Brazen Sydney bid to steal Grand Prix

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

AN audacious bid to take the Formula One Australian Grand Prix to Sydney and race it across the Harbour Bridge will be launched if the NSW Government wins re-election.

Premier Mike Baird will today announce that, if re-elected on March 28, work would start on taking the Grand Prix off Melbourne and he would establish a bid team featuring Rod McGeoch, the leader of Sydney's successful 2000 Olympics bid, and former News Corp Australia chief executive John Hartigan.

It is understood the Government has plans to set up a street circuit similar to Monaco and Singapore for the race.

If the Harbour Bridge was used, chicanes would have to be installed to ensure the cars went slower because the shape of the bridge would otherwise cause the cars to lift up.

The CBD would be shut down for the race.

It is understood Mr Baird is interested in a minimum three-year bid.

Daniel Higgins will "never wash his head again" after Daniel Ricciardo autographed it. Picture: Tim Carrafa

The key would be to feature the landmark Harbour Bridge and Opera House as part of the race to a worldwide television audience.

Victoria's contract over the race expires in 2020 but a decision on an Australian host city would have to be made by the Formula One governing body by 2018.

The bid would take advantage of the fact that the man who helped negotiate its transfer from Adelaide to Melbourne in 1996, Ron Walker, has just stood down as head of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

"I want the Formula One to come to Sydney, because no other city in the world could provide a more spectacular backdrop for this event," Mr Baird said yesterday.

"We know that this event is watched by up to 30 million people around the world, and securing the Grand Prix would put our already successful events strategy in pole position. But we need to get all the facts, before we move to bid."

Ricciardo's father Joe with his 1969 De Tomaso F2 Tipo 103. Picture: Tim Carrafa

The 2014 Australian Grand Prix report stated that the race drew more than 450 million viewers in 185 countries and an attendance of 314,9000 over last year's four-day event.

As the gates flew open to this year's event yesterday, anyone who ventures to the Albert Park circuit will be well aware there is a new smiling assassin in town this year — Red Bull star Daniel Ricciardo.

Support for the young West Australian is at an all-time high with Red Bull T-shirts, hats and flags out in force for the opening day of the four-day carnival.

Fans flocked to the circuit in earnest yesterday to catch a glimpse of their national hero and to enjoy all things motorsport on and off the circuit.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation estimated the crowd at 47,600 — the highest opening day attendance since 2005 except the past two years when Thursdays were free.

Ricciardo said he was ready to "go racing'' and motivated to step back on the podium in Melbourne after being stripped of second place last year because of a technical issue.

He is not the only Ricciardo turning heads at this year's race. The Red Bull star's dad Joe is strutting a classy car of his own at Albert Park, albeit a classic chariot born long before his hero son.

Ricciardo senior is displaying a 1969 De Tomaso F2 Tipo 103 in the historic category at this year's Grand Prix.

Cut-price tickets will be offered today with $30 adult entry at the gate for race fans arriving after 3pm.

Adult entry prices start at $55 at the gate today.

andrew.carswell@news.com.au

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Knights set to lock-in Sims

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

NEWCASTLE have fended off interest from rival NRL clubs and are poised to re-sign emerging prop Korbin Sims for a further two seasons.

Confirmation of the new deal, worth close to $700,000, could come as early as Friday before the Knights fly to Townsville to take on the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday night.

Sims' new deal ties him to the club until the end of 2017 and will ensure he plays alongside older brother Tariq at the Knights until at least the end of next season.

Korbin Sims looks set to extend his stay in Newcastle. Source: News Corp Australia

Knights coach Rick Stone earmarked Sims as the player to replace the discarded Willie Mason as starting front-rower alongside Kade Snowden this season and he didn't disappoint against the big Warriors forward pack in the opening round last weekend.

But he faces another big test in Townsville when he comes up against Queensland and Test prop Matt Scott.

Meanwhile, Stone will make a final call on the fitness of his skipper Kurt Gidley after Friday's training session to determine if he makes the trip to Townsville for the game.

Gidley missed the win over the Warriors with a slight hamstring strain and if he is forced out again, Sione Mata'utia will take his place again at fullback with Jake Mamo added to the squad as 18th man.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Moeroa eyeing Olympic shot

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

PARRAMATTA young gun Tepai Moeroa has taken his first step towards competing at the 2016 Olympics — even though it would mean disappearing overseas eight weeks before the NRL finals begin.

