Daniel Ricciardo wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Red Bulls’ Daniel Ricciardo won a rollercoaster Grand Prix in Azerbaijan, as rookie Lance Stroll took his maiden podium for Williams, pipped on the line by Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas. Championship leader Sebastian Vettel beat Lewis Hamilton to fourth place, despite being penalized for dangerous driving after hitting his Mercedes rival behind the safety car.

The safety car came out first on lap 12 to clear the stricken Toro Rosso of Daniil Kvyat, allowing Bottas to unlap himself after he had collided with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen at the start, dropping to last place with a puncture. The race restarted on lap 17 but just seconds later it was under safety car again due to debris on track. As the safety car prepared to peel off on Lap 19, Vettel ran lightly into the back of the slowing Hamilton. The Ferrari then pulled alongside and banged wheels with the Mercedes, seemingly in frustration.

Racing resumed seconds later on Lap 20, but again it was short lived. Esteban Ocon tipped Force India team mate Sergio Perez into the wall at Turn 2, bringing out the safety car once more. That quickly became a red flag as race control decided the track needed a proper clean up. Twenty five minutes later, with Perez and Raikkonen back in the race after repairs, they were running once more on Lap 24, with Ricciardo storming from sixth to third into Turn 1 on the restart. It would prove to be the move that won him the race.

The drama continued with Hamilton pitting for repairs to a loose headrest on Lap 32 – and as he did came news of a 10-second stop-go penalty for Vettel for dangerous driving. Somehow Vettel emerged from that in seventh place just ahead of his title rival, but by then the race victory had eluded both. The closing laps were about how close Vettel and Hamilton could get to the podium – and whether teenager Stroll could hold off the ever-closing Bottas. The Canadian rookie almost kept second, but couldn’t stop the Mercedes surging ahead on the line by just a tenth of a second. Four seconds ahead of them Ricciardo had already taken the flag for his fifth F1 win and his first of 2017.

MotoGP 2017: Grand Prix of Netherlands

Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi won his first race for more than a year, as he came through to take victory in a thrilling MotoGP Netherlands Grand Prix. The veteran hadn't savored glory since the 2016 Catalan Grand Prix, but he showcased all his experience in spades at Assen, as he held off Ducati's Danilo Petrucci in an absorbing battle. Defending world champion Marc Marquez came home in third place for Honda.

Rossi's team-mate Maverick Vinales crashed out, allowing Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso to take the lead of the championship by four points; the top four riders in the standings are now covered by just 11 points. It was Johann Zarco who started the race on pole having produced a storming qualifying performance. The rookie eventually didn't finish in the shakeup for victory, losing ground due to a misguided tactical switch and coming home in 14th spot.

Another rider who endured a disappointing day was Vinales. After enjoying a blistering beginning to the season with his new team, the young Spaniard has lost momentum in recent weeks and paid the price for losing balance at Turn 17 with 14 laps to go. With the duo out of contention, some more seasoned competitors were juking it out at the front in pursuit of the victory, with Rossi moving through into first position. Petrucci was keeping the Doctor on his toes, though, as the pair engaged in a fascinating tussle.

Indeed, as the heavens threatened to open and drizzle sprinkled across the Assen circuit, the riders needed to be careful. Eventually, it was the duo aforementioned who handled the conditions the better, as they pulled away from the rest of the field. The Italians each held the lead in the final stages, as they each pushed their bike to the limit in pursuit of the win. World Superbikes rider Alex Lowes paid tribute to another great Rossi performance, who has now won 10 times at the Assen circuit.

MotoGP 2017: Grand Prix of Italy

Ducati Andrea Dovizioso won his second consecutive MotoGP race, turning in an imperious performance to clinch the Grand Prix of Catalunya. After starting in seventh place, Dovizioso moved through the field seamlessly, eventually overtaking Honda riders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa who finished second and third.

It was a day to forget for the Yamaha riders, as Valentino Rossi came home eighth and world championship leader Maverick Vinales was only good for 10th. Off the line pole-sitter Pedrosa preserved his advantage, but there was a hairy moment for Marquez further back in the field, as he came into contact with Danilo Petrucci off the line. Marquez recovered and eventually moved into third. Meanwhile, Jorge Lorenzo took the lead from Pedrosa, who looked vulnerable early on.

Lorenzo started slipping down the order, and Dovizioso went the other way. The Ducati man showed excellent pace to recover from seventh on the grid. Having won the Italian grand prix last time out, Dovizioso showed a lot of confidence and was quickly onto the two Honda drivers up front. The Italian was on course for back-to-back victories at this stage, as he laid down the gauntlet for a Honda response. Marquez responded, as he retook second spot and kept the gap steady for a spell.

As the race entered the final stages, Dovizioso built a gap over Marquez. The Ducati rider enjoyed the moment, coasting over the line ahead of the Honda pairing. There is no doubt Dovizioso is in the form of his career. Prior to last week's triumph at Mugello, he had secured only two wins in nine years in MotoGP. He'll have his eyes on the world title as well now. Dovizioso is just seven points behind Vinales in the standings. With his tail up, the Ducati man will feel confident of overhauling that deficit in a fortnight's time, when MotoGP heads to the Netherlands.

Lewis Hamilton wins Canada Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton stormed to his sixth Canadian Grand Prix victory, leading home team mate Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes dominated in Montreal. Third place went to Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo after Ferrari hit trouble early on, with Sebastian Vettel battling back on fourth, his lead in the drivers’ championship cut to from 25 points to 12 points.

It was massively windy in Montreal all day, and that played havoc with the cars’ aerodynamic stability in the race. Vettel picked up front wing damage almost instantly when Max Verstappen made a blinding start from fifth on the grid to go round the outside of him into second place by Turn 1, as Bottas went for the inside to grab third. Further round the lap, exiting Turn 2, Romain Grosjean and Carlos Sainz tangled, the Haas spinning the Toro Rosso down the grass on the inside of the track until it collected the innocent Felipe Massa’s Williams in the chicane that follows. Exit two cars on the spot, as Grosjean limped back to the pits for a new nose.

