lap, down the start-finish straight was pipped to 8th place by Pramac Racing’s Johann Zarco- that Ducati showing that it is still an absolute missile in straight line speeds. The Yamaha looked surprisingly average. Quartararo even said post-race that he pushed as hard as he could. They need to get back to the factory and work on the M1 before the next round in Indonesia. They will be desperate to get back on track sooner rather than later, especially considering how many riders this season are gunning for the driver’s championship. Even Aleix Espargaro on the Aprilia looked rapid as he brought the bike home in 4th place, just behind younger brother Pol. A couple more laps and I reckon the Aprilia would’ve taken the final podium spot.

Qatar isn’t always the best indicator as to where teams stand compared to each other. It’s a hard track to read too much into. But you can still certainly see how teams “look” on the track. Body language, strategy, rider mindset, etc. And the fact that we had 8 teams finish in the top 10 is a wonderful sign for the fans. Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, Ducati, and Gresini will all be bullish over their title hopes this season. Looks like we’re in for another season long dog fight with endless storylines to unfold over the next 20 races. BRB, ‘bout to grab some popcorn.

The blockbuster James Harden-Ben Simmons trade that might be one of the truly genuine win-win trades in league history

The trade that everybody was talking about has been completed. And it went down to the very end of the trade deadline. It just had to be dramatic to the very end, huh? Philadelphia and Daryl Morey got their man in James Harden. Harden and Daryl Morey have had a solid relationship from the duos time together in Houston with the Rockets. So, it really was no surprise that once there was talk of potential interest from the 76ers to bring The Beard over to the City of Brotherly Love, and pair up him and Joel Embiid, that it was a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’.

Let’s look at the specifics of the deal. Philadelphia receives James Harden. The Brooklyn Nets receive Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond.

The Sixers get that much needed bonafide superstar partner to their very own Joel Embiid. James Harden is having a poor season by his standards. Due to not being happy in Brooklyn, due to the Kyrie-vaccination situation, and the hamstring injuries- BUT the man’s still averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 assists, and 8 boards. And is an All-Star for the 10th time… all this in a poor season… He is a true superstar of the league, and this move will prove it. A move that surely puts Phily right up there as a genuine contender to come out of the East, and one that will have the team confident against any of the other teams vying for top spot. They already had arguably the best big man in the league in Embiid, and now have the shooting and passing of James Harden to provide a new level of creativity and offense beyond the arc. They always have the defense of Matisse Thybulle- a player that Brooklyn GM Sean Marks also tried to acquire as part of the deal. The Harden-Embiid duo also has the potential to be one of the games greatest pick and roll duos. Embiid hasn’t really used the pick and roll as a go to weapon for his offense. But that isn’t for a lack of ability. Now that one of the greatest scorers this game has ever seen is on the team, I am certain that the pick and roll will be run a lot more often by coach Rivers. There is just too much fire power to not utilize it. The fans in Philadelphia are in for some special basketball for the second half of the season.

On the Nets’ side of things, GM Sean Marks has done a fantastic job in my opinion. Just like the Sixers, they offload a player who does not want to be there, AND he brings in some valuable pieces that will make an immediate impact on this Brooklyn team. Ben Simmons is an all-world defender. He can guard 1 through 5 and is the ideal passing big/center come playoff time. He can focus on defending (a good thing for someone who finished second in the Defensive Player Of the Year standings last season eh?) and on getting his teammates involved on offense. He can be the Nets’ version of Draymond Green. Not too bad. Top level defending and playmaking INSTANTLY improves the Nets in a way that they desperately needed. And with Joe Harris out, adding Seth Curry (who has been fantastic shooting from beyond the arc and with his mid ranges too) is a brilliant move. It also leaves Philly a little thin in that department and making a title rival in the same division get a little weaker is always welcome. Drummond might not stand out, but he is a more than serviceable big man. And come playoff time, the more bodies you have to throw at the bigs in the East- Embiid, Giannis, Vucevic, Allen, Mobley, Bam- the better. He brings a good veteran presence to the locker room. And you need that know how of a player who’s been in the league, especially when you run with a young but talented (and sometimes volatile) group of players. And just like Harden with Philly, Simmons, Seth Curry, and Drummond are here to make an instant impact and make the Brooklyn Nets stronger right now.

The East needed a proper rivalry. The last true rivalry goes back to the 90s battles between MJ’s Chicago Bulls and Ewing’s New York Knicks. But with this trade? The nature of the moves, the drama that led to this, the players involved, the cities involved (the atmosphere in the Wells Fargo Arena in Philly will be something else when these two face off)? We’re in for some fireworks. In a season where the East is already packed, you have the Miami Heat (the most complete team in the East in my opinion), the defending champions Milwaukee Bucks, the electrifying Chicago Bulls with their resurgence, the surprise Cavs from Cleveland… THIS, this rivalry and spice is what we needed to take this thing to the next level! Bring on All-Star break, and the home stretch before the playoff basketball begins. This summer might get a whole lot hotter than we previously thought.

The British GP- The perfect summary of the McLaren vs Ferrari battle

The battle for third place in the Constructor’s Championship is well and truly on! I must admit, up until the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, I still wasn’t a 100% sure that this battle would last the season. We’ve seen it far too often, where just as you think a battle’s heating up, taking shape…. It just fades away. But this time it feels different. This isn’t a clinic being put on by two manufacturers as they go head-to-head. You’ll need to look at Red Bull vs Mercedes for that one. But the fact that it isn’t an all-out battle between two extremely sound or “perfect” teams, drivers, and cars is what makes this battle so intriguing. It’s the faults and inconsistencies and unpredictability of the way the cars and drivers perform, that makes this such a mouth-watering battle. Inconsistencies within the team, and between the drivers even! One week you have the Ferraris matching the top 3-4 cars for race pace. The other, they struggle to get into Q3 and get both cars into the points. One week the McLarens look like baby Mercs, much like Racing Point (now Aston Martin) did last season. And the next they seem to be pegged back by the Ferraris, and the occasional burst of performance courtesy of Pierre Gasly and the Alpha Tauri.

The battle to win the title, between Mercedes and Red Bull is like a boxing match. Sure, there are flash points and moments where form and style aren’t at their peak (…. yeah… Copse at Silverstone would attest to that… racing incident imo. Just putting it out there). But, for the large part it is a very flowing and hard-fought battle that looks elegant. The battle for third between McLaren and Ferrari? Yeah, that would be more UFC than boxing. Sure, these teams are also very well versed in technique and form and style. But  the second their opponent hits the canvas, all that elegance goes out the window and it just is a brawl to see the most resilient (or reliable in F1 terms) one weather the storm and stand up.

