Nicky Hayden was given a clean bill of health after being checked for a potential hand injury following the first-corner crash in the Valencia MotoGP race.
The American was one of four riders caught up in the collision, which happened when Alvaro Bautista's Suzuki and Andrea Dovizioso's Honda made light contact, sending Bautista into Hayden, his Ducati team-mate Valentino Rossi, and Pramac Ducati rider Randy de Puniet.
"I felt some riders coming up the inside really fast as we approached Turn 1. Then something happened and it was just the domino effect - race over in the first corner," said Hayden, who went for x-rays on his right hand afterwards.
"I'm okay other than my hand being pretty sore. It's unfortunate."
With Ducati having been quick all weekend, Hayden said the race was a missed opportunity - especially given the mixed weather conditions.
"One of our bike's strengths is generating heat in the tyres, and that's what you need on a cold, wet track like this," he said. "Already on the warm-up lap, the bike felt good. It's easy to say now, but I honestly feel like we could have put up a decent fight today and had some fun."
Team boss Vito Guareschi described the crash as a typical racing accident made more frustrating by Ducati's promising form in practice.
"In practice, both Vale and Nicky demonstrated that they were able to ride this track well in the conditions that we had for the race, but after they both started well, they really were victims of a classic first-turn crash," he said.
"It happens, but it hurt Ducati worse than the others. There's not much else to say."
Rossi added that his main sadness was that he had not been able to make his planned tribute to his late friend Marco Simoncelli after the race.
"There's really nothing to say about today, other than that I'm sorry beyond measure not to have been able to put on Sic's T-shirt for the lap of honour," he said. "It's truly a shame."
2011年11月6日星期日
2011年11月2日星期三
Irish's Manti Te'o fit and focused
At 2 a.m. Friday, Manti Te'o finished wee-hour film study and got on the phone with his people back in paradise. He had been dealing with a sore ankle. A loss to USC lacerated his pride. Then his coach took a cudgel to Notre Dame's upperclassmen in remarks like a nasty cut block.
Te'o needed mooring and concluded he would strip everything down and just play for the love of playing football. It was corny but curative. That afternoon the junior linebacker moved past the tumult. The next day he was cold-blooded in dismantling Navy. He resurfaced Wednesday appearing healed in all ways.
"I'm going to be honest — I was hurt," Te'o said in his first public comments since the Oct. 22 loss to USC, referring to Brian Kelly's statement about his recruited players versus inherited players last week.
"But like everybody said, this is a family, and we deal with it as a family. And we dealt with it on Friday and everything was fine. Everything was back to normal. We walked in on Saturday ready to play against Navy and demonstrated that, hey, no matter what happens, nothing can break apart a family."
It had been 10 days laden with reflection, recuperation and renewal for the Irish's tackling dervish, a span Te'o labeled a "roller-coaster." Physically, he recovered, practicing at length for the first time since injuring his ankle before the Air Force game. Mentally, he reconfigured, starting when he entered the football complex the morning after losing to USC.
Te'o walked in for treatment with tailback Jonas Gray, lamenting his performance, how he lacked focus, how he too often guessed instead of reading his keys. Six mornings later, Gray glanced Te'o's way before the Navy game and the sight was chilling.
"Just a different type of focus I've never seen from him," Gray said. "It was, 'Get out of my way.' I wouldn't want to go against him. You look at him and you're like, all right, I need to be in that mode, too."
Said receiver Theo Riddick: "He had something to prove."
He did, with a relentless 13-tackle effort. But this was a changed Te'o on a much less empirical level, too.
"I'm not that much of a yeller, I'm not that much of a rah-rah kind of guy," Te'o said. "I was never that type of player. But I found myself being more rah-rah (recently), trying to get everybody pumped, and I think by trying to be that player I lost who I was.
"So I told (defensive coordinator Bob Diaco) before the game, I hope you don't mind, but I'm just going to be pretty quiet. I'm going to be humble. If I need to say something, I'm going to say it, but I'm not going to yell. I'm not going to try to get everybody pumped up. It worked out well."
Diaco viewed it as a triumph of preparation after Te'o had been "less-than, healthwise" for a time. Te'o injured his ankle midweek before the Oct. 8 Air Force game and, apparently, Irish coaches had to manage his practice participation through the USC game two weeks later.