Meanwhile, Ricciardo maintained fourth place ahead of Perez, Raikkonen and Ocon. Raikkonen pitted first, for supersofts on lap 17. Ricciardo went for softs on 18, and Perez for supersofts on 19. Force India kept the ultrasofts Ocon out until the 32nd lap, by which time he was running second to Hamilton. The stop dropped him back to sixth, but that became fifth when Raikkonen pitted again for ultrasofts on the 41st lap.

Outside the top ten, Renault’s Jolyon Palmer held on to 11th by a fraction from Haas’s Kevin Magnussen, who was penalized for overtaking under the virtual safety car, as the Saubers of Marcus Ericsson and Pascal Wehrlein sandwiched Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren for 13th and 15th places. The Montreal result reverses Hamilton’s misfortunes from Monaco, and indicates that Mercedes – who reclaim their lead in the constructors’ standings over Ferrari – have a handle on their tyre problems at last, keeping the mighty title fight right on the boil.

French Open 2017

Make it 10 French Open titles for Rafael Nadal, the undisputed king of Clay. Nadal wrapped up his record 10^th French Open title and claimed his 15^th Grand Slam title by battering third seeded Stan Wawrinka in straight sets 6-2, 6-3, 6-1. It took the fourth seeded Nadal just over two hours to win, with the Spaniard sealing it on his second match point when Wawrinka sliced a backhand volley into the net.

Nadal did not drop a set all tournament on his way to his 15th Grand Slam title overall. Wawrinka smashed his racket after giving up two set points and the fourth-seeded Nadal sealed it on his first, when the Swiss player returned long.  It was the Swiss player's 17th unforced error. Nadal, who had taken the first set 6-2, broke early in the second and stretched his winning run of games to seven before Wawrinka managed to get on the board again. Nadal dominance at Roland Garros remains unmatched.

In Saturday's women's final,  unseeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia used bold strokes and an unbending will to come back and stun No. 3 Simona Halep 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in an enthralling French Open final for the first title of her career. Ostapenko, ranked only 47th and just two days past her 20th birthday, became one of the most unlikely Grand Slam champions in tennis history. She also denied Halep what would have been her first major championship and the No. 1 ranking.

R. Harrison and M. Venus won Men’s doubles trophy. L. Safarova and B. Mattek-Sands won Women’s doubles trophy. G. Dabrowski and R. Bopanna won Mixed doubles trophy at French Open 2017. Next major tournament of Tennis is Wimbledon which will start from 3 July 2017 and will last till 17 July 2017.

Sebastian Vettel wins Monaco Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel beat Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen to victory in Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2017, boosting his title advantage to 25 points over Mercedes Lewis Hamilton, who finished a distant seventh. Daniel Ricciardo completed the podium for Red Bull.

A longer first stint for Vettel enabled him to get ahead of polesitter and early leader Raikkonen as he emerged in front of the Finn following their first and only pit stops. It was Ferrari’s first win in the Principality since 2001. Ricciardo similarly made use of the ‘overcut’ to pass Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas and his less-than-impressed Red Bull team mate Max Verstappen, who duly took the chequered flag in fourth and fifth respectively. Toro Rosso were ‘best of the rest’ with Carlos Sainz in sixth, as Hamilton behind him climbed from 13th on the grid. Completing the top ten were Haas’s Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, separated by the Williams of Felipe Massa.

The most dramatic moment of the race came on Lap 60 when an ambitious passing attempt from McLaren’s Jenson Button on Sauber Pascal Wehrlein went awry, tipping the latter’s car on to its side against the Portier barriers, its mercifully unharmed driver unable to escape his cockpit until help arrived. And as the safety car emerged, Button got as far as the chicane before suspension damage forced him to halt his one-race comeback. Raikkonen had won the start, and soon the two Ferraris cleared off, though there was a period in the middle of the race when the pursuing Bottas and the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Ricciardo were running quicker as the red cars’ tyres started sliding.

But it was Vettel stop, on the 39th lap, which put him ahead of Raikkonen, who had made his pit call five laps sooner. That settled the race in his favor, extending his championship points score to 129. For Ferrari the race marked a big step towards not only the drivers’ championship, but also the constructors, as they move back ahead of Mercedes with 196 points to 179 as they scored their first 1-2 since Germany 2010.

Mumbai Indians won IPL 2017

This was, barring a WWE style rebirth, Rising Pune Supergiants last ever IPL game. They made sure it went the distance, all the way to the last ball, despite keeping Mumbai Indians down to the lowest first innings total in the IPL Final.

Somehow, Pune managed to drag a chase of 130 to the last ball. The first ever IPL final had come down to the last ball too. Then, nine years ago, Sohail Tanvir pulled L Balaji for a single to win it for Rajasthan Royals. Now, Mitchell Johnson bowled to Daniel Christian with Pune needing four to win. Bowling from around the wicket, Johnson went full and straight. Christian whipped it away to the left of deep square leg. J Suchith, the substitute fielder, fumbled at the boundary, allowing a second run. That wouldn't do for Pune. They needed four to win, and three to tie.

The batsmen chased a desperate third with Suchith's throw almost already in Parthiv Patel's gloves. Once Parthiv collected it safely, only one result was possible. Mumbai Indians, playing their fourth final, wrapped up their third title, winning by one run. Krunal Pandya was Mumbai's hero with the bat, his 38-ball 47 dragging them from 79 for 7 to an eventual 129 for 8, a total that would enable their bowlers to scrap all the way. Then, helped along by Pune's ODI-style top-order approach, those scrapping bowlers managed to make the required rate creep steadily upwards - with five overs to go, Pune were only two down but needed 47 from 30.

Given Mumbai's death bowling, this was definitely not over. Jasprit Bumrah took out MS Dhoni in the 17th over. Then Lasith Malinga and Bumrah again ensured Pune would only get two boundaries across the 18th and 19th. That left Steven Smith, batting on 51, and Manoj Tiwary 11 to get from the last over.

MotoGP 2017: Grand Prix of France

Maverick Vinales took victory in the French GP at Le Mans after a thrilling duel with Yamaha MotoGP teammate Valentino Rossi ended with the Italian rider crashing on the final lap of the race.