So yes, it would be better for Ferrari if they were consistent and finished the race more or less where they expected to, unlike the current situation where they either perform a lot better than they thought they would (Monaco, Baku, Silverstone) or where they perform a lot worse than they would have expected to (just about every other tack). But that would be boring! For us it would! We don’t want boring, standard consistency, do we? Nahhhh! GIVE US CHAOS! That’s what makes a midfield battle special! There’s just something not quite right about it. But that sense of “ooh, wonder what’s going to happen here then” (to be fair, this might be what Mattia Binotto and Zak Brown must be thinking too, at times) is what makes it so much fun! Same with McLaren. Lando is having a fantastic season. Brilliant pace. Super quick laps during qualifying and on race day. But there are still moments where you think “hmmm if he could’ve done xyz maybe…”. And that’s brilliant. Ricciardo has struggled to get to grips with the McLaren. But slowly but surely, you can see him improve and get more comfortable with pushing the car. As proven by his brilliant battle with former McLaren driver and current Ferrari man, Carlos Sainz. Those 20 odd laps where Sainz was pushing the Ferrari to the absolute limit in an effort to overtake Ricciardo, that was fantastic racing. Because Carlos was just on it and was pushing so hard, Daniel had to just buckle down and focus and drive the perfect race to the end. Because just one error, and I’m sure Carlos would’ve passed him. So not only are the drivers getting closer to each other, they are now getting closer to their rivals too. Silverstone just proved this. Charles in a Ferrari finishing P2 and Lando and McLaren grabbing P4. While Ricciadro and Sainz in the other McLaren and Ferrari respectively, battling it out and finishing P5 and P6. Top quality and pace displayed along with the grit and elbows-out determination. The British Grand Prix really didn’t just sum up this battle for third place, I think it also laid down a marker to say, “this is going to be rather tasty and go to the very end”. Bring it on

MotoGP-Italian Grand Prix- Quartararo masterclass in Mugello

Mugello. Arguably the most iconic and coveted podium on the MotoGP calendar. Formula 1 has the Monaco Grand Prix, MotoGP has Mugello. Personally, my favourite racetrack in the world, along with Monza and Spa-Francorchamps. The last three races here have been won by Italian giants Ducati. They’ve held a bit of a stranglehold on their home GP having won in 2019, 2018 and 2017. And going into the weekend, you would’ve thought they had a very good shot at making that 4 in a row. They have showed blistering pace, they even broke the all-time MotoGP top speed record by getting past the 360 km/hr mark (shoutout to KTM and Brad Binder who managed to match that record. That was perhaps also a sign of things to come on race day are how KTM would get on). Add to this the fact they came into this race with two wins on the bounce (both going to Australian rider Jack Miller), they would have expected a good haul of points. But the best they could manage at Mugello was 4th place with Johann Zarco. Although, by the end he was over half a second off a podium place. Thriller Miller finished the race in 6th place and Michele Pirro for Pramac crossed the line at 13th place. Pecco Bagnaia in the lead Ducati crashed out on lap 22 and a potential top step at the most iconic podium on the calendar came to nothing. Just not a good weekend for Ducati and it’s on to the next.

Yamaha and Quartararo finally took advantage of their good qualifying performances by grabbing victory. Quartararo is now building a gap in his lead for the championship. Once he took the lead, he reminded me of a former Yamaha legend who was immaculate when in the lead. Quartararo was brilliant in the lead and is showing true championship mettle and skill. Maverick Vinales (8TH position) does really need to sort himself out. If the Yamahas want to be dominant for the next few years, they need 2 riders who can push for victories and poles on a consistent basis.

In terms of team balance and motorbike balance, I think Suzuki are right up there. Two top riders who are close to each other in skill and track position. A team who competes as a duo. Just like Ducati and their riders. And from a team perspective, that helps so much. But the past four races haven’t really gone to plan. World Champion Joan Mir (3rd position) has been riding well. But teammate Alex Rins has crashed out in the last 4 races. Him and his team need to make some adjustments.

One team that will be extremely happy with their weekend will be KTM. Miguel Oliveira with second place, Brad Binder in 5th and Petrucci and Lecuona both finishing in the points with 9th and 11th place finishes respectively. The KTM certainly know that they’ve got the raw pace to match the Ducatis. They have to keep working on their bike to get the right balance. But promising signs for sure! Promising signs also for Aprilia! Aleix Espargaro with a very good 7th place finish and Lorenzo Savadori grabbing the last point on offer with a 15th place finish! And I think everyone expects this season to be one of learnings and developments for Honda. There is a clear separation and “mini leagues” forming. The Yamahas, Ducatis and Suzukis battling it out for the title. KTM and Honda have enough to have a say in the championship battle in certain moments. And Aprilia are finally seeing meaningful progress! Mugello is an iconic track. The most iconic in MotoGP. And this season it’s not only proven to be potentially season defining for Quartararo and Yamaha in terms of pulling away in the lead. But, also as a venue where teams have learned a lot about themselves and are more or less all in a position where they believe they can really push on for this season and the next.

Ferrari 2021: The horse is prancing again

Ferrari. The biggest name in Formula 1. Arguably the biggest name in all of motorsport. The sport needs Ferrari to be good. The sport needs their biggest star to shine bright. And the year 2020, that was an absolute disaster. And if that form had continued into this season, then some pretty serious conversations would need to take place in Maranello, and the higher ups at the FIA would have been worried, it’s fair to say. The progress seen this season is a very welcome sight. It is also pretty impressive considering this is the final year before the new regulations kick in. It would have been easy for Scuderia to write off this year and just put all their eggs into 2022. But they persisted in their efforts to make the 2021 car perform a lot better. To be fair, I really doubt whether it could have got much worse after the absolute shambles of a season in 2020.

But they chose to make inroads into the development of the car and have been mighty impressive to say the least! People expected McLaren to perform the way they are. Daniel Ricciardo to join Lando Norris. An already solid car now powered by a Mercedes power unit. People expected them to grab the midfield battle by the throat and just run away with it. Certainly, nobody expected Ferrari to be right up there and challenging McLaren for third place in the constructor’s championship. And it is a treat to watch, this battle. The two biggest names in the sport going at it. Sure, it isn’t for the drivers or the constructor’s championship. But to see the two heavyweights, the two rivals, go back and forth, round after round, this is brilliant. Just like the title race this season is a very mouth watering one, between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, this midfield battle between McLaren, Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo and Ferrari, Charles Leclerc and former McLaren driver Carloz Sainz, is just so wonderful to watch. All four drivers have no trouble getting their shoulders out when it comes to it. All four of them have that x factor. That killer instinct. And to see them go at it not only against their own teammates but also the rivals, who all get along great off the track, is thrilling.

This battle also highlights the fact that there isn’t one particular way of winning. In the simplest way, the McLarens absolute smoke the Ferraris when it comes to straight line speed (#bringback2019Ferraripls). While the Ferraris have shown really strong pace overall. Yes, they are a bit of a sitting duck down the straights, but their maneuverability and drivability has come leaps and bounds since last year and this is where they make up their time. Just like the old days. Raw speed is one thing, but it is true pace that gets you wins. And this is like the old days. Except there is young blood to lead the charge. And that is an absolutely delicious prospect. Bring on the rest of the season. This boxing match is going to the last round with both sides taking and landing hits round after round. ANDIAMO SQUADRA! ESSERE FERRARI!

Formula 1 back with a bang!

