SportsNews
MotoGP Thailand GP: Bagnaia strikes back to win over Martin, Marquez crashes

Published
5 months agoon
By
Ekwutos Blog
Francesco Bagnaia has reduced Jorge Martin’s lead in the 2024 MotoGP standings after mastering wet conditions to win the Thailand Grand Prix.
The Italian capitalised on an error by Martin in the early stages to take the lead and assume control, Bagnaia going on to take the flag almost three seconds clear of his title rival.
It allows Bagnaia to recover ground conceded to Martin in Saturday’s sprint race with the margin between the Ducati pair reduced to 17 points with two rounds of the season remaining.
As flurries of rain threatened to throw a curveball into what is already a finely poised 2024 MotoGP title battle, Martin held the advantage early on after grabbing the lead at Turn 1 off the line from Bagnaia.
Going on to pull a second clear of the Italian, a mistake by Martin coming into the hairpin on lap five of 26 allowed both Bagnaia and Marc Marquez to slip past.
With further leery moments in the tricky conditions stymying Martin’s attempts at recovering lost ground on his Ducati counterparts ahead, Bagnaia and Marquez moved clear in their battle for the lead.
Marc Marquez, Gresini Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
However, when Marquez’s challenge ended on lap 14 with an off at Turn 9, Bagnaia was released into a comfortable advantage he protected to the chequered flag for his ninth victory of the 2024 MotoGP season.
In second, Martin benefitted from Marquez’s exit to limit the damage to his championship advantage with just two rounds and four races remaining.
Behind Martin, countryman Pedro Acosta came on strong in the closing stages following earlier off-track moments to recover to a fifth podium of the season in third, while Fabio di Giannantoniobrought his 2024 MotoGP campaign to a close in fourth ahead of the surgery that will sideline him from the remaining two events.
Jack Miller ran as high as third as he revelled in the slippery conditions before slipping back to fifth at the flag, ahead of factory KTM team-mate Brad Binder in sixth.
Maverick Vinales flew the flag for Aprilia in seventh place, ahead of top Honda rider Johann Zarco in eighth and Aleix Espargaro on the second of the factory Aprilias in ninth.
Despite falling on the sighting lap in the worst of the weather conditions, Alex Marquez made it back to complete the top 10, leading brother and team-mate Marc in 11th after the six-time MotoGP world champion remounted for a points finish.
Marquez was initially docked one position, behind Honda’s Luca Marini, for “irresponsible riding” while battling with former team-mate Joan Mir, but video evidence showed Marquez had already given the place back, meaning he was eventually classified 11th.
Marquez wasn’t the only rider to fall victim to the conditions with Enea Bastianini also crashing, though the Italian got going again for a 14th place finish behind Takaaki Nakagami, the final point going the way of Mir.
Elsewhere, Marco Bezzecchi was another to crash out, while both Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins fell to leave Yamaha pointless.
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SportsNews
Champions League: Nigerian singer, Joeboy loses N3million bet as Arsenal thrash Real Madrid

Published
2 hours agoon
April 9, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Nigerian singer, Joeboy, lost a N3million bet after Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.
Seven hours before kick-off, Joeboy posted a betting slip with the caption, “Cashing out on Arsenal tears tonight!”
The Controller crooner could have won N10,345,000 if Madrid has won at the Emirates.
But Declan Rice curled in two beautiful free-kicks to give the Gunners the lead, before Mikel Merino added a third.
The result left Joeboy short of words, as he could only tweet “Goodnight” at full time.
Arsenal will be looking to book their place in the semi-final when they travel to the Santiago Bernabeu for the second leg next Wednesday.
Before that game, Mikel Arteta’s men host Brentford in the Premier League.
SportsNews
Champions League quarter-final: Arsenal thrash Real Madrid as Inter beat Bayern

Published
17 hours agoon
April 8, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Arsenal on Tuesday night thrashed Real Madrid 3-0 in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg tie.
The first half ended in a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
However, in the second half, Declan Rice’s brace and a goal from Mikel Merino gave Mikel Arteta’s side a first leg advantage ahead of the return leg next week.
Meanwhile, in the other Champions League last-8 first leg tie played, Inter Milan defeated Bayern Munich 2-1.
Lautaro Martinez gave the visitors the lead in the first half.
But Thomas Muller equalized for the hosts.
However, Davide Frattesi scored few minutes later to give the Serie A side a first leg advantage ahead of the return leg next week.
Meanwhile, the remaining quarter-final fixtures will continue on Wednesday.
Aston Villa will face Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona will clash with Dortmund.
SportsNews
Nigeria seeks to host 2030 Commonwealth Games

Published
2 days agoon
April 7, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Nigeria has formally expressed interest in hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Abuja.
The Nigerian Olympic Committee, NOC, made the announcement following an executive committee meeting held on 3 April in Abuja.
Ekwutosblog gathered that the bid can only move forward if it secures the official backing of the Federal Government.
In a statement issued on Monday by NOC’s Public Relations Officer, Tony Nezianya, the committee stressed that hosting the Commonwealth Games would offer a strategic platform for Nigeria to exhibit its strides in national development, improve its international profile, and deepen the culture of sports across the nation.
Nezianya described the bid as a unique opportunity to reflect Nigeria’s growth, elevate its standing among the community of nations, and inspire a new generation of athletes.
Nigeria last hosted a major multi-sport event in 2003, when the 8th All-Africa Games (COJA 2003) took place in Abuja. NOC noted that the success of that event demonstrated Nigeria’s capacity to organise large-scale international competitions and laid a strong foundation for future hosting ambitions.
A successful bid for the 2030 Games is expected to catalyse major investment in sports infrastructure, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory.
NOC further stated that such infrastructural development would not only revitalise the nation’s sports economy but also provide lasting facilities for future generations.
Beyond infrastructure, the hosting of the Commonwealth Games would offer substantial economic and social benefits. The anticipated influx of international visitors would invigorate local businesses and the hospitality industry.
Meanwhile, the planning and execution of the event would generate employment and foster the acquisition of valuable technical and organisational skills.
According to the committee, the bid also seeks to present Nigeria as a nation that values athletic excellence, inclusiveness, peace, and cultural richness.
The next edition of the Commonwealth Games is set to take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from 17 to 29 March 2026. Glasgow previously hosted the Games in 2014, the same year Nigeria submitted a bid but ultimately lost to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Africa is also poised to make history by hosting the Youth Olympic Games for the first time, with Dakar, Senegal, scheduled to welcome young athletes from 31 October to 13 November 2026.
Other significant forthcoming events include the Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina in February 2027, the African Beach Games in Equatorial Guinea later that year, the 14th African Games in Egypt from January to February 2027, and the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles in July 2028.

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