Sport news in brief
Quartararo wins Spanish GP as Marquez suffers broken arm in MotoGP return
Petronas Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo took his first MotoGP victory on Sunday, as reigning world champion Marc Marquez suffered a broken arm and possible nerve damage in an incident-packed Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez.
The eight-time world champion fell off late in the race after mounting a comeback ride following an early error, and a heavy impact with the tarmac was followed by a collision with the front wheel of his Repsol Honda, before cart-wheeling into the gravel trap on the outside of Jerez’s Turn 3.
“Marc Marquez has suffered an injury it seems from a direct impact of the tyre to the right arm, resulting in a fracture to the shaft of the humerus, a complete fracture, although it isn’t completely displaced, with some possible paralysis of the radial nerve, although we’re not certain,” said MotoGP traumatology specialist Dr Xavier Mir.
“This injury has been immobilised here for when they decide to move him to Barcelona to carry out a definitive treatment.”
Quartararo’s victory was also the first for Petronas Yamaha as he finished ahead of Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales and Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso, who came third just weeks after having surgery on a damaged left collarbone.
“It felt amazing but strange to realise it because you (usually) have the fans around the track,” Quartararo told reporters.
“We need to enjoy today a lot because it’s not everyday that you have your first MotoGP victory and from tomorrow we will focus on next week’s race.”
Town sack Cowley
Danny Cowley has been sacked as Huddersfield manager, the Championship club have announced.
The 41-year-old and assistant, brother Nicky, will leave the Terriers immediately.
The pair took over from Jan Siewert in September but have won just 13 of their 40 games, with Huddersfield yet to mathematically secure safety in the Sky Bet Championship.
Chairman Phil Hodgkinson told the club’s official site: “I would like to place my thanks on record to Danny and Nicky for their hard work and dedication towards securing the club’s place in the Sky Bet Championship for next season.
“That was the clear priority when they were appointed in September and we are very grateful that has been achieved.
“We all wish Danny and Nicky all the best for the future and they leave with my best wishes in their future endeavours.
“However, we have made this decision in the belief that, in the long term, it is in the best interests of the club as we move forward. We have a different vision for the way we operate the club, and how our ambitions can be achieved.”
Highlanders beats Chiefs
Center Sio Tompkinson scored the match-winning try in the 82nd minute as the Highlanders rallied from 24-0 down after 21 minutes to beat the Chiefs 33-31 Sunday in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Flyhalf Mitch Hunt’s conversion, the final act of the match, marked the first time the Dunedin-based Highlanders had led.
They were down 24-7 at halftime and 31-7 early in the second half but rallied doggedly to score four secondhalf tries, including two in the last five minutes, to grab an unlikely victory.
“Once we had the ball and put some phases together we were good,” Highlanders captain Ash Dixon said. “But I think in that first half we were well off the pace and we couldn’t contain it.”
“We gave away a lot of silly penalties and our discipline was poor. But once we got down the right end of the field and played a bit of ball things happened.”
Monaco sack former Spain coach Moreno
French Ligue 1 side AS Monaco sacked former Spain coach Robert Moreno on Sunday after seven months in charge, the club said in a statement. Moreno replaced Leonardo Jardim in December when Monaco were seventh in the table. He leaves with the team in ninth place, 28 points behind Paris St Germain, who were crowned champions when the French season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our paths are separating earlier than expected but I would like to thank Robert Moreno for accepting the challenge,” Monaco vice-president and general manager Oleg Petrov told the club website.
“With his staff, Robert did his utmost to improve the team, with enthusiasm and dedication. I wish him the best for the future.”