Lewis Hamilton outlasts Max and Red Bull to take the season opener

Bahrain Grand Prix

The Bahrain Grand Prix to kickstart the season. It did feel different not starting in Melbourne, but to be fair, we are all going through a period that does feel different overall, doesn’t it? This was also the first time in a while where we had fans back at the circuit! This being the first race weekend of the season, practice was what I expected. Nobody really could make definitive predictions about the teams. The only things that the majority of the fans could agree on were that Red Bull are genuine title contenders, Mercedes aren’t going to run away with it, and the midfield is going to be very, very tight.

Qualifying on Saturday was all over the place and was really exciting! Bottas struggling to control the Mercedes in Q1 and a little bit in Q2, before reaching some level of stability in Q3. Aston Martin and Sebastian Vettel would have been massively disappointed being knocked out in Q1. Partly due to the car not having great pace and (mainly) because he got caught in traffic and in TWO yellow flag situations. That compromised him quite a bit. Mr. Saturday himself, George Russel, had another fantastic outing. Outqualifying his teammate, Latifi, and getting that Williams into Q2. The achievement made even more special because this was a track where the Williams was expected to struggle. But the most impressive driver in Q1 had to be rookie Yuki Tsunoda. He was absolutely flying. And the Alpha Tauri certainly raised a few eyebrows around the paddock with the pace they showed.

Q2 was even more exciting, and the moment to end Q2 was the most exciting of the session. A FERRARI 1-2 TO END Q2! Who would’ve thought? Sure, it was on the softs, but nobody (including Ferrari) expected them to be that high up! Red Bull, Mercedes and Alpha Tauri were the only teams to run the mediums. And only Mercedes were able to get both cars into Q2. Surprisingly, both Tsunoda and Perez missed out on Q3 as the teams around them just pipped them by using softs.

Q3. It delivered. Big time. Everyone had been asking for a two team battle for the championship. And it looks like we are about to have ourselves a rather exciting one alright. Red Bull are arguably the most balanced car on the grid at the start of this season. And with Max’s raw pace and drivability, they are going to be really hard to beat. And they proved that by getting their first pole to start the season since Vettel in 2013. This is clearly their best car in the hybrid era. In the best among the rest battle, Charles Leclerc put in another blistering lap to put that Ferrari in P4! It doesn’t reflect the true pace of the car of course, but it does show improvement. Teammate Sainz had made a conscious effort to underdrive the car as a way of getting used to the pace and behaviour. He qualified P8, one place behind old teammate Norris. Alonso did well on his return by getting the Alpine into Q3. Aston Martin on the other hand will feel like they underperformed this weekend.

Race Day

Sunday! Race Day! It was one of the most eagerly anticipated races in a long, long time! It was the first time in a long time that there were so many unknowns going into race day. Starting on pole, Max and Red Bull were able to control the pace of the pack. This was until Hamilton and Mercedes decided to undercut the lead Red Bull and take the lead. Mercedes were aggressive and proactive and were able to wrestle back control of the race. Following the second pit stops for both the drivers, things got a lot tighter. Max attempted to make his move with just 3 laps to go, but Hamilton defended in true champion fashion and managed to hold off the Dutchman to take the season opener. In some ways this will feel like Max and Red Bull lost this race rather than Mercedes won it. Everything was set up for Max to take the win, but the champions Mercedes were aggressive and fought till the very end to take the top step of the podium.

Bottas finished a distant third in what was a rather uneventful race. He will be hoping to improve a lot come next race weekend. As expected, the midfield battle was very tight. Norris was brilliant on the new Mercedes powered McLaren and took 4th position. Checo started the race from the pit lane due to some technical issues on the formation lap. But his race pace was something else and he managed a respectful 5th place on his Red Bull debut. Ferrari’s Leclerc and Sainz were separated by Ricciardo’s McLaren as they finished 6th and 8th respectively. A result that Ferrari will be happy with, considering how much they’ve improved since last season. Rookie Tsunoda in the Alpha Tauri and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll rounded up the top 10 and took the final points on offer.

It was a disappointing race for the Alpine team with Ocon finishing outside the points (13th) and Alonso having to retire because of a suspected brake issue. Vettel’s poor weekend continued as he finished in 15th and will no doubt be looking to seriously bounce back soon. The rest of the teams were more or less where they expected to be (George Russell was rather brilliant with his 14th place finish and was my standout driver among those outside the points)

All in all, it was the perfect start to the season. Exciting racing all through the field. Close battle for the win. Safety car (the new Aston Martin safety car looks stunning). And we’ve seen a glimpse of the cars in race conditions. Cannot wait for Imola in the middle of April. That looks set to be another thriller!

India vs England 4th T20i review

FINALLY! A close game in this series! And what a game it was! The two best white ball teams heading into the decider on the back of a close game just makes the decider that much more exciting of a prospect! I think the biggest takeaway from the game, for both sides, will be that- it is possible to win batting first! Batting first and winning is special. But with the conditions (the dew) and the team selection (going in with just the 5 bowlers), this win seems even more impressive!

India being put into bat would have led many to believe that the series was a wrap. Who can blame them? This series until now has been a case of “win the toss, win the match”. It was important that the pattern was broken.

First innings: The openers were off to a disappointing start. But I get the feeling that this is the pair that India will stick with for the final T20i too, given how much faith they put into K.L. Rahul and Rohit Sharma. And I really don’t see a need to change it right now. Every player is susceptible to a bad run of form. It happens. Suryakumar Yadav (SKY) made his “debut” (yes, I know it’s his second game, but he didn’t get to bat at all in his first, so just allow me). And what a wonderful first outing as a batsman for India. Looked calm and played in a carefree manner. And what about that shot to get off the mark! Kohli unfortunately had a disappointing game with the bat. He got done in stumped by one of the world’s best with the white ball in Adil Rashid (how this man doesn’t have an IPL contract I don’t know). Pant came in next and looked to steady the ship (understandable, he walked in at 70-3). But it was Shreyas Iyer who came in with a blazing 18 ball 37 that swung the momentum back towards India. He’s often seen as an anchor, but his 200+ strike rate innings was much needed today for India! 185 seemed like an above par score here, so it was a good effort in the end.

England, I thought, bowled ok. Definitely not as consistent and sharp as they have been bowling in the first 3 games. But they didn’t bowl too terribly. SKY and Iyer just seemed to be on top of them in the game.