Speaking with The Daily Telegraph this week, Moeroa revealed he has spoken with Dave Bruce — the athletics coach who helped him set a host of junior shot put records — about creating a program to work around his footy commitments for the next 17 months.

Having thrown an Olympic shot put 14 metres in his early teens, the young Eel is convinced he can earn a 20m qualifying hurl in time for Rio de Janeiro.

FIBROTAILS: PARRAMATTA'S ULTIMATE REVENGE

'I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING ON FORAN SIGNING'

Tepai Moeroa is planning to put league on hold to compete in the 2016 Olympics. Source: News Corp Australia

Of more concern for the Eels enforcer, however, is the Olympics start date of August 5 — or roughly Round 22 of an NRL season.

While Parramatta are yet to officially shoot down the plan, it's understood coach Brad Arthur is long odds to allow his young star — a player Peter Sterling describes as the best young forward of the past decade — to potentially miss up to eight games of footy.

Apart from training for two sports daily, and then attending Olympic qualifying meets, Moeroa would also have to significantly alter his weights program given throwers bench press above 200kg.

"But I'm speaking with Mr Bruce to see what's possible,'' the Eels young gun said. "Obviously it will all come down to what Parramatta says I can and can't do.

"But given we train mostly mornings with the Eels there is time to work on my throws each afternoon. This is something I've always wanted to do and hopefully I can give it a try."

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Despite having hardly trained in the past year, Moeroa is currently ranked third in shot put for Australian U20s.

And despite being long odds for Brazil, Bruce confirmed he would draw up a blueprint for his 19-year-old charge because "if the football club is behind what he wants to do ... yes, I believe he can get there".

"But it all depends on Parramatta,'' the coach said. "The two programs, they'd have to work together or the whole thing is useless.

"Certainly Tepai will be rusty but who knows? If he wasn't playing footy in the NRL, we'd probably be preparing him for the Olympics right now.

"He's always had the right attributes for a great thrower, (laughs) there just isn't a lot of money in it. So it all depends on the people paying the bills ... the Eels have to come first."

A 15-year-old Tepai Moeroa shows off his ability at shot put.

Rugby league has something of a history in throwing, with Warren Ryan placing seventh at the 1962 Commonwealth Games with a toss of 15.75m.

Penrith centre Jamal Idris also holds a range of junior shot put, discus and javelin records.

But can Moeroa go further? Apart from an outstanding athletics career, the western Sydney teen also represented the Australian Schoolboys rugby team two years ago.

Quizzed on her son's incredible genetics, mum Paris said he could thank both sides of the family.

Moeroa has been tipped for greatness by some league legends. Source: News Corp Australia

"When we were living in the Cook Islands, Tepai's father was a great rugby league and union player,'' she said. "And his size, that comes from his grandfather, my dad.

"He was about seven feet tall and, everyone who saw him play, they say he was a monster. No one wanted to tackle him.

"Initially we took Tepai to his first Little Athletics meet after his first league season. He was seven and we didn't want him to get lazy.

"Then at about 12, he started talking about the Olympics. It has been a dream ever since."

Manager Craig Baker agreed, adding: "I still remember the day we first met, Tepai said 'I want to play NRL and throw shot put at the Olympics'.

"Nothing has changed since."

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Eels star whose mum drives him to training

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

TEPAI Moeroa still gets a lift to training with Mum. He denies it, of course. Teenagers always do.

"But yes, I drive,'' Paris Moeroa laughs. "Quite a bit actually. Because Tepai doesn't have a licence yet, I'm there for him. I guess for an NRL player he's a bit unique."

Isn't he what?

All shaggy hair, shattering tackles and chauffeured rides with Mum, Moeroa suddenly looms as the hottest rugby league item since some lark first put Deep Heat in Speedos.

FIBROTAILS: HOW THE EELS GOT THE ULTIMATE REVENGE

'I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING ON FORAN SIGNING'

PARRAMATTA'S PAULO COPS NINE WEEKS

At 19, not so much arriving in the NRL as kicking down the front door and taking hostages. Already, Eels officials are whispering greatness.

Peter Sterling: "The best young forward in a decade".

Cover of today's league Central Source: Supplied

And as for those comparisons to Nathan Hindmarsh, Sonny Bill Williams, even 80s enforcer Geoff Robinson?