The limited workload threw off Te'o's timing. On Wednesday, Te'o bemoaned relegation to extensive film study with safety Harrison Smith and asking players "out there who are practicing" for tips so his performance didn't dip. The junior was full-go or near it for Navy preparation, and it showed.
"He had an opportunity to prepare himself, where he hasn't had an opportunity to prepare himself at times," Diaco said.
After Te'o turned his gaze inward, it now pivots in the other direction as the Irish (5-3) get ready to visit Wake Forest (5-3) on Saturday night.
His only lingering hurt, he said Wednesday, dates to 2008 and a Senior Day defeat for the graduating class. Te'o said his sole focus is a raucous stretch run for the current seniors, including a home finale victory in three weeks.
"That's what I owe them," Te'o said. "I owe them my best effort."
After a turbulent 10 days, he emerged untroubled and positioned to provide that.
Te'o needed mooring and concluded he would strip everything down and just play for the love of playing football. It was corny but curative. That afternoon the junior linebacker moved past the tumult. The next day he was cold-blooded in dismantling Navy. He resurfaced Wednesday appearing healed in all ways.
"I'm going to be honest — I was hurt," Te'o said in his first public comments since the Oct. 22 loss to USC, referring to Brian Kelly's statement about his recruited players versus inherited players last week.
"But like everybody said, this is a family, and we deal with it as a family. And we dealt with it on Friday and everything was fine. Everything was back to normal. We walked in on Saturday ready to play against Navy and demonstrated that, hey, no matter what happens, nothing can break apart a family."
It had been 10 days laden with reflection, recuperation and renewal for the Irish's tackling dervish, a span Te'o labeled a "roller-coaster." Physically, he recovered, practicing at length for the first time since injuring his ankle before the Air Force game. Mentally, he reconfigured, starting when he entered the football complex the morning after losing to USC.
Te'o walked in for treatment with tailback Jonas Gray, lamenting his performance, how he lacked focus, how he too often guessed instead of reading his keys. Six mornings later, Gray glanced Te'o's way before the Navy game and the sight was chilling.
"Just a different type of focus I've never seen from him," Gray said. "It was, 'Get out of my way.' I wouldn't want to go against him. You look at him and you're like, all right, I need to be in that mode, too."
Said receiver Theo Riddick: "He had something to prove."
He did, with a relentless 13-tackle effort. But this was a changed Te'o on a much less empirical level, too.
"I'm not that much of a yeller, I'm not that much of a rah-rah kind of guy," Te'o said. "I was never that type of player. But I found myself being more rah-rah (recently), trying to get everybody pumped, and I think by trying to be that player I lost who I was.
"So I told (defensive coordinator Bob Diaco) before the game, I hope you don't mind, but I'm just going to be pretty quiet. I'm going to be humble. If I need to say something, I'm going to say it, but I'm not going to yell. I'm not going to try to get everybody pumped up. It worked out well."
Diaco viewed it as a triumph of preparation after Te'o had been "less-than, healthwise" for a time. Te'o injured his ankle midweek before the Oct. 8 Air Force game and, apparently, Irish coaches had to manage his practice participation through the USC game two weeks later.
The limited workload threw off Te'o's timing. On Wednesday, Te'o bemoaned relegation to extensive film study with safety Harrison Smith and asking players "out there who are practicing" for tips so his performance didn't dip. The junior was full-go or near it for Navy preparation, and it showed.
"He had an opportunity to prepare himself, where he hasn't had an opportunity to prepare himself at times," Diaco said.
After Te'o turned his gaze inward, it now pivots in the other direction as the Irish (5-3) get ready to visit Wake Forest (5-3) on Saturday night.
His only lingering hurt, he said Wednesday, dates to 2008 and a Senior Day defeat for the graduating class. Te'o said his sole focus is a raucous stretch run for the current seniors, including a home finale victory in three weeks.
"That's what I owe them," Te'o said. "I owe them my best effort."
After a turbulent 10 days, he emerged untroubled and positioned to provide that.