Second innings: Different story with the English openers. Jason Roy continuing with his trend of setting himself up but failing to convert it into a big one. Nevertheless, he has been very good this series! Buttler fell early to Bhuvi, who seems to be getting back to form. He will probably be one of the strike bowlers for India come the T20 World Cup. Malan came in at 3 for England and did a K.L. Rahul! He hasn’t had the best of times this series (the dismissal this game really summarized his series. Good work by Chahar). But just like India, England are blessed with a number of top top quality white ball players. And also, just like India, I do believe that Morgan and co will stick with Malan long term. Too good of a player to be judged on the back of one series. The English run chase was a strange one. They were about 70 odd for 3 at the end of 11 overs. And the next 5 overs of spin yielded them around 50 runs! This was because of the Bairstow-Stokes partnership. Personally, I feel like the time at which Stokes came in to bat was perfect for him. Gave himself time to get in before launching. He just missed out on his maiden T20i fifty! Bairstow was Chahar’s second scalp for the day and the dangerous partnership was broken at last. And things got better for India as Shardul Thakur got two in two balls in the 17th! The slow balls and the off cutters were working a treat. And with the right hander’s angle going away from Stokes and Morgan, the off cutter did the trick! Sam Curran got cleaned up by Hardik Pandya in the next over. Hardik has been a very very good and reliable player with the ball, in the series and not just this game. Him being in the team as an all-rounder just brings so much more balance to the Indian side. Shardul picked up Chris Jordan in the final over of the match. The 8 run win score line doesn’t really paint the whole picture. And India will be happy considering that they haven’t got their premier bowler in Bumrah available, and still managed to defend a total.

This puts us nicely onto the series decider. I think most people would have predicted a 3-2 result (either way) going into the series, and that’s how it’s been 3 games where both the teams were completely dominant and the one game that was a nail biter. Hopefully we have another in the final game. Should be a good ‘un!

India vs England 3rd Test Preview

Who would’ve thought so? Going into the series, the general consensus was that if England were to win a test, the pink ball test would provide them with their best shot at doing so. This is because nobody really has any idea as to how the ball will behave. How it will change as day turns to night. And nobody knows how the pitch is going to behave. India is the one place where a green top could offer turn from the first day. Bottom line, nobody knows.

That unpredictability is a big reason for the 3rd test being England’s best chance at a win.  But the fact that they are coming into this test at 1-1, means that they can really look to take charge of this series and have a real go at playing in the first ever World Test Championship Final at Lord’s. And despite the absolute thumping at the hands of India in the second test, they will be feeling pretty good going into this one because of the unpredictability of where they’re playing. It’s like a classic shoot-out on a rank turner, only this time there could be a possibility that the conditions favour the visitors, for a while at least.

India meanwhile will be brimming with confidence after the brilliant comeback performance in the second test. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli with some runs under their belt. Ashwin and Axar Patel with loads of wickets between them. Rishabh Pant with arguably his best display behind the stumps. The side, not at full strength yet, seems to be getting stronger. Even the players who didn’t perform all that well, are either just starting out in their test careers, or have been there long enough that people really shouldn’t worry about or doubt them anymore.

This should be a gripping contest. I don’t see it going the 5 days, but I do think it will be a very closely fought, and intense battle, for however many days it does last.

My England XI for the 3rd test: Zak Crawley, Dom Sibley, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root (C), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes (WK), Dom Bess, Jofra Archer, Jack Leach and James Anderson

My India XI for the 3rd test: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravi Ashwin, Axar Patel, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah

Looking at the Premier League title contenders

I think it’s fair to say that this season’s race for the Premier League crown is one of the more interesting and hotly contested ones of the past decade. Liverpool, the Champions, and both the Manchester clubs are battling it out. And it’s got the feel of an epic. One that will go right down to the wire. With the season almost at the halfway mark, and with the most recent results (the 0-0 between Liverpool and United, followed by City’s 4-0 thumping of Crystal Palace), it just all fits really nicely into the storyline that everyone wants to see.

In my opinion, Manchester City are the favourites for the League this season. They are, along with Manchester United, the in-form side in the country. They seem to be getting better each game. Ruben Dias has been a revelation. John Stones seems to be back to his best. And I am a firm believer in the statement “attack wins you games. Defense wins you titles”. City have got the best defense in the league (in part due to Van Dijk, Matip and Gomez being unavailable for Liverpool). And their talent in the midfield and up front has always been a notch above the rest. On paper, they do have the best XI and the best squad. Yes, I know that you don’t win games on paper. But the level of talent they’ve got, you cannot ignore it either. Their solid defense, their deep and talented squad, and Pep’s genius will ultimately take them to the top, I believe.

I do think that the Champions, Liverpool, will not defend their crown. This is a very difficult season for everyone. Having to play game after game in the midst of dealing with a pandemic isn’t easy. And you can see signs of fatigue in this Liverpool side. Riddled with injuries, they still have managed to be at the top end of the table. And even though it is their defense that has been hit the worst, it doesn’t look like their weakest asset. Rather surprisingly that seems to be their famed forward line trio of Salah, Mane and Firmino. They have been disappointing in the past few games, and just look toothless. Something we thought we wouldn’t say. Their injuries coupled with their misfiring forwards are the reason I think they will fall just short and finish the season in second place.

And finally, we now come to Manchester United. The current league leaders (imagine saying that at the start of the season!) are the in-form team in the country. Largely thanks to the Cantona-esque impact that Bruno Fernandes has had on the side. Their home form has to improve, but on the road they have been incredible. In the 0-0 against Liverpool, a draw was probably the fair result (a result United will be the happier with of the two sides). But they can take heart from the fact that they did manage to carve out the better chances. This United team has got a bit of fight in them. They don’t fold after the hour mark or so. They fight to the very end (5 goals in stoppage time in the League). But, even though Bailly has looked good, Shaw has looked solid, Fred and McTomminay look good, it more often than not comes down to the direct influence of Bruno Fernandes. In my opinion, they are a couple of pieces away from winning the title. But I just don’t see the current crop of players sustaining this run and being able to hold off City’s charge. I see United ending the season in third. But, they will use this season as a platform to go even harder in 2021/22.

What if the IPL teams were NBA teams? Who’d they be?

Mumbai Indians (MI)- Los Angeles Lakers (LAL)

The defending champions. They play at the Wankhede Stadium. One of the more iconic and atmospheric stadiums in the IPL. Mumbai- The land of Bollywood. LA- The land of Hollywood. Both sides are star studded and have an incredibly successful history. Mumbai Indians are in fact the most successful side in the IPL, having won 4 titles (2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019). The sides have another thing in common, not only do they both have a rich and winning history, some of their respective sports greatest ever players have played for them. Kobe, Shaq, Wilt and now LeBron don the famous Purple and Gold. Similarly, the very best of Cricket have donned the Blue and Gold of Mumbai. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Lasith Malinga, Ricky Ponting, Sanath Jayasurya and now they’ve got the stars of present-day Cricket in skipper Rohit Sharma, Bumrah, the Pandya brothers and the staple in the MI side, Trinidadian Keiron Pollard. They will be looking to become only the second side in the IPL to successfully defend their title in 2020.