"Ah, sorry," Moeroa shrugs apologetically when the last name is put. "I've never heard of him."

Oh, c'mon.

Robbo. Geoff Robinson.

That cult Canterbury tough whose heart and hair were matched only by his ability to cause haemorrhaging in rivals.

"Oh, really?" Moeroa continues. "Don't know him.

"I've heard the Hindy stuff, which is cool. I think he was playing first grade when I was in Kindergarten."

Actually, would you believe age three?

Still living at home with his parents in Mt Druitt, Moeroa is a regular churchgoer who never swears, has no tattoos and insists fellow Eel Pauli Pauli is the one who drives him to training.

"But Mum does too,'' laughs his manger Craig Baker. "Or Tep catches the train.

"Everyone might be talking about this aggressive new forward for Parramatta, but really he's just a great young kid."

Tepai Moeroa is eyeing a spot at the Rio Olympics.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

F1 rivals praise Dan the man

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

EVERYONE in Formula One has been won over by Daniel Ricciardo, even his deadliest race rivals.

The youngster with the giant smile exploded into the top ranks last year and both Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button said yesterday he is a breath of fresh air.

"He made me a nice present for Christmas last year which was a nice surprise,'' Vettel said.

"I really like the guy. Daniel is a great character," said Button.

Vettel has five world titles and Button has one, and they both believe Ricciardo can join them in their exclusive club.

"He's very talented. He was given the tools to perform last year and he did. He was the only guy to take a race off Mercedes," said Button.

"We don't live far from each other so we see each other now and again. Fair play to him, he's done a great job."

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Vettel admitted Ricciardo's results in his first season with Red Bull Racing had been a "surprise" but said none of it had been a fluke for the Perth-born driver.

"Obviously I was on the inside of the team and I saw what he did and it wasn't luck, so he really deserved what he achieved last year. But last year I think it was a surprise for everyone," Vettel said.

COMPLETE GUIDE TO 2015 FORMULA 1 GRID

MERCEDES PAIR TO RESUME HOSTILITIES

BUTTON CERTAIN HE WON'T WIN

But that's where Vettel's praise ended, with the new Ferrari driver not wanting to predict any success for his former teammate in Melbourne.

"I hope his chances are not too big now that we are really racing against him and he's not on the same team any more. But he did a very good job last year so I'm sure that they've prepared well."

Button also had a warning for Ricciardo, who is now the team leader at Red Bull with youngster Dani Kyvat as his team mate.

"The second year in a team is sometimes more difficult. I think now he's got to use his experience to get the maximum out of the car. Being the team leader can make you stronger or can affect you, particularly if you have an inexperienced team mate," Button said.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Complete guide to 2015 Formula 1 grid

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

THE line-up of drivers who will take to the grid for the 2015 Formula 1 season has finally been settled as the cars take to the track for this weekend's Australian Grand Prix.

Here is the rundown of who is where, and how each team is shaping up for Albert Park.

Watch all the Formula 1 practice, qualifying and race action from the Australian Grand Prix LIVE in HD on FOX SPORTS Australia this weekend (Channel 506).

GAME ON: SYDNEY'S BRAZEN BID TO HOST F1 RACE

JEOPARDY: DRIVER'S LEGAL WIN COULD DERAIL SAUBER'S SEASON

BATTLE BORN: HAMILTON EXPECTS FIERCE FIGHT WITH ROSBERG

UNKNOWN: BUTTON UNSURE OF MCLAREN-HONDA'S PACE

NEW DIGS: VETTEL 'HAS A LOT TO PROVE' AT FERRARI

MERCEDES

No. 44 — Lewis Hamilton
No. 6 — Nico Rosberg

All things being equal, one of these men will likely be world champion come November. Mercedes is believed to again have the edge on their rivals in 2015, setting up another season of Hamilton vs. Rosberg match-ups.

Hopefully, Mercedes will again allow their drivers to choose different race strategies, giving us hope that the two silver arrows will again be engaged in heated dogfights come Sunday afternoon.

Rosberg will be desperate to win a title after his disastrous end to 2014, while it remains to be seen which Hamilton will arrive to start the season; the 2011-spec 'mopey' Lewis from his first breakup with Nicole Scherzinger, or the supremely confident man who is arguably the best driver in F1.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

RED BULL

No. 3 — Daniel Ricciardo
No. 26 — Daniil Kvyat

The fortunes of Australia's great hope will hinge on the performance of the metallic lump behind his race seat. Renault's engineers have made gains over the off-season, but will they be enough to vault them into the same stratosphere with Mercedes? On testing form, they perhaps should be more concerned at keeping Ferrari at bay.

