‘Lucky’ Marquez aims to race after crash at Thailand MotoGP practice
In doing so she became the first athlete to beat hot favourite Shaunae Miller-Uibo in over two years over both 200m and 400m.
The Miller-Uibo household’s trophy cabinet will be enriched by two silver medals as her husband Maicel Uibo finished second in the decathlon.
That competition was destined for a new champion once France’s world record holder Kevin Mayer had to wave the white flag due to injury in the third event of the day, the pole vault.
Germany’s Niklas Kaul emerged victorious in an event that went down to the wire and the final event, the 1,500m.
Johnson-Thompson was unrelenting in her pursuit of gold and finally taking the scalp of Thiam, who was burdened by a right elbow injury.
The 26-year-old eventually cruised to the title – Thiam suffering her first defeat since 2016 – rounding off the seven discipline event in style by winning the 800m.
Johnson-Thompson capped a perfect two days in also beating Jessica Ennis-Hill’s British record of 6,955 points, set during the London 2012 Olympics, by 36 points.
As the enormity of her achievement sank in, JohnsonThompson clasped her face with both hands in disbelief and fell to the track.
“It has not settled in,” said Johnson-Thompson.
“I was there competing at the Olympics in 2012 and was there when she (Ennis-Hill) broke her own record so it is unbelievable to me that I passed that score.”
Naser – silver medalist in the 2017 400m final – produced a blistering performance passing the pace-setting Francis and then leaving hot favourite Miller-Uibo with too much ground to make up in the straight.
Naser – who said the “time is so crazy” – admitted afterwards a change of tactics had aided her.
“I’m used to chasing,” said the Nigeria-born athlete.
“When you watch my race normally I chase. Today I wanted to be chased and it worked.”
Mayer bowed out of the decathlon in tears with his head buried in the mattress after being unable to perform one vault.
He had looked in trouble after pulling up at the end of the 110 metres hurdles but had retaken the lead with a good effort in the discus.
“I am not okay but it will be fine,” said Mayer.
“It was disappointing because I was leading but this is sport. One has to accept things will happen when you compete in 10 events and in general they are good.”
His successor – who put himself into contention with a massive throw in the penultimate discipline the javelin – was modest about his achievement.
“I am not the best decathlete in the world but maybe the most consistent,” said Kaul.
While Thursday’s medallists celebrated, Sifan Hassan’s pursuit of a second title at the championships is very much on.
The 26-year-old Dutch athlete, who has already won the 10,000m crown, showed no signs of the suspension of her coach Alberto Salazar affecting her as she won her semi-final in the 1,500m — AFP BURIRAM, Thailand: Spaniard Marc Marquez will attempt to continue racing after crashing Friday during a practice lap at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand, the Honda team manager said, as he hopes this weekend to clinch his sixth MotoGP world title.
Footage from his helmet camera released by MotoGP organisers showed the 26-yearold Honda-riding superstar taking a tumble as he hit a corner.
He was later seen hunched on the gravel before being taken to a hospital in Buriram for a checkup, MotoGP said in a statement posted on their official Twitter handle.
Team manager Alberto Puig told reporters Marquez had an MRI scan but nothing serious was found and “he will go out and he will try to continue”. “We were lucky today.” Marquez secured his eighth victory of the season at Aragon Motorland in Spain last month, a victory all but ending any lingering hopes Andrea Dovizioso, Danilo Petrucci, Alex
Salwa Eid Naser
Rins, Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi still had of lifting the trophy.
He had his eyes on sealing the title in Thailand on Sunday.
It is the second time the Thailand MotoGP has been held at the Chang circuit in Buriram.
Marquez won the inaugural race last year in a thrilling last turn battle with Ducati’s Dovizioso, who sits second in the standings.
Buriram is in rural northeastern Thailand and has been transformed into a sporting hub by an extremely rich local bigwig with powerful political connections. — AFP