Rivals: Chennai Super Kings-CSK (Basically the Lakers-Celtics of the IPL). Delhi Capitals-DC (Derby between the two biggest cities of India. Like an NYC vs LA game). Rajasthan Royals-RR (Intense games in the past)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)- Boston Celtics (BOS)

The 2019 finalists, and the second most successful side in the IPL. They won in 2010, 2011 and 2018. They have made it to the final a staggering 8 times! That’s 8 out of a possible 12 times. Their lowest position and worst performances resulted in them finishing in 3rd place in 2009 and 2014. CSK in the IPL is a synonym for consistency. CSK play at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, or Chepauk as it is known. The sea of yellow with the stands filled with the Whistle Podu army is quite a sight to behold.  Just like the Celtics, the Super Kings expect nothing but the title. Success, and continued success is what both teams strive for. The Celtics are often praised for their ability to do things in a calm and cool manner. Not going about things with a ton of fanfare and gala. Chennai are very much built in the same mould. From the ownership, to the coach, to the captain- MS Dhoni, calmness, experience and a great attitude is for all to see. This is why they’re so successful. Because after a certain point, they just figured out a way to be successful. They knew how to win. The 2018 side was dubbed “The Dad’s Army” owing to the aging CSK squad. Nobody gave them a chance. But just like with Boston, Chennai had one thing that you only have if you’re successful for a long period of time- experience and know-how. When the going got tough, CSK just knew exactly what needed to be done, to get over the hump. With news of MS Dhoni’s and Suresh Raina’s (one of CSK’s greatest ever players) international retirements, they’re going to go all in on the IPL and be a force to be reckoned with once again in 2020.

Rivals: Mumbai Indians-MI (Basically the Lakers-Celtics of the IPL). Royal Challengers Bangalore-RCB (South Indian derby- Chennai vs Bangalore. Dhoni vs Kohli aka Old head skipper vs Current skipper aka LeBron James vs Luka Doncic). SunRisers Hyderabad-SRH (South Indian derby).

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)- Houston Rockets (HOU)

Winners in 2012 and 2014. Barring last season, where they just missed the playoffs, KKR have made it to the final 4 for 3 consecutive years (2016, 2017, and 2018). Last year was a transitional year and the side looks raring to go for the 2020 season. KKR play at the Eden Gardens. A truly global and iconic venue in the sport of Cricket. The Knight Riders, interestingly enough don the Purple and Gold, just like the Lakers. Although that’s about where the comparisons end. The Houston Rockets and the Kolkata Knight Riders can in certain place come across as the spitting image of the other. They’re both based in cities of rich culture and heritage. They both won under their most magnetic and mercurial personalities, and leaders- Hakeem with Houston and Gautam Gambhir with Kolkata. They’ve both got ownership who are big time and keep a close eye on things (Timlan Fertitta and Shah Rukh Khan). And, in recent years, both of them have brilliant players on their squads who are primed and ready to win, only to fall short and come up against truly great teams. Both presently are heavily dependent on their star player to essentially carry them to wins. The players are the system, in James Harden for Houston, and Andre Russell from Jamaica for Kolkata. After a disappointing season last year, they have strengthened their squad, with the most notable addition being Australian spearhead Pat Cummins. And, they look hungry once again, to give it another go in 2020.

Rivals: SunRisers Hyderabad-SRH (Many a playoff battle in the past). Kings XI Punjab- KXIP (Intense games in the past. Both have had ex players perform well against each other). Royal Challenger Bangalore-RCB  (Intense games in the past. Both have had ex-players perform well against each other).

SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH)- San Antonio Spurs (SAS)

The SunRisers Hyderabad (formerly Deccan Chargers 2008-2012) are one of the most consistent sides in the IPL. Only one of two IPL sides to have a non-Indian player as captain with Australian David Warner, who led the side to the 2016 title (the other being Steve Smith for Rajasthan Royals). They have won the title in 2009 (as Deccan Chargers) and in 2016 (as SunRisers). They’ve been finalists in 2018 and have been in the final 4 in 2010, 2013, 2017, and 2019. SRH play at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, in Hyderabad. The boisterous Orange Army always turn up, and a stadium full of orange flags and twinkling lights (from the flashlights of the mobile phones of the fans in attendance) makes for a terrific atmosphere. Just like the Spurs, the biggest asset of the SunRisers is their terrific coaching staff, the brilliant work culture and the emphasis on good leadership leading to great results. The Spurs, the Patriots and the SunRisers have all found success on the back of brilliant leadership, rather than just pure talent. And just like the Spurs, SRH have never defended their title, but are always a legitimate threat. They’re both dynasties in their own right. Coach Pop always puts tactics and defense on top. It’s what wins you championships. SRH were the same under Darren Lehman (Deccan Chargers) and Tom Moody (SunRisers). Tactical astuteness and great defense (in this case, SRH are generally considered to have the best bowling attack in the IPL year after year. No total is too little to defend). For the 2020 season, SRH have made a significant change. The ownership had decided that the team had come the furthest it could under Moody, and a fresh face was required. They went and hired the hottest ticket in town, by getting 2019 England World Cup winning coach- Trevor Bayliss. It was under Bayliss that KKR had won their two IPL titles. This appointment is a clear statement of intent by the SRH ownership that the team has to now go from consistent final 4 performances, to consistently winning the title and making final appearances. A new era beckons for the Orange Army in 2020.

Rivals: Chennai Super Kings-CSK (South Indian derby). Royal Challengers Bangalore-RCB (South Indian derby). Kolkata Knight Riders-KKR  (Many a playoff battle in the past)

Rajasthan Royals (RR)- New York Knicks (NYK)

The Royals were the first ever winners of the IPL, way back in 2008. Led by the great Shane Warne, that side was known for their grit and toughness. You never had an easy game, and you knew there were going to be some bumps and bruises in a battle against the Royals. Rajasthan Royals play at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. The land of the Kings. Unfortunately, after the high of the 2008 triumph, the Royals have gone from sitting at the throne, to just being a spectator, as they’ve watched team after team win and wear the crown. One they thought was theirs. Just like how Ewing was the talisman for the Knicks, Warne was the undoubted X-factor for the Royals. But once their era had gone by, it was just never the same. RR have struggled massively post 2008. They did get 3rd place in 2013 (coincidentally, the very year the Knicks made their last playoffs appearance), but they usually find themselves near the bottom of the table. They barely made the playoffs in 2015 and again in 2018, but just never looked like getting anywhere. They finished 7th out of 8 teams last year. Things are looking promising for the years to come, however. The Royals have steadily and gradually been working to put together a solid (with potential to become formidable) side. A very English core with Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, and being led by Australian stalwart Steve Smith. Things look to be coming together nicely for the Royals, but it’s yet to be seen whether all this talent translates to success in terms of being legitimate contenders for the title.

Rival: Mumbai Indians-MI (Intense games in the past)

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)- Brooklyn Nets (BKN)

RCB are an enigma. The best of the best have played for them. They play at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, arguably the best atmosphere in the IPL. They’re both based in cultural and sports centered cities. They have had some of the sports very best batsmen in a format that could not favour the batsmen more. Yet the IPL title has remained elusive. The most obvious comparison between the Nets and RCB are who they are led by. Kevin Durant and Kyrie for Brooklyn and Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers for RCB. Nobody questions the ability, skill and talent that these great players possess. Nobody questions their track record too. But questions do pop up now to see whether they can win. Yeah, they have won before, but that was under other great leadership- KD with Steph, Klay, Draymond and Kerr at Golden State, and Kyrie with LeBron in Cleveland. Similarly, AB De Villiers back home in South Africa, and Virat Kohli for India under MS Dhoni. RCB have come close on a few occasions. Runners-up in 2009 against Deccan Chargers (now SunRisers Hyderabad), runners-up in 2011 against Chennai Super Kings, and runners-up in 2016 against SunRisers Hyderabad. They also finished 3rd place in 2010 and in 2015. But the rest of the campaigns have been quite underwhelming, to say the least (they have finished bottom or near the bottom the past 3 seasons). There is no way a side with this much star power should still be looking to find that final piece of the puzzle, when those around are already looking to take the next step of not just winning, but repeatedly winning. As is the case at the start of every season, there are a lot of mixed emotions going into this season too. They’ve still got an immensely talented squad, a new coaching staff, a new position in the Director of Cricket Operations and the mercurial duo of Kohli and De Villiers. But it’s to be seen whether they will finally convert all of this into silverware at the end of the season.