2011年11月1日星期二
Boston Weather Won't Bother Manuel
Florida State junior quarterback E.J. Manuel answered questions from members of the media Monday for about 15 minutes at his weekly press conference before the Seminoles took to the practice field, and here are some of the more noteworthy things he had to say during that time:Manuel isn't worried about possibly playing in cold and windy weather in the Boston area since he grew up in Virginia Beach and should be quite used to it, plus the forecast doesn't look too bad ahead of Thursday's game at Boston College. ...
Because of the abbreviated five-day turnaround, Florida State actually practiced Sunday instead of having the day off to rest. According to Manuel, he said he felt rather good and wasn't very sore. If anything, the work allowed him to get rid of the lactic acid players tend to feel a day or two after playing a big game. ...
Freshman receiver Rashad Greene did participate in Sunday's practice, and he might be available for the Boston College game. Manuel suggested Greene is going to play, as he did Saturday when talking to reporters right after the 34-0 shutout of NC State. ...
Manuel said he appreciates the firepower he has at his disposal, be it at receiver, tight end or running back, and even though guys are telling him in the huddle they're open, it isn't a selfish bunch and they're happy for each other when they do well. ...
Running the option was again a topic of conversation, as Manuel has proven to have a very instinctive feel for that play the last few weeks. Most importantly, he wants to make sure his tailback stays in good position for the pitch, even if he's already 20 yards downfield. The 6-5, 245-pounder has shown already that he isn't afraid to be extra aggressive on the pitch and will give up his body if necessary. ...
When asked about the critical comments Jack Nicklaus made in the booth during the game, intimating that the Seminoles aren't doing a good enough job getting the ball to his grandson, freshman tight end Nick O'Leary, Manuel simply laughed it off and said he didn't want to have a legend on his bad side. ...
When it comes to breaking down tape, Manuel said he tends to focus on the other team's defensive backs. They'll give him the best indication of where to go with the ball on a given play. ...
Manuel was complimentary of his interior offensive linemen when asked about them, especially junior left guard Jacob Fahrenkrug. ...
Despite the fact that he still considers himself a jokester that likes to have fun, Manuel understands that he's expected to be a leader on this team -- THE leader, as a matter of fact. He believes that all of his teammates like him, and he likes all of his teammates. Definitely, he sees himself as a great teammate. ...
Because he and NC State quarterback Mike Glennon are friends, the two of them had a short conversation after Saturday's contest. Glennon said he didn't understand just how good FSU's defense can be. On top of that, Manuel thinks the depth and talent he faces in practice from the 'Noles along the defensive line can only make the offense better as a result.
Because of the abbreviated five-day turnaround, Florida State actually practiced Sunday instead of having the day off to rest. According to Manuel, he said he felt rather good and wasn't very sore. If anything, the work allowed him to get rid of the lactic acid players tend to feel a day or two after playing a big game. ...
Freshman receiver Rashad Greene did participate in Sunday's practice, and he might be available for the Boston College game. Manuel suggested Greene is going to play, as he did Saturday when talking to reporters right after the 34-0 shutout of NC State. ...
Manuel said he appreciates the firepower he has at his disposal, be it at receiver, tight end or running back, and even though guys are telling him in the huddle they're open, it isn't a selfish bunch and they're happy for each other when they do well. ...
Running the option was again a topic of conversation, as Manuel has proven to have a very instinctive feel for that play the last few weeks. Most importantly, he wants to make sure his tailback stays in good position for the pitch, even if he's already 20 yards downfield. The 6-5, 245-pounder has shown already that he isn't afraid to be extra aggressive on the pitch and will give up his body if necessary. ...
When asked about the critical comments Jack Nicklaus made in the booth during the game, intimating that the Seminoles aren't doing a good enough job getting the ball to his grandson, freshman tight end Nick O'Leary, Manuel simply laughed it off and said he didn't want to have a legend on his bad side. ...
When it comes to breaking down tape, Manuel said he tends to focus on the other team's defensive backs. They'll give him the best indication of where to go with the ball on a given play. ...
Manuel was complimentary of his interior offensive linemen when asked about them, especially junior left guard Jacob Fahrenkrug. ...