What had been a three-way race for honors between the two factory Yamaha riders and the Tech 3 bike of Johann Zarco had boiled down to a straight fight between Vinales and Rossi in the closing stages. It was home hero Zarco, running soft tyres front and rear that led the opening stages after a great start from third on the grid, with Vinales slotting into second place ahead of Rossi.

But Zarco was unable to pull away from the factory Yamaha’s, both running medium tyres all round, and on lap 7 the Frenchman was passed by Vinales at the Dunlop chicane. From there, Vinales maintained a small advantage over Zarco and Rossi, with the satellite rider holding on to second until Rossi made his move at the Dunlop chicane on the 23rd lap of 28. The Italian's charge continued as he reeled in Vinales and passed him at the same location three laps later.

It seemed Rossi had done enough to seal his first MotoGP win of the season, especially as Vinales cut the track trying to keep up with the 38-year-old on the penultimate tour. But Rossi ran wide on the very last lap at Garage Vert, allowing Vinales through into the lead, before the seven-time premier class champion lost the front end at Turn 11 and crashed out.

Lewis Hamilton wins Spanish Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton won a drama filled Formula 1 Gran Premio de Espana Pirelli 2017 on Sunday, as Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull all saw just one car make the finish at the circuit de Barcelona Catalunya. Hamilton took the flag 3.4s ahead of the title rival Sebastian Vettel, with Daniel Ricciardo a distant third.

It was Hamilton and Vettel best encounter yet this year, as each had turns leading a very tactical race before the Briton was finally able to overtake the German to score his 55th career victory and the second of the season. It moves him within six points of Vettel championship lead as they head to Monaco. An excellent afternoon for Force India saw Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon finish fourth and fifth respectively, with Nico Hulkenberg an equally impressive sixth for Renault. Carlos Sainz took seventh in his home race for Toro Rosso, while Sauber celebrated their first points of 2017 thanks to Pascal Wehrlein eighth place. Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat and Haas’s Romain Grosjean completed the top ten.

The race began with drama. Hamilton and Vettel ran side by side down to Turn 1, with the Ferrari finally getting the advantage as the Mercedes struggled with wheel spin. Behind them, Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes almost got past Hamilton before tucking back in behind him, but as the Finn rode up the inside kerb his car was edged into contact with fellow countryman Kimi Raikkonen, to his left.

The Ferrari was in turn nudged into Max Verstappen as he was trying to go round the outside in his Red Bull. The Ferrari and the Red Bull were immediately eliminated with suspension damage, while in another incident Williams’ Felipe Massa collided with Fernando Alonso, who had made a slow start in his seventh-placed McLaren. Both continued, but finished only 12th and 13th.

MotoGP 2017: Grand Prix of Spain

Dani Pedrosa took an impervious victory in his home Gran Premio Red Bull de Espana, storming away from his first pole position since Sepang 2015 and never looking back. The MotoGP™ race in Jerez was race number 3000 in the World Championship and one of the riders equal third on all-time podiums proved a fitting winner.

Reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) made inroads in the points battle in second, ahead of a stunning home ride from another five-time World Champion – Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team), sharing the podium with Pedrosa to keep the parity at 146 rostrum finishes apiece for the former nemeses.

Pedrosa got the holeshot from a great start off pole position, with Marquez slotting in behind ahead of an almighty tousle for third. LCR Honda rider Crutchlow was initially ahead of that battle - with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) warring Championship leader Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) once again until the flying Frenchman set off on a charge, taking bike after bike in now-signature style.

Arriving behind reigning Champion Marquez into third, the rookie held station for a lap as Lorenzo fought back in a tight midfield, getting past Rossi and then Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP). Zarco then took Marquez at the final corner, heading off after Pedrosa in the lead until the reigning Champion hit back. After Pedrosa stunning domination on home turf, the Championship is game on in Le Mans with Rossi now two points clear of Vinales, Marquez just behind and Pedrosa now fourth in the standings – only ten points back.

Valtteri Bottas wins Russian Grand Prix

Mercedes Valtteri Bottas scored the first win of his F1 career after holding off the charging Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel for a superb victory in the 2017 Formula 1 VTB Russian Grand Prix. Kimi Raikkonen made it two red cars on the Sochi Podium, as Lewis Hamilton trailed home a distant fourth in the second Mercedes.

Bottas got the jump on both Ferraris at the start, leading into Turn 2 from Vettel, Raikkonen and Hamilton, and from there the Finn was in command, only losing the lead during pit stops. Vettel put him under intense pressure in the closing laps, but he refused to crack and took the chequered flag just 0.6s ahead. There was drama even before the start in Russia when Fernando Alonso reported that his McLaren was losing charge.

After 40 laps, with 12 to go, it was down to just 1.5s. Soon he would be within range to use his DRS system to attempt an overtaking move, and the closing laps were real nail-biters as they threaded their way through traffic. Going into the final lap Vettel was only seven-tenths of a second behind. But keeping his nerve and lapping Felipe Massa’s Williams and leaving the German to follow the Brazilian through the long, fast Turn 3, Bottas got the break he needed and took a crucial victory for Mercedes by 0.6s.

Raikkonen was third, 10.3s behind, with the very unhappy Hamilton fourth after suffering intermittent overheating issues for much of the afternoon. Max Verstappen was a lonely fifth on a day when Red Bull team mate Daniel Ricciardo succumbed early to rear brake problems, while Force India scored their 14th consecutive set of points, and maintained their 2017 record of getting both cars into them, as Sergio Perez led home team mate Esteban Ocon, the latter a career-best seventh. On a day when Bottas joined the F1 elite in tremendous style, Vettel came away with an extended championship lead over Hamilton. His advantage is up to 13 points, 86 to 73, while Bottas has closed in on 63 in third, with Raikkonen fourth on 49. In the constructors’ stakes Mercedes now lead Ferrari by just a single point, 136 to 135.

MotoGP 2017: Grand Prix of America

Marc Marquez has handed a championship lifeline in MotoGP Grand Prix of Americas, with his fifth consecutive victory in Texas made all the more sweeter by the fact that the winner of first two races of the season in Maverick Vinales crashed out.