Rivals: Rivals: Chennai Super Kings-CSK ( South Indian derby- Chennai vs Bangalore. Dhoni vs Kohli aka Old head skipper vs Current skipper aka LeBron James vs Luka Doncic). SunRisers Hyderabad-SRH (South Indian derby). Kolkata Knight Riders-KKR  (Intense games in the past. Both have had ex-players perform well against each other).

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP)- Phoenix Suns (PHX)

KXIP play at the very scenic IS Bindra Stadium. KXIP are usually one of the league’s more entertaining sides to watch. High octane Cricket, flashy moves, flamboyant players make for great sporting entertainment. But it hasn’t resulted in an IPL title. Just like the iconic Suns’ 7 seconds or less offense, KXIP had an ultra-aggressive system and approach at one point, with every batsman sent out to the middle having just one goal- hit the ball as far as you can, as often as you can. Throughout the IPL’s history, KXIP have been blessed with some wonderfully gifted players (*cough* Nash-Suns *cough*) both, at different times in their history, and together as a collection of top talent. But their good periods always seemed to come when some of the other sides had their greatest teams assembled. KXIP would blitz teams at the start of each campaign, only to then fizzle out towards the business end of the tournament. Their best finishes are in 2008 (3rd place) and as runners-up in 2014. Even in those two seasons, they absolutely stormed into the playoffs and played some of the most exciting and “gets your heart racing” form of Cricket we’ve ever seen. But when push comes to shove, the team that plays calm, collected and a winning brand of Cricket ultimately triumphed over a brand of Cricket that was exhilarating to watch, but wasn’t a winning one. For the 2020 season, their golden boy Glen Maxwell from Australia has returned, rising star and skipper KL Rahul and, the “Universe Boss” Chris Gayle from Jamaica who looks to continue from where they left off the past couple of seasons. It looks to be an exciting season for them in 2020.

Rivals: Delhi Capitals-DC (North Indian derby). Kolkata Knight Riders-KKR (Intense games in the past. Both have had ex-players perform well against each other)

Delhi Capitals (DC)- Washington Wizards (WAS)

Delhi play at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground. Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils) and Washington Wizards, both representing the capitals of their respective countries. Both, perennial underachievers. Both have got young, exciting squads. But at the end of the day, you know that they’re not really a threat. Delhi had a promising start to their IPL journey. In the first 5 years of the tournament, they finished 3rd a couple of times (2009 and 2012) and 4th once (2008). But from 2013 to 2018, Delhi being at or near the bottom of the table wasn’t even worth betting on. They went from having a squad comprising of some of the World’s very best (AB De Villiers, Vettori, Dilshan, Gambhir, Sehwag, Kevin Pieterson and so many more) on their squad in the first 5 years, to becoming bottom feeders till 2018. Had they shown a little more patience with that initial group of players, they very well might have won a title. It’s no secret that the DC ownership and patience do not go together. That resulted in year after year of getting new players and coaches, not giving them enough time, and then starting over again. This was a big reason for them having extremely poor seasons year after year. They kept spending big on big names. Delhi were the perfect example of a team being more than the sum of its parts. It looked like the downward spiral would just never end. Until 2018 that is. Something happened. The ownership had decided to go easy on the hire and fire policy of theirs. They brought in Australian legend Ricky Ponting as the head coach. Shreyas Iyer, the young Indian, had taken over the captaincy duties. And the two of them set about building a side that best reflected both of them, and the city of Delhi. A young and aggressive side that just wasn’t willing to back down. A very Aussie and Delhi “over my dead body” attitude was being instilled in the team. The team finished bottom of the table that year in 2018. But everybody could see that DC were just a couple of adjustments away from rubbing shoulders with the big boys. Even in that season where they finished bottom, they never really got taken apart by opposition, and they had a few wins of their own. The most notable being their win over CSK in a pretty comprehensive manner. The youth and aggression filled side of Delhi was just finding its feet. And in the very next season (last season-2019), they finished in an impressive 3rd place. They have rather quickly become one of the more exciting sides to watch. The question now is, whether they are able to get in a sense of calm and know-how into their game, or will they be another young, exciting, sometimes threatening side who, in the moments it really counts are unable to step up. A question whose answer we shall hopefully learn a little more about in the upcoming 2020 season.

Rivals: Mumbai Indians-MI (derby between the two biggest cities of India. Like an NYC vs LA game). Kings XI Punjab-KXIP (North Indian derby).

Corona? It is Sports that will go viral tomorrow

Sports:  One of the few industries that can boom when things go back to normal

The coronavirus has gripped virtually the entire planet. The sports industry is one of the most severely affected due to the outbreak. In a matter of days, some of the biggest sporting events and leagues/tournaments have been called off or suspended for a lengthy period of time. The NBA, the NCAA, the Premier League, the Bundesliga, UEFA games, Tennis, Formula 1 and various cricket matches around the world to name a few prominent ones.

This has not only affected the industry financially, but also emotionally. One look at social media, and we can see how athletes and fans alike are trying to cope in a world without sports. Players have started playing video games! Maybe eSports does deserve to be considered as sport proper after all! Fans and athletes now spend a lot more time communicating with each other. Sporting brands and teams are using this opportunity to be more accessible to their fans, thus increasing their own brand image and enhancing their brand personality.

The coronavirus is a bad thing. But as is often the case, the best in people comes out at the worst of times. A lot of the sporting organizations have been severely financially affected, but they are steamrolled by billionaire owners who can take the hit. The real challenges are faced by the employees of these organizations. NBA players like Zion Williamson, Kevin Love and Blake Griffin have pledged to financially support the people at their respective teams. The entire Golden State Warriors organization (ownership, management, coaches and players) are donating US$ 1 million US to the staff who are financially affected.

And all of this contributes to the way fans look at and feel about the teams and players they love and support.

Sport is a highly emotional industry, on both sides (within the organization and outside, i.e., the fans). Fans feel a sense of belonging when they support a team or a player. They feel part of the organization, part of the highs and the lows. When the team wins, they say “WE WON”. It’s an incredibly deep and pure connection most fans have with their teams. I mean the word fan is short for fanatic! So, there is bound to be an emotional connect. And right now, they are being deprived of it.