Ricciardo's dream 2014 season will be a hard act to follow, but he has proven that, when the Red Bull is in the hunt, he cannot be discounted. The big question mark is over his teammate.

Kvyat was quietly impressive in his rookie season. He drove fast and he learnt faster. How he handles the move from mid-pack scrapper to battling with the big boys will be fascinating to watch.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

FERRARI

No. 5 — Sebastian Vettel
No. 7 — Kimi Raikkonen

The desire for redemption pervades the storied halls of Maranello entering 2015. On the heels of the Scuderia's worst season in two decades, everyone from the management down is hoping for a much better showing.

Testing form suggests the car could be a regular challenger in the 'best of the rest' group behind Mercedes. As 2014 showed, this can be enough to see them punch a win sometime this year.

Anything remotely resembling a victory will be manna from heaven for Vettel and Raikkonen. Both men need a car they get along with to resurrect their flagging reputations; for the latter, the SF15-T could save his career. Both are proven race winners and will be keen to show they can still be regarded as threats.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

WILLIAMS

No. 19 — Felipe Massa
No. 77 — Valtteri Bottas

It is time for the once great team to show their 2014 return to form was no flash in the pan. Pat Symonds has remoulded the team into one that is capable of challenging for victory, and they were desperately unlucky not to score one last year.

Their new car appears to have held its place among the best on the grid, which is good news for two drivers who are focused on scoring a victory this year for different reasons.

For Bottas, it would signal his arrival as a genuine future world title contender, the fulfilling of his clear promise. For Massa, it will cap off one of the best comeback stories in sport. They were aatch for each other last year, but will the Finn start to gain the edge over his veteran teammate?

MCLAREN

No. 14 — Fernando Alonso
No. 22 — Jenson Button
No. 20 — Kevin Magnussen (Australia only)

As with Red Bull, this team's fortunes depend on how fast their engine can get up to speed. The team have faith that the car is good and that the engine will be good, but will we have to wait until the end of the year for it to realise its potential?

Alonso's testing crash is another blow that neither party needed. When he is fit to return, he will do his usual professional job of dragging an unbelievable performance out of a less-than-suitable car, but he will need to see progress if he is to keep his chin up.

Once again, Button will be looking to prove the doubters wrong. Few thought he would get close to Hamilton at McLaren, yet on his day, Jenson was light years ahead. Give him the right car and he will give you wins, but will the car be right?

Magnussen gets a rare chance to show a team it made a mistake in letting him languish as a mere test driver. Australia was his best drive last year, and the Dane will be keen to show he is still worthy of a full-time place on the grid.

LOTUS

No. 8 — Romain Grosjean
No. 13 — Pastor Maldonado

It is easy to forget that both of these drivers have been, at one stage or another, among the quickest drivers on the grid. Grosjean was second only to Vettel in the back half of 2013, while the Venezuelan is a notified GP winner.

What they lacked last year were the two things you can't be without in this hybrid era of F1: a consistent car and a good engine. They've fixed the latter by swapping their Renault for a Mercedes. Both men also believe the new car is light years ahead of last year's pig.

If the E23 is as good as Lotus hopes it is, Grosjean could again be a podium threat this year. And if the Frenchman's transition from crash-prone wally to winner in waiting rubs off on his teammate, Maldonado too.

FORCE INDIA

No. 11 — Sergio Perez
No. 27 — Nico Hulkenberg

It has been a worryingly quiet off-season for the team that is usually next-best behind the big squads. Their new car only ran at the final test, with repeated rumours of the team striking financial troubles.

Regardless of the whys and hows, the lack of track time could put drivers Hulkenberg and Perez on the back foot early in the season, when the team is traditionally its strongest. On the flip side, their engine package has been stable over the off-season so they will only be learning the traits of the new chassis.

Both drivers are at a career crossroads. Each needs to outperform the other to stand any hope of moving up to a better team. With both proving to be evenly matched last year, that could cause more than a few fireworks.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO

No. 33 — Max Verstappen
No. 55 — Carlos Sainz Jr

STR is the Red Bull junior team in every sense of the word this year, with the Italian squad given rookie drivers Sainz and Verstappen to work with this year.