After victories in Qatar and Argentina, hopes were high that Yamaha rider Vinales could challenge Marquez, the only man to win around the Circuit of the Americas in MotoGP having won all four previous races since the track was added to the calendar in 2013.

Marquez himself was coming off crashing out of the lead in Termas de Rio Hondo two weeks’ ago, leaving himself with a 37-point deficit in the process to Vinales, but the reigning world champion has clawed back vital ground ahead of the start of the European season after Vinales crashed out in America on the second lap of the race.

Marquez has cut the gap to Vinales to just 12 points as a result, but finds veteran Valentino Rossi out in front on 56 points after bagging his third consecutive podium finish, despite being handed a bizarre time penalty for a clash with Johann Zarco. Marquez got off the line well but it was his Repsol Honda teammate, Dani Pedrosa, who led into turn one from Marquez and Rossi, with Vinales dropping to fifth before overtaking Ducati’s Jorge Lorenzo.

Sebastian Vettel wins Bahrain Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel leads the drivers’ championship after winning a tense 2017 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix from Lewis Hamilton. A late charge from Hamilton wasn’t quite enough to prevent a Ferrari victory, as his Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas took third.

Kimi Raikkonen was fourth for Ferrari, with Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull’s only finisher in fifth, team mate Max Verstappen having retired early with brake failure. Felipe Massa secured sixth for Williams, from Force India’s Sergio Perez and Haas’s Romain Grosjean. Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg and Force India’s Esteban Ocon completed the top ten.

Polesitter Bottas led from Vettel at the start, as Hamilton dropped to third, but the complexion of the race was altered on Lap 13 when Williams’ Lance Stroll and Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz collided as the latter exited the pits. It ended both men’s evenings and brought out the safety car, prompting a flurry of pit stops. Hamilton had to queue behind Bottas and delayed Ricciardo behind him in the process, leading to a 5-second time penalty from the stewards for driving unnecessarily slowly in the pit lane.

With the safety car shuffle complete, it was Vettel who led from Bottas at the restart on Lap 17, while Hamilton immediately reclaimed P3 from Ricciardo. The final showdown began after Hamilton pitted for the last time on Lap 41 to take his penalty, rejoining in third. He quickly caught Bottas, who dutifully moved aside, leaving the Briton with 10 laps to hunt down Vettel, who was 13s up the road. He gave it his all but it ultimately proved too big an ask, and the gap was 6.6s at the flag.

MotoGP 2017: Grand Prix of Argentina

MotoGP has a tendency to keep making history of late, and the Gran Premio Motul de la Republica Argentina was no different – as Maverick Vinales became the first Yamaha rider since Wayne Rainey in 1990 to win the first two races of the year, taking a stunning win as drama hit the grid behind. Teammate Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) created another miracle in P2, with LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow completing the podium in style as top Independent Team rider.

It was reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) who leapt into the lead from pole, with Rossi another electric starter from seventh on the grid. In the rush for Turn 1, it was Marquez leading Crutchlow as the pack shuffled behind, with the reigning Champion then making a stunning break for it as the Brit backed up the chasing Movistar Yamaha MotoGP pairing of Vinales and Rossi. Vinales soon attacked Crutchlow to take P2, before the first of the high drama hit up ahead and Marquez suddenly hit the floor at Turn 2 – having been almost two seconds clear.

There was all-out war for P4 as Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) battled to get past Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing), with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Alvaro Bautista (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) getting in the mix. After a short and spectacular duel between Pedrosa and Zarco, the Spaniard broke free to set the fastest lap – before disaster struck for the ‘Baby Samurai’ as he crashed out of the race in the same place as teammate Marquez had done a handful of laps earlier.

After a great start from a difficult grid position, it was disaster for Ducati Team’s Jorge Lorenzo on the first lap as the five-time World Champion crashed out early after contact with old nemesis Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – the ‘Spartan’ thankfully escaping unhurt, and Iannone continuing. The ‘Maniac’ was also given a ride through penalty soon after for a jump start, dropping him down the order and out of contention to cross the line as the final finisher. Austin, Texas now awaits – a chance for Marquez to strike back at a venue he has always ruled, and a chance for Vinales to change that statistic as we head into round three.

Lewis Hamilton won Chinese Grand Prix

Mercedes Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari Sebastian Vettel share the world championship points after a tense battle in Sunday 2017 Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix. It left both smiling broadly as they finished first and second, 6.2s apart, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen third having fought his way up from 16^th on the grid.

Hamilton 54th F1 triumph came as he led from pole position from start to finish – the third grand slam of his career – but it was no walkover. The race began on a damp but rapidly drying track, with everyone bar Toro Rosso Carlos Sainz on intermediate tyres. Sainz quickly rued that gamble, spinning off on Lap 1 and then needlessly brushing the wall as he made his way back onto the circuit. It quickly became clear though that slicks were in fact the right choice and others, including Vettel, pitted for dry rubber under a virtual safety car on the second lap, triggered when Force India’s Sergio Perez had collided with Williams’ Lance Stroll on the first, leaving the Canadian rookie beached in the gravel.

Leaders Hamilton, team mate Valtteri Bottas, Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Verstappen - already up to fifth - stayed out until the fourth lap, when a real safety car deployment came as Antonio Giovinazzi crashed his Sauber exiting the final corner, the Italian appearing to aquaplane off into the pit wall. That enabled all five to keep their positions as they pitted, leaving Vettel to drop from an initial second to sixth, and set up the thriller.

Initially it was Verstappen who proved to be Hamilton’s main challenger. He and Ricciardo had gone for the supersoft Pirellis, as all the others went for softs in the hope of going all the way. But gradually, the Dutchman fell back, and after Vettel had finally passed team mate Raikkonen on the 20th lap, then Ricciardo in a bold and forceful move in Turn 6 on the 22nd, he closed in on the remaining Red Bull and overtook it when Verstappen had a big lock-up in the Turn 14 hairpin on the 28th. From that half-distance point, Hamilton and Vettel were in a world of their own as they traded times and the gap between them ebbed and flowed. They have 43 points apiece in the drivers’ table as Mercedes eased ahead of Ferrari by one in the constructors’, and the prospects of a super-close title fight look very strong.