People are watching reruns of games gone by, documentaries on teams/players and just doing things to make them feel like the entire vibe still lives on. And because sport is one of the few industries that is majorly emotionally driven, I think that once the gates to the arenas open up, people are going to be packed to the rafters. The sense of reunion, of being part of something bigger and of having your heartbeat go all over the place as if you were on the field will be overwhelming. And just like that, the sports industry will more than recover from whatever losses it ends up making during this pandemic. Because sports offer something that other brands just simply cannot, sports make you feel like the owner, CEO, coach, player and fan all in one. The raw emotion that sport evokes will carry the industry for years and will in my opinion be the reason that this industry will never truly die out. But rather, every time it faces adversity, it might just end up coming back stronger, much like the people who are a part of this wonderful industry.

SHE – Is The ‘S’ a liability?

2020. That’s the year isn’t it? We live in this big, modern and technologically advanced world, everything is at your fingertips, it’s brilliant! Still feels like we haven’t evolved in terms of humanity though. So there’s definitely something wrong here right? Turn on the news and you see a ridiculous amount of reports of atrocities against women. Read the newspaper, and you see the same. Turn on the radio, same again. Now we do love to take the mick out of journalists and the media for showing us news that is not necessarily ‘news worthy’ don’t we? C’mon I know you do too! But when you find such amounts of news revolving around a similar subject, there has to be some sort of foundation to it. The fact that this is a delicate topic to talk about should trigger something in our minds, shouldn’t it? People need to spread awareness. We need to work towards a more equal society. It all starts from within.

Gender inequality is a very huge issue. Be it in a little village in rural India or in the glamourous world of international golf or tennis. In sport, in general, women earn nowhere near the amount of money that their male counterparts earn. Now there is no way anybody can justify this! Because if they do, then they are basically saying that men deserve MORE & BETTER than women, which is complete and utter rubbish! Everyone performs to the best of their abilities, and women are as good as men!

Now, I relate most to sports, I love it! And so do many others, a lot of whom are women. Unequal pay is just one of the problems that women face in the world of sport, to get to a level where they are able to support themselves and the people around them is quite a taxing one. Right from the off it’s a struggle to convince the people closest to you that sport is a viable option to make a career out of. It is a struggle to prove that you are “good enough”. There will be many moments that feel just too harsh and it’ll feel like it’s a mountain too high, this is when will power comes to the rescue! Women, more so than men, have to make a LOT of sacrifices. To achieve their goal quite a lot has to be “given up” on, which is why it is even more special when a woman makes it to the top. This applies to other fields like politics as well.

The government and leading organizations around must take steps towards a better and more equal society. Maybe start off by promoting education and other activities such as sports and writing. The people need to be educated and encouraged. More schools should be built, with better facilities. Children should be given good exposure. The schools need not teach just bookish lessons, there’s so much more to learn.

There are many women who are pressured to quit their jobs and marry and ‘settle down’. It’s good that women are working! Women need to be encouraged to work and to attain their goals. They are making something of themselves, who says a woman cannot run a family and be the breadwinner?!

Even in the different industries other than sports, the organisations should do more, the pay packages differ greatly when it comes to men and women, the rate at which they progress in their career is also affected. Programs, drives and seminars should be conducted to make more people aware about this issue.

Women are natural leaders, it’s just that we may not be able to see it in plain sight. We need to start recognising this. The women in your life will act as the all reliable lantern to guide you through the dark tunnel. You may curse it for flickering a bit, but it still doesn’t go off, does it? It stays by you right to the very end.

If you think about it, YOUR whole world revolves around women. Be it your partner, mother, nanny etc, women play a crucial part in OUR lives. No WOMEN, no LIFE! Your heart AND mind will both agree to the previous statement. It is both philosophical and scientific, the two go hand in hand.

Women are the fuel that keeps the engine of the world running, no fuel = no road trips right?! For example, I can NEVER relate to what mom goes through, it’s the same the other way round, BUT she will never fail to stick by me when I do go through rough times. A lot of time she is the reason that I stay strong, I HAVE TO, it’s the way she brought me up and nurtured me. And a lot of you will relate to this, I’m sure of it. So make an effort to let your partner or mom know that you LOVE and RESPECT them.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few women on Earth who do not get the love and respect that they truly deserve. Exploitation and abuse is rampant throughout, that is a sad yet true fact. But there is always a solution to EVERY problem, no matter how “small” or “big”.

The world has a problem, it’s a villain of some sort isn’t it? We’ve all watched enough films to know that when evil is attempting to rip apart the universe, a hero shall stand up against it. We know what the villain is, now it’s time for the heroes to rise.

And do not go about searching for this hero, just walk up to a mirror, and LOOK.

(This article was first published in 2016. After minor edits, it is being republished because of its relevance today)

Rins grabs victory right at the death in Silverstone, UK

Rins and Marquez played out a BAFTA worthy battle at the historic venue

The recently concluded Silverstone GP. Wow! It was like a motorsport version of the Spanish Inquisition as Alex Rins, Marc Marquez and Maverick Vinales burnt the rest of the riders in front of a vociferous crowd.

The entire race weekend was eventful. First off, fan favourite and MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi narrowly missed out on pole position to rival Marquez. Marquez, meanwhile continued to show his class and dominance over the rest of the riders, just breezing past everyone in sight.

But the real action began on Sunday, noon. Perfect weather, good conditions and then some. And all of this in a country known for gloomy, rainy days! ‘Twas a good sign! The very first corner on the very first lap, and Fabio Quartararo loses grip and crashes. Andrea Dovizioso then crashes into Fabio’s sliding bike and is thrown off the Ducati in spectacular fashion.  The Silverstone race marshalls were fantastic in their response it must be said. The riders taken to safety, the fire put out and the track cleared very efficiently.

The Brits are known for their art, theatre and film. Well, Silverstone felt like one rollercoaster of a film. A huge explosive beginning, a lot of 2-3 intense rider battles during the middle and then THAT finale. Marc Marquez led the pack brilliantly, and almost got the Honda home. But it wasn’t to be. Alex Rins and his Suzuki had the last laugh. Rins overtook Marquez on the final straight and wins the British GP, beating Marquez by just 0.012 seconds!

The podium was all red as Spaniard Maverick Vinales completed the Spanish trinity, leaving the chasing pack behind by a whopping 11.439 seconds.

PORSCHE Formula E Series 1

The majestic horse struts into the fields of Formula E for the first time in 2019-20

Porsche fans! The wait is finally over! Porsche will debut in the 2019-20 Formula E season and I for one cannot wait! I must admit I am a huge Porsche fan myself and to see them compete in the Formula E is great!

This piece will be the start of a new series where I’ll cover Team Porsche during the upcoming 2019-20 season.

Let’s start of by understanding who Porsche are and what they do and why they are heading in the right direction with this move.

Porsche as a company have evolved and changed a lot, at the same time they have always stayed true to themselves. Porsche used to be the “bad boy” or the “grim reaper’s “car. Over time they have become a lot more balanced, scientific and focussed. Porsche have set the benchmark for their rivals across many categories (motorsport, luxury and supercars). This approach really took off with the launch of the 918 Spyder, a technological marvel. Just after the concept was made public, I was wishing them to compete in the Formula E. For anybody to grow, they need to change and evolve with time. Porsche are doing exactly that with their Formula E move.