Despite the fact that he still considers himself a jokester that likes to have fun, Manuel understands that he's expected to be a leader on this team -- THE leader, as a matter of fact. He believes that all of his teammates like him, and he likes all of his teammates. Definitely, he sees himself as a great teammate. ...
Because he and NC State quarterback Mike Glennon are friends, the two of them had a short conversation after Saturday's contest. Glennon said he didn't understand just how good FSU's defense can be. On top of that, Manuel thinks the depth and talent he faces in practice from the 'Noles along the defensive line can only make the offense better as a result.
2011年4月17日星期日
That cry in the wilderness is coming from Labor
Today will be one of those character forming days for the government.
The welfare sector, unions, industry and manufacturing all variously crying foul over the carbon tax and another poll showing the government still as popular as cold sores.
Greg Combet's announcement last week that compensation for the carbon tax would be so generous that some people would actually be better off has done nothing to lift support for a price on carbon. If anything, opposition has hardened.
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Even the government's admirable drive to balance the budget by 2012-13 is not lighting up the world.
The poll shows 61 per cent think it an important objective ''but it can wait a couple of years''.
And despite his treachery on Q&A two weeks ago, Kevin Rudd, himself as popular as cold sores this time last year, is now preferred by 55 per cent of voters as prime minister, compared with 38 per cent for Julia Gillard.
On the other side of the fence, Malcolm Turnbull is streets ahead of Joe Hockey and Tony Abbott as preferred Coalition leader.
Turnbull is vastly more popular among Labor and Green voters than Coalition voters. In a three-horse race against Hockey and Abbott, Turnbull has the support of 54 per cent of Labor voters.
In a two-horse race against each other, Gillard and Rudd have 49 per cent of the Labor vote apiece. Labor voters want Turnbull, something which will be handy for Turnbull should the Coalition find itself battling to win the soft Labor vote as the next election nears.
At the moment, however, Abbott would win in a canter based on these figures.
The great hope in Labor was that after the voters took their baseball bats to the Keneally government at the NSW election, the hostility towards federal Labor would ease. Instead, voters still have their bats in hand and are keen for another swing.
In NSW the poll shows primary support for the Coalition at 51 per cent and 27 per cent for Labor, results almost identical to the state election. That's called brand damage.
Labor sages have warned since the last federal election that turning the polls around will be a long haul and they will remain this miserable for the ALP until at least next year.
The danger in the interim is that the damage will become irreversible because people will stop listening.
The welfare sector, unions, industry and manufacturing all variously crying foul over the carbon tax and another poll showing the government still as popular as cold sores.
Greg Combet's announcement last week that compensation for the carbon tax would be so generous that some people would actually be better off has done nothing to lift support for a price on carbon. If anything, opposition has hardened.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Even the government's admirable drive to balance the budget by 2012-13 is not lighting up the world.
The poll shows 61 per cent think it an important objective ''but it can wait a couple of years''.
And despite his treachery on Q&A two weeks ago, Kevin Rudd, himself as popular as cold sores this time last year, is now preferred by 55 per cent of voters as prime minister, compared with 38 per cent for Julia Gillard.
On the other side of the fence, Malcolm Turnbull is streets ahead of Joe Hockey and Tony Abbott as preferred Coalition leader.
Turnbull is vastly more popular among Labor and Green voters than Coalition voters. In a three-horse race against Hockey and Abbott, Turnbull has the support of 54 per cent of Labor voters.
In a two-horse race against each other, Gillard and Rudd have 49 per cent of the Labor vote apiece. Labor voters want Turnbull, something which will be handy for Turnbull should the Coalition find itself battling to win the soft Labor vote as the next election nears.
At the moment, however, Abbott would win in a canter based on these figures.
The great hope in Labor was that after the voters took their baseball bats to the Keneally government at the NSW election, the hostility towards federal Labor would ease. Instead, voters still have their bats in hand and are keen for another swing.
In NSW the poll shows primary support for the Coalition at 51 per cent and 27 per cent for Labor, results almost identical to the state election. That's called brand damage.
Labor sages have warned since the last federal election that turning the polls around will be a long haul and they will remain this miserable for the ALP until at least next year.
The danger in the interim is that the damage will become irreversible because people will stop listening.
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