MotoGP 2017: Grand Prix of Qatar

Yamaha Maverick Vinales wont the season opening Qatar Grand Prix, the first round of the 2017 MotoGP Championship, after winning an intense duel for victory with Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso. Vinales started from pole position and dropped to fifth early, but stormed back into contention in the second half of the race and then kept the Ducati at bay to start life with his new team in style.

The French rookie lined up fourth, but forced his way past Vinales into second at the first corner and then into the lead with a move on Andrea Iannone later on the first lap. Zarco, who changed to a soft rear tyre on the grid, strolled away at the front of the field, and led by 1.640 seconds after six laps. However, that was the end of his charge, crashing at Turn 2 the next time around. That handed the advantage to Dovizioso, who built a lead as Marc Marquez, Iannone, Vinales and Valentino Rossi – both Yamahas emerging after a quiet start – fought behind him.

The riders remained cautious around the corners of the drying track, but there were no accidents in the opening moments. Zarco was quicker than anyone in the race in his debut, and his sheer pace left the current champion in his wake. The leader's splits were hugely impressive as Marquez chased, but the champion simply could not close the gap between himself and the former Moto2 kingpin. Cal Crutchlow crashed out as he lost control on the tricky Qatar track, ending his hopes, but the most dramatic moment of the day came as Zarco hit the floor and slid out of contention through the gravel.

However, Dovizioso continued to show heart in an exciting race, pushing for the lead with Rossi in his slipstream. The Ducati rider simply would not give up as he pursued Vinales, but the threat of Rossi was beginning to shape the race. The 38-year-old legend was producing a performance level many believed he would not in this event, and his experience saw him ride a great strategy. Honda's Marquez was out of contention in the final three laps, and he simply did not have the pace to threaten the very front.

Sebastian Vettel wins Australian Grand Prix

Ferrari proved that their pre-season testing form was no fluke on Sunday, as Sebastian Vettel soundly beat Lewis Hamilton to win the 2017 Australian Grand Prix. Hamilton new Mercedes team mate, Valtteri Bottas completed the Albert Park Podium.

After shadowing polesitter Hamilton throughout the race’s opening stages, Vettel leapfrogged the silver car at the first round of stops. From there the German never looked back, taking the chequered flag almost 10 seconds clear to clinch Ferrari’s first win since Singapore 2015, with team mate Kimi Raikkonen fourth. Hamilton won the start, leaving Vettel to chase him, but the Mercedes had consumed its ultra-soft Pirelli tyres after 17 laps, whereas Vettel managed to get his to the 22nd lap before making his sole pit stop.

Raikkonen never gave the top three a moment’s concern and finished a distant and uncompetitive fourth, challenged at one stage by Verstappen until he woke up and set the fastest lap on the penultimate tour. The ‘unretired’ Felipe Massa was a likewise lonely sixth for Williams as Sergio Perez just kept his Force India ahead of a charging Carlos Sainz’s Toro Rosso, and the Spaniard’s Russian team mate Daniil Kvyat.

Tenth place fell to Esteban Ocon after a heady dust-up with Fernando Alonso, who had kept his uncompetitive McLaren in the final points-scoring position for lap after lap until a suspension problem enabled both Ocon and the Renault of a closing Nico Hulkenberg to pass him in one corner on the 52nd lap. As Alonso retired, Pascal Wehrlein stand-in Antonio Giovinazzi made an excellent F1 debut with Sauber to take 12th place ahead of a struggling Stoffel Vandoorne, who at least finished in his McLaren MCL32.

Vettel thus leads the drivers’ points table with 25 points to Hamilton’s 18, Bottas’ 15, Raikkonen’s 12, Verstappen’s 10, Massa’s eight, Perez’s six, Sainz’s four, Kvyat’s two and Ocon’s one. Ferrari head the constructors’ stakes with 37 points to Mercedes’ 33, as Red Bull have 10, Williams eight, Force India seven and Toro Rosso six.

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2017

Senior Pro Dinesh Karthik produced an innings of character before Tamil Nadu disciplined bowling effort saw them beat Bengal by 37 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final at the Freoz Shah Kotla in Delhi.

This was the third time that Tamil Nadu prevailed over Bengal in the 50-over competition, having beaten them in 2008—09 and 2009—10. Tamil Nadu won the tournament in 2002-03 as well and shared the trophy with Uttar Pradesh in 2004-05. Karthik (112) was the only significant scorer for Tamil Nadu in their total of 217 in 47.2 overs as Mohammed Shami bowled with a lot of fire, taking 4 for 26. Ashok Dinda (3/36) also rattled the top order.

But the Tamil Nadu bowlers showed unbelievable discipline restricting Bengal to 180 on a pitch that didn’t have any demons. Off-spinner Washington Sundar (0/17) didn’t get wickets but kept the Bengal batsmen on tenterhooks in his eight-over spell. Rahil Shah, Aswin Crist and Mohammed Mohammed all chipped in to defend a small total. Trying to be extra cautious, Shreevats Goswami (23) consumed a lot of deliveries at the onset increasing the pressure. A poor call led to Abhimanyu Easwaran’s (1) run out.

Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary (32) was bowled by his Tamil Nadu counterpart Vijay Shankar while trying to play across the line. It was a delivery that needed to be played on the front foot but he committed on the back foot. Sudeep Chatterjee (58) and Anushtup Majumdar (24) added 65 runs for the fifth wicket for Bengal but a dodgy leg before off left-arm spinner Rahil Shah started another collapse. Chatterjee then played an atrocious sweep shot, only to get bowled round the legs off left-arm spinner Sai Kishore as Bengal’s hopes ended.

Kalinga Lancers won Hockey India League

Moritz Fuerste led from the front as Kalinga Lancers ended Dabang Mumbai dreams of lifting the coveted trophy in their first ever final appearance. Fuerste scored twice while Glenn Turner stuck once in the 18^th minute to help Lancers win their first ever Hockey India League title.