Plus, it just feels so good to have a motorsport legend like Porsche involved in such an amazing event. They have a rich history and pedigree in multiple motorsport events like the Carrera Panamericana, Targa Florio, the FIA endurance championship and the 24 hrs Le Mans to name a few.

Let’s take a quick look at the team that will representing Porsche for the upcoming Formula E season.

Neel Jani- Driver: Neel Jani is a Swiss professional racing driver with a lot of experience and a history of success. He achieved his greatest success winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016 after first joining Porsche’s LMP1 programme for the 2014 season driving in the WEC, so he already has a good relationship with Porsche and the two of them clearly work well together. He also performed very well with Porsche in the FIA endurance championships. When he raced for Rebellion Racing in 2018 and 2019 24hrs Le Mans he had current Porsche Formula E co-driver, Andre Lotterer, as his co-driver too. Team chemistry seems to be one of the strengths for Team Porsche going into their maiden Formula E season.

Andre Lotterer- Driver: André Lotterer is a Belgian-German highly experienced professional racing driver. He competes with a Belgian licence, while representing Germany. He is best known for his success in endurance racing with the works Audi team, including three victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the drivers’ title of the FIA World Endurance Championship. He is a high quality driver and racing for Audi in the 24hrs Le Mans proves that. In that particular competition, he was one of Porsche’s toughest competitors and now the two have joined forces.  He has had two solid seasons in Formula E and can now work with Porsche to keep improving. His driving style is also quite complimentary to Neel’s and they will form a good base for Porsche in my opinion.

Porsche have also brought in former Formula 1 driver, Brendon Hartley as a test driver in preparation for their maiden Formula E season.

So then, they have the huge pedigree of Porsche, top class drivers in Neel and Andre and the excitement of participating in an event for the first time! This season is going to be fun, emotional and could spring a few surprises, and I’ll be here for it all with a prancing horse in my heart.

LET’S GET IT

TEAM 

MotoGP 2015 – The Perfect Trailer for 2016

The 2015 MotoGP season has just come to an explosive conclusion(cue Diwali!). Jorge Lorenzo claimed his third premier class title and fifth overall. Valentino Rossi, or ‘The Doctor’, came agonizingly close to grab that elusive tenth world title. Marc Marquez had a disappointing season, both on and off the track, while his team-mate Dani Pedrosa was the best rider towards the final few races and has set a good platform for himself for next season. This season was without a doubt one of the most exciting seasons in a LONG time. It seemed as if just the off-track antics gained more attention than the whole of last season!. The championship came right down to the final race in Valencia, Spain, and you couldn’t be sure till the final lap! The reaction from the Yamaha team principal in the garage probably summed up the season perfectly, absolute joy, pride and heart-break all rolled into one. On one hand Jorge Lorenzo had just overturned a considerable sum of points deficit to beat team-mate and rival Rossi, on the other hand Rossi had come within touching distance of being crowned world champion for an astonishing tenth time. Some would say that the fact that he could not compete with Lorenzo fair and square in the final race was due to his own fault. Towards the second half of the season he began to have frequent clashes with Marquez, which for me personally was disappointing to see considering how good their relationship had been. Slowly but surely Lorenzo was catching up and one could sense that there was a very real chance that Rossi could blow it, and he did. I am of course referring to the penultimate race of the season in Sepang where he clashed with Marquez( this time the clash was quite literal though). The crash became a huge trending topic all over the world. It was even given a name and came to be known as the ‘Sepang Clash’( wow, such a creative title, right?…). As usual both parties were accusing each other of foul play, Marquez saying that Rossi had blocked his line while Rossi had said that he did not kick out at Marquez but simply held his line, and that Marquez had leaned onto him, which caused contact and the eventual crash. It was the usual blame-game being played, but to be fair, this time the two riders were kinda true. Rossi did block Marquez’s line and the latter had tried to disrupt the Yamaha rider’s exit off the corner. But, no matter how badly Marquez had tried to get in the way of Rossi, the Yamaha rider had no right to retaliate the way he did. I’m using words like “retaliate” and “obliterate”!!, this isn’t a sport, THIS IS WAR!( For those of you who don’t get sarcasm, please don’t take the previous sentence seriously!). Race Direction had ruled out the incident as a ‘racing incident’ and Rossi was penalized. He was given a four point deficit and would be made to start from the last place of the grid in the final race of the season. The punishment of docking points was fair, but the decision to make him start from the back of the grid was maybe a bit too much. This was the final nail in the coffin( or, the lighting of the funeral pyre if you choose to cremate and not bury!).

 Come the final race of the season, the championship was Lorenzo’s to lose. He had obliterated the lap record the previous day to claim pole position. The fact that he had all the cards in his hand probably added some pressure on himself, which makes his victory even more commendable. He won the title by producing one of his best races, the skill and concentration he showed was second to none, and in the end, he deserved it just a little bit more than Rossi.

  Even though Rossi had to start from the back of the grid, he put on a stellar display and had done ridiculously well to claim a very respectable fourth. Two Yamaha riders, two brilliant racers, only one winner, but in this race both of them had driven and competed like world champions .It wouldn’t be fair to say that Rossi did not deserve to win the title and he gave it his all. Rossi was experiencing a case of ‘what if’s’. He missed out on the title by just 5 points. I’d say that the ‘Doctor’ got a taste of his own medicine (am I right? am I right? Yeah, you’re laughing!).

 But he has sent a message to his fellow sportsmen that he is far from done. Even at 36 he pushed Lorenzo (arguably the best in the world in the last five years or so) to the absolute limit. Throughout Rossi’s career there have been many who have tried, and failed, to ‘dethrone’ him. Just look at Max Biaggi for example. Once you got on the list of people who get on the bad side of Rossi there was no getting off. But maybe, just maybe, Marquez can challenge him. He’s got youth and flair (or, ‘swag’ as it’s now known!) on his side. Rossi is not one to give in though, he will keep chipping away at his competition. And if the recently concluded season is anything to go by, then one thing is for sure, next year Rossi will be more aggressive than ever. And when that happens, you know you’re in for a thrilling season. The 2016 season could be one of the most competitive seasons of all time, as always the Yamahas and the Hondas will be vying for the title, but I get a feeling that Ducati could really up their game and pose as genuine contenders, and the satellite teams could cause a few difficulties too.

All in all, the final third of the 2015 season could be a trailer for the eagerly anticipated blockbuster 2016 season. Can Lorenzo defend his crown, can the young prodigious Marquez, along with Honda team-mate Pedrosa, mount a serious charge at the title, can the ‘people’s champ’ and the veteran Rossi show who’s boss, or will the next generation, Ducati, take down the ‘traditional’ powerhouses?

It will start all over again in Qatar on the opening night when these gladiators will face off again for the ultimate prize.

MotoGP 2016- Come along for the ‘RIDE’

(Fine, I’ll stop with the puns)