Both drivers have been quietly impressive during testing, making very few errors at a time where every lap completed is vital to both team and pilot. The downside is that the car was rated as the least impressive of all of the 2015 machines during pre-season testing.

A heavily revised car could help the team get closer to the main pack. Allied to many pundits' high expectations of Verstappen, that could be enough for STR to spring a few surprises.

SAUBER

No. 9 — Marcus Ericsson
No. 12 — Felipe Nasr
No. ? - Giedo van der Garde

After what appeared to be its steadiest off-season in several seasons, the week leading into the Australian Grand Prix has seen the Sauber team clouded in controversy.

Giedo van der Garde's successful legal bid to enforce a 2015 race contract he held with Sauber has thrown the team's preparations into disarray. They had been poised to head into the season with fresh-faced youngsters Ericsson and Nasr off the back of a steady and solid pre-season.

Now, with the team scrambling to accommodate the Dutchman into their line-up for the race, what impact it will have on the team's fortunes is anyone's guess. The likely loss of sponsorship dollars from having to bench either Nasr or Ericsson is also not something the cash-strapped team can afford.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Will Stevens. Source: Getty Images

MANOR

No. 28 — Will Stevens
No. 98 — Roberto Merhi

That this team is even in Melbourne is a remarkable achievement. The British team that was in ruins late last year has been rebuilt with new enthusiasm and new funding.

They will run upgraded versions of their already outpaced 2014 cars in Melbourne, which means the only yardsticks for drivers Stevens and Merhi are each other.

Roberto Merhi. Source: Getty Images

BREAKDOWN

DRIVERS WHO CHANGED TEAMS: 6
Vettel (Red Bull to Ferrari)
Alonso (Ferrari to McLaren)
Kvyat (Toro Rosso to Red Bull)
Ericsson (Caterham to Sauber)
Nasr (Williams reserve driver to Sauber)
Stevens (Caterham to Manor)

DRIVERS OUT: 6
Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso)
Adrian Sutil (Sauber)
Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber)
Jules Bianchi (Marussia)
Max Chilton (Marussia)
Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham)

DRIVERS IN: 4
Verstappen (Toro Rosso)
Sainz Jr (Toro Rosso)
Nasr (Sauber)
Merhi (Manor)

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

AGE
Youngest driver: Verstappen (17)
Oldest driver: Raikkonen (35)
Average age: 27

RACES STARTED (by team)
McLaren: 501 (Alonso 235, Button 266), 285 (Button 266, Magnussen 19)
Ferrari: 351 (Vettel 139, Raikkonen 212)
Mercedes: 314 (Hamilton 148, Rosberg 166)
Williams: 248 (Massa 210, Bottas 38)
Force India: 150 (Hulkenberg 76, Perez 74)
Lotus: 140 (Grosjean 64, Maldonado 76)
Red Bull: 88 (Ricciardo 69, Kvyat 19)
Sauber: 35 (Ericsson 16, Nasr 0, Van der Garde 19)
Manor: 1 (Stevens 1, Merhi 0)
Toro Rosso: 0 (Verstappen 0, Sainz 0)
Overall in 2015: 1808
Overall in 2014: 1793

RACE WINNERS: 9 drivers
Vettel, 39
Hamilton, 33
Alonso, 32
Raikkonen, 20
Button, 15
Massa, 11
Rosberg, 8
Ricciardo, 3
Maldonado, 1
Total race wins on grid: 162

WORLD CHAMPIONS: 5 drivers
Vettel, 4 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Alonso, 2 (2005, 2006)
Hamilton, 2 (2008, 2014)
Raikkonen, 1 (2007)
Button, 1 (2009)
Total championships on grid: 10

POLE POSITIONS WINNERS: 9 drivers
Vettel, 45
Hamilton, 38
Alonso, 22
Raikkonen, 16
Massa, 16
Rosberg, 15
Button, 8
Hulkenberg, 1
Maldonado, 1

LED A LAP OF A RACE: 13 drivers
Vettel (2,438)
Hamilton (1,837)
Alonso (1,767)
Raikkonen (1,156)
Massa (917)
Button (762)
Rosberg (695)
Ricciardo (72)
Hulkenberg (43)
Grosjean (40)
Maldonado (37)
Perez (23)
Bottas (4)

Statistics sourced from StatsF1.com

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More