Table toppers Dabang Mumbai who have shown great consistency through the league were kept in the hunt right from the word go with Kalinga Lancers showcasing some class act to defend their circle. Though the first quarter ended in a stalemate, the Kalinga Lancers made quick progress in the second quarter when Aussie forward Glenn Turner, after a brilliant assist by skipper Moritz Fuerste, ensured a 2-0 lead in the 18th minute.

Earlier in the day, the Uttar Pradesh Wizards beat Delhi Waveriders 5-4 in a closely-fought encounter to take home the third-place award of Rs 75.00 Lakhs. Though Delhi Waveriders took an early lead in the 15th minute with Justin Reid-Ross scoring a field goal, Shamsher Singh (18’) equalized for Uttar Pradesh Wizards. But the real turn around for Roelant Oltmans’ men came in the final quarter when Agustin Mazzilli scored an incredible field goal to give the Uttar Pradesh Wizards the winning edge.

Gonzalo Peillat’s 38th minute goal had reduced the deficit for Uttar Pradesh Wizards to 3-4 after Delhi Waveriders skipper Rupinder Pal Singh had struck twice (24’ and 36’) to convert PCs. Moritz Fuerste of Kalinga Lancers was declared the Man of the Match and was awarded a prize money of Rs 50,000 by Mr. Mahavir Mukherjee, CGM, Coal India Limited.

IPL Auction Player list 2017

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has become the most expensive overseas player ever bought at an IPL auction, going for 14.5 crore to Rising Pune Supergiants. He is also the second highest paid player among those currently active in the IPL, behind Virat Kohli, who is paid Rs 15 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore per season.

England fast bowler Tymal Mills also set a new record price for a specialist bowler: he was the second most expensive sale at the tenth player auction and bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 12 crore. All-rounder Chris Woakes was the third England player to get a hefty payday; he was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 4.2 crore. Three other England players bought - all at base price - were: batsman Eoin Morgan for INR 2 crore to Kings XI Punjab, batsman Jason Roy for INR 1 crore to Gujarat Lions, and all-rounder Chris Jordan for INR 50 lakhs to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

While demand for England players was expected, Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, 18-year-old leg-spinner Rashid Khan, and UAE batsman Chirag Suri became the first Associate players after Netherlands' Ryan ten Doeschate to get an IPL bid. The Afghanistan players were bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad - Rashid for INR 4 crore and Nabi for INR 30 lakh - while Suri went to Gujarat for INR 10 lakh. Delhi Daredevils were the most active team in the early bidding. Their purchases of Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews for INR 2 crore, New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson for INR 1 crore, South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada for INR 5 crore and Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins for INR 4.5 crore.

Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, did not bid for any of the first 22 players up for sale despite having a squad of only 13 available players before the auction. They were successful in the first player they bid for, buying New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult for INR 5 crore. Of the first 108 players that went on sale in the main draw of the auction, only 33 were bought and among them only two from Australia: Mitchell Johnson to Mumbai Indians at his base price of INR 2 crore, and Cummins to Delhi. More Australians - Nathan Coulter-Nile, Billy Stanlake, Dan Christian and Ben Laughlin - were bought in the second round of bidding after lunch. Coulter-Nile was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 3.5 crore while Stanlake, Christian and Laughlin went at base prices.

The trend among Indians was for the more experienced players to get no bids - Ishant Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Pragyan Ojha, Cheteshwar Pujara, Parvez Rasool and RP Singh were unsold - while several uncapped players were picked up at high prices. Fast bowler Mohammad Siraj was bought by Sunrisers for INR 2.6 crore, left-arm seamer Aniket Choudhary by RCB for INR 2 crore, K Gowtham by Mumbai for INR 2 crore, T Natarajan by Kings XI for INR 3 crore, Basil Thampi by Gujarat for INR 85 lakh, Karn Sharma by Mumbai for INR 3.2 crore, Eklavya Dwivedi by Sunrisers for INR 75 lakh, Varun Aaron by Kings XI for INR 2.8 crore and M Ashwin by Delhi for INR 1 crore. India all-rounder Pawan Negi, who was bought for INR 8.5 crore last year and then released by Delhi, was bought by RCB for INR 1 crore.

Australian Open 2017

Roger Federer, considered the greatest player ever to a grace a tennis court, won the Australian Open with five set win over arch rival Rafael Nadal in a memorable finale to annexe his 18^th Grand Slam trophy. Federer won 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 to lift his fifth at Melbourne and the first Major after the 2012 Wimbledon.

In Women’s Singles, Serena Williams beat sister Venus Williams in straight sets to win her Seventh Australian Open and an Open Era record 23^rd Grand Slam Singles Titles. Serena won 6-4 6-4 to pass Steffi Graf in an all-time list of major winners since the Grand Slams accepted professional players in 1968. The American regains the number one ranking from German Angelique Kerber.

Australia’s Margaret Court, with 24, is the only single player still ahead of Serena in terms of Grand Slam Singles titles. J. Peers and H. Kontinen won the Men’s Doubles title defeating B. Bryan and M. Bryan 7-5 7-5. Mattek – Sands and L. Safarova won the Women’s Doubles title defeating A. Hlavackova and S. Peng 6-7 6-3 6-3. In Mixed Doubles, A. Spears and J. Cabal defeated Sania Mirza and I. Dodig by 6-2 6-4.

Big Bash League 2017

The Perth Scorchers bid the WACA ground farewell with their third Big Bash League title in four years and a vintage performance straight from their tried and tested copybook. Their nine-wicket win came with 25 balls to spare, comfortably the most emphatic winning margin in a BBL final.

Adam Voges won the toss and bowled, as they prefer to and 28 of 35 captains this BBL season have done. They took wickets in the Powerplay and strangled the Sixers, keeping them to 141. In the chase, their top order did the work in a belligerent Powerplay, then they sauntered home as if they had an early dinner reservation. Which they may well have done - the game was over in the blink of an eye.

Their triumph lifted one of the BBL's peculiar hoodoos, as they become the first table-toppers to take home the title. The Sydney Sixers, whose women's team won the WBBL earlier in the day, were the latest - and likely the last - victims of BBL cricket, the WACA way. The plan is for the Scorchers to play next season at the new 60,000-seater Perth Stadium, across the river from the WACA but hulking, seeming bigger at each glance. Just another homogeneous state-of-the-art bowl, there will be no Fremantle Doctor, history or iconic floodlights.

Sean Abbott who took 20 wickets in the tournament is the Under 25 cricketer of the tournament. Jhye Richardson was the Man of the Match in the final. Chris Lynn of Brisbane Heat was the Player of the tournament. 

Sporting Moments of 2016

Unpredictability has perhaps been 2016 most consistent element and it has not been any different in the world of sports and athletics. Underdogs Leicester City won the English Premier League Football Championship in an astounding season. Serena Williams clinched 22 career Grand Slam singles to tie up for second on the all-time list with Steffi Graf. Nico Rosberg shocked the sporting world by announcing his retirement from Formula One racing after his maiden Championship Triumph.

Serena Williams celebrates winning her women’s singles final match against Germany Angelique Kerber at Wimbledon. Her total of 22 Grand Slam singles titles marks the joint record for the most Major wins by a tennis player in the Open Era. Portugal won the Euro 2016 Championship, their first major trophy.

Leicester City Premier League title dream became reality earlier this year as they completed one of the greatest ever sporting achievements. The Foxes Premier League campaign has captivated fans in the provincial English city as well as sports fans worldwide. Serbia Novak Djokovic won his first ever French Open title in 2016 after defeating Britain Andy Murray. Usain Bolt won Gold Medals in 100m, 200m and relay in his third consecutive Olympic appearance.

British Formula One driver Nico Rosberg who represented Mercedes stunned the sporting world when he announced his retirement on 2^nd December just five days after the 31 year old became the sport’s world Champion for the first time in his entire career.

Atletico de Kolkata won Indian Super League 2016

Atletico de Kolkata claimed their second Indian Super League title in three years after bettering Kerala Blasters 4-3 (1-1) on penalty shootout in a lack-lustre final. The match was tied in 1-1 at the break and after 90 minutes of regulation time. Mohammed Rafi put the hosts ahead in the 37^th minute and Henrique Sereno Fonseca equalized seven minutes later at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium.

Jewel Raja turned out to be the jewel in ATK's crown, calmly dispatching the last penalty, after Sameehg Doutie, Borja Fernandez and Javi Lara all converted their spot kicks. Only Iain Hume's shot was blocked by Kerala custodian Graham Stack. The home team took first strike in the shootout. Antonio German, Kervens Belfort and Mohammed Rafique scored while Elhadji Ndoye blasted over from 18 yards and Cedric Hengbart's shot was acrobatically saved by ATK goalkeeper Debjit Majumder.

ATK also defeated Kerala in the final of the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2014. The match received an early dose of pace with chances created at both ends, but poor technique coupled with signs of nervousness, prevented the two team's premier forwards from capitalizing on the opportunity. Kerala forward Kervens Belfort outran India international Pritam Kotal and found the in-form CK Vineeth free on the left, who undid the good work with poor technique. The ball was quickly hurled towards ATK's star striker Iain Hume, who peeled away from his marker but was equally wayward in controlling the ball.

Eight teams, 60 matches, more than two months of football has finally come down to two teams playing one last match this year to go for the title itself. Atletico de Kolkata and Kerala Blasters have both gone wayward on multiple occasions this season. But they have pushed forward with sheer determination and now have the title within touching distance.

Real Madrid won FIFA Club World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo smashed a hat-trick as Real Madrid survived a colossal scare to beat Japan’s Kashima Antlers 4-2 and lift the Club World Cup. A Gaku Shibasaki double briefly threatened one of football’s greatest shocks after Karim Benzema had given Real Madrid an early lead in Yokohama. But Ronaldo equalized from the penalty spot before pouncing twice in extra time to give the Spanish giants their second world title in three years and fifth in total.

The victory extended Real Madrid club record unbeaten run to 37 matches in all competitions, while French coach Zinedine Zidane surpassed Fabio Capello’s record for their best start to a season. But the European champions, yet to be defeated in 26 games this campaign, were forced to dig deep by an Antlers side who finished a distant third over the J-League season, before winning the championship final.

Benzema’s toe-poked opener was cancelled out on the stroke of halftime by Shibasaki, who took advantage of some calamitous defending from Raphael Varane to lash in a sharp volley. The Japan midfielder then sparked wild celebrations among a crowd of 68,000 seven minutes after the break when he smashed home a left-foot shot from long distance. Kashima’s lead was short-lived, however, as Ronaldo leveled from the spot after Lucas Vazquez was bundled over by Shuto Yamamoto.

Ronaldo, who scooped his fourth Ballon d’Or last week, put Real Madrid back in front with a clinical low finish eight minutes into extra time after a deft pass from Benzema. And the Portuguese superstar completed his hat-trick -- the first in a Club World Cup final -- six minutes later with another poacher’s strike to break Japanese hearts.

India won Junior Hockey World Cup

For the second time this year, Harjeet Singh junior India Men’s hockey team beat Belgium on the way to lifting a trophy. In its first such final in 15 years, India overwhelmed Belgium 2-1 to lift the 2016 Hockey Junior World Cup at Lucknow and became the second team after Gagan Ajit Singh colts in 2001, to get their hands on the most coveted title.

On the biggest day for Indian junior men's hockey since the class of 2001 claimed the Junior World Cup, Harjeet's dominating Indian team was put ahead within minutes when Gurjant Singh stunningly knocked one past Belgium goalkeeper Loic van Doren to give the colts a much-needed boost and an early lead. Up 2-0 by half-time following a Simranjeet Singh field goal, India never let off the pressure.

This win maintained India's 100% record in the tournament and underlined their status as rightful winners. Belgium, having stunned six-time champions and defending champions Germany 4-3 in a shoot-out in the semi-finals, were overawed in the initial passages of their first Junior World Cup Final. The start to this summit clash was electric and one-sided as India managed two shots and seven circle penetrations inside ten minutes. India were the faster side, and that was, ultimately, the difference.

Two saves from Dahiya were received with a tumultuous din, and each time India's offensive pack sped down the line it was with the unanimous expectation of another goal. A PC to Belgium with seconds remaining had no bearing on the result, and when the full-time whistle was blown, India's fans were truly given something unforgettable to cheer about - with Harjeet's unbeatable heroes ending a 15-year jinx to claim the Junior Hockey World Cup.

2016 Bangladesh Premier League

Dhaka Dynamites clinched the Bangladesh Premier League title in style, as they dismantled Rajshahi Kings to win by 56 runs in front of a full house in Mirpur. This is the third triumph for a Dhaka franchise in four BPLs, with the Gladiators having won in the 2012 and 2013 editions.

It was also sweet revenge for Dhaka who were beaten by Rajshahi in both their league games earlier in the tournament. Rajshahi, one of two new franchises this season, were left dejected after having made a late dash into the final by beating Chittagong Vikings and Khulna Titans in the playoffs.

While they would be proud of their overall campaign, their top order left the middle and lower order too much to do in the final, as they collapsed from 62-1 to 98-8, losing seven wickets for 36 runs as they tried to chase down 160. They were eventually bowled out for 103 in 17.4 overs. Rajshahi's chase was hence dependent on Samit Patel, James Franklin and Darren Sammy, but the big-hitting trio fell in three consecutive overs when it mattered the most.

Kumar Sangakkara won the Man of the Match Award and Mahmudullah won the Man of the Series Award. 

Lewis Hamilton wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Mercedes Nico Rosberg is the 2016 World Champion, emulating his father Nico’s achievement after a tense 2016 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in which he finished a pig in the middle second as winning team mate Lewis Hamilton attempted to back him up as much as possible into the clutches of Ferrari Sebastian Vettel and Red Bulls Max Verstappen in an enforced but finely judged master class of race craft.

Less than two seconds covered the top four at the chequered flag as Hamilton ignored instructions from the Mercedes pit wall to up his pace in the closing laps. Daniel Ricciardo followed his Red Bull team mate home, with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen taking sixth ahead of Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez. Williams’ Felipe Massa and McLaren’s Fernando Alonso completed the top ten.

The start saw the two Mercedes lead off the line, with Hamilton heading Rosberg, as Raikkonen passed Ricciardo for third. Things got worse for Red Bull as Verstappen, in sixth, ran out of room exiting Turn 1 and spun after making light contact with Hulkenberg. Hamilton and Rosberg moved clear until their first pit stops, respectively on the seventh and eighth laps, after which Hamilton led again but with Verstappen having risen to second ahead of Rosberg.

Hulkenberg took a fine seventh for Force India, and with team mate Sergio Perez eighth Force India easily secured their fourth position in the constructors’ stakes. But Perez only just got home ahead of the fighting Williams of Felipe Massa, who signed off on his F1 career by maintaining his record of scoring points in each Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in which he has competed, and Fernando Alonso, who took the final point for McLaren.

Lewis Hamilton wins Brazil Grand Prix

After two red flag stoppages and several safety car periods, it was Lewis Hamilton who rode out the Sao Paulo storm to win Formula 1 Grande Premio de Brazil 2016 from Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg, thus taking their championship battle down to the wire in Abu Dhabi. The other star was Red Bull Max Verstappen, whose stunning late race charge hauled him onto the Interlagos podium in the dying laps.

Hamilton’s first victory in the home of hero Ayrton Senna came after he led all the way at a sodden Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in a race which was punctuated by big crashes for the likes of Sauber Marcus Ericsson, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Williams’ Felipe Massa - and which witnessed some amazing racing in its closing stages, when conditions finally became truly drivable.

Force India’s Sergio Perez took fourth place ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, with Toro Rosso Carlos Sainz equaling his career-best finish in sixth. Nico Hulkenberg was seventh in the second Force India, followed by Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo. Felipe Nasr finished ninth for Sauber first points of the year, lifting them above Manor at the bottom of the table, while Fernando Alonso completed the top ten for McLaren.

While Hamilton had to fight only the conditions for the bulk of the race, points leader Rosberg was at one stage overtaken by Verstappen, survived a near-spin in the very slippery final corner and his distant second place was enough to take him to the showdown in Abu Dhabi with a 12-point lead and the need if necessary just to follow Hamilton home again if the Silver Arrows continue their one-two domination. Besides Hamilton, Rosberg was upstaged by superb fighting performances by Verstappen, Nasr, Alonso and Manor’s Esteban Ocon.

MotoGP 2016: Grand Prix of Valencia

Jorge Lorenzo of Spain won the season-ending Valencia Moto Grand Prix ending a 12 race winless streak in his final event before switching from Yamaha to rival Ducati. Lorenzo won from pole position, finishing ahead of champion Marc Marquez, Andrea Iannone and Valentino Rossi. The three-time champion, who hadn't won since the Italian GP in May, will be joining Ducati next year after nine seasons with Yamaha.

Marquez, who was crowned world champion two races ago, finished only a second behind Lorenzo after recovering from a poor start that dropped him from second to seventh by the first turn at the Valencia track in southern Spain. Dani Pedrosa fell out of contention after losing control of his bike and falling while running seventh early in the race. Johann Zarco won the Moto2 finale, while Brad Binder rallied from 22nd to secure victory in the season-ending event in Moto3. Zarco and Binder had already secured the titles in their respective series.

Lorenzo nailed the holeshot on the factory Yamaha to lead the 21-rider field into the first turn to begin the season-ending 30-lap Grand Prix of Valencia, in front of a massive crowd under soft autumn sunshine. Andrea Iannone and Maverick Vinales followed. Marc Marquez got swamped in the first turn and fell back a number of positions coming out of the first couple of turns. A couple of laps in and Lorenzo held a half-second lead on Iannone. Vinales was still holding third, but was coming under pressure from Valentino Rossi and Marquez. Yonny Hernandez was the first to crash out.

On lap nine Rossi once again got by only to be repassed by Iannone again. The two swapped second place a couple of times over the next few laps with Marquez and Vinales closing up, enjoying the best view of the great battle. Ten laps in and Marquez and Iannone began going back and forth giving Rossi just a bit of breathing room. With all this battling going on Dovizioso quietly moved his way up to join the fray just behind Vinales. With 13 laps to go Cal Crutchlow crashed out on the final turn.