Sport Fitness Middle East Issue 10

THE REGION’S NO.1 SPORT&FITNESS MAGAZINE

Sport&Fitness Middle East In association with

Middle East

ISBN 978-9948-15-428-0

9 789948 154280

Issue 10 Dh10; BD1; RO1; QR10; KD1; SR10; £1.95

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Welcome to Sport & Fitness Middle East DON’T you just love the smell of petrol in the morning? Ok, maybe not, but we sure do love to see high octane machines going round and round a track…fast, and we’ve got plenty of action in this issue for all you petrol heads out there.

It was obviously sad for motorsport fans across the region to hear the news that the Bahrain GP was to be cancelled but in light of situation there, you would have to say that common sense prevailed. Hopefully when the time is right the race will go ahead so the people of Bahrain will still get the chance to see the stars of F1 grace the Bahrain International Circuit this year in what has become regarded as one of the best organised and most welcoming races on the calendar. The F1 season now gets underway in Australia and it’ll be fascinating to see which team has created the quickest car this year with young German superstar Sebastian Vettel looking to continue giving race fans in his homeland someone else to talk about other than a certain Mr M Schumacher. We’ve got an exclusive interview with Sebastian in this issue, as well as a 2011 F1 preview which includes our all important breakdown of the latest rule changes you’ll need to get your head around ahead of the new season.

Our cover story concerns a man more comfortable on two wheels than four and I was lucky enough to catch up with MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo during testing for the 2011 season in Sepang as he lifted the lid on his fascinating life and career.

Lorenzo will join Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and the rest of his MotoGP rivals when the season gets underway at the Losail Circuit in Qatar.

But it’s not all about petrol and fast machines, although the way Novak Djokavic is playing tennis right now, you could be forgiven for thinking he was constructed of something other than flesh and blood. Novak and Caroline Wozniacki took the spoils at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and we were there to capture the action for your reading pleasure. We also caught up with Welsh rugby star Bradley Davies as the gentle giant prepared for what promises to be a thrilling climax to the Six Nations Championship.

To round things off on the sporting front in this jam-packed issue we followed a group of daring (insane) rock climbers in Columbia and chatted to one of the hottest talents in women’s kitesurfing – Brazilian beauty Bruna Kajiya.

In the fitness section we turn our attentions to combating the ever growing problem of diabetes and the ongoing battle against the bulge. There’s some quick tips on nutrition and training techniques from the team at Fitness First for those pushed for time as well as some serious routines for the brave.

We hope you have as much fun in reading the magazine as we’ve had in creating it.

Alex Gallemore Editor

Despite all my efforts in not mentioning Valentino Rossi during the interview, Jorge Lorenzo wasn’t up for lending me his $1.5 million Yamaha M1 for my club racing championship this season!

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CONTENTS Features 20 Qatar MotoGP

The smell of petrol is in the air and that can only mean one thing – the 2011 MotoGP season is about to get underway beneath the lights of the Losail Circuit in Qatar.

26 Jorge Lorenzo

The Spanish speed-demon took on the might of seven-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi last season and emerged as the new No.1 rider on the planet. We catch up with Jorge ahead of the season-opener in Qatar.

36 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

Novak Djokovic is playing out of his skin at the moment and the Serb followed his demolition of Andy Murray in the Australian Open with an emphatic victory over Roger Federer for his third consecutive Dubai title while World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki toppled Svetlana Kuznetsova to take the ladies’ title.

40 Sebastian Vettel

Not content with one World Champion in this issue we also bag an exclusive interview with F1’s new leading light as the young German talks about his meteoric rise to the top of his sport and his love of British sitcoms!

56 F1 2011 – Go, Go Go!

Despite the disappointment of the Bahrain GP being called off F1 fans around the region are still eagerly anticipating the start of the new season in Australia.

55 Bradley Davies

Welsh international rugby’s gentle giant talks about the Six Nations Championship, the thrill of playing for his country and the importance of entertaining the fans.

72 Red Bull Psicobloc

Fancy travelling to a hidden stretch of river in the depths of Columbia, climbing up a sheer rock face, then throwing yourself into the water? Neither do we but the participants of this bonkers event can’t get enough of it!

Regulars 12 Sports News

A concise look at recent happenings in the Middle East and around the sporting globe.

17 Sports Calendar

A look ahead at what’s happening each month on the local and international sports scene.

78 Candy Shop

Bruna Kajiya has been turning heads in the world of kitesurfing over the last few years – the Brazilian beauty looks the part and boy can she ride that board!

Training & Nutrition 62 Ask SFME

With the help of the team at Fitness First SFME answers a number of questions that will help you in your quest for a healthy body.

Sport&Fitness Middle East Partners

65 Fitness & Nutrition

Our guide to beating the bulge and keeping your body and lifestyle in tip top shape.

Published by Prographix

earth Eduard Nikolaev (driver), Rybakov (co-driver) and Mizyukaev (co-driver) in action during the fifth stage of Dakar Rally 2011 between Calama and Iquique, Chile.

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Picture courtesy of Marcelo Maragni

water Jordy Smith makes a splash on the ASP World Tour in Praia da Vila, Santa Catarina, Brazil last year.

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Picture courtesy of Marcelo Maragni

air Hannes Arch soars through the skies in Perth, Australia during the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

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Picture courtesy of Getty Images

NEWS DUBAI YACHTSMAN WINS ABU DHABI REGATTA A DUBAI-based sailor pipped the UAE National Champion to first place at The National Abu Dhabi Laser Regatta.

Alastair Tate from New Zealand took the winning position by one point over Adil Khaled after two days of racing at the Abu Dhabi Sailing Club at Mina Zayed, where more than 30 boats helmed by national and expatriate skippers took part.

“It was a pretty close race and I had a good start,” said Tate, who became New Zealand national champion as a teenager before moving to Dubai.

The 32-year-old sailor said the race was made more difficult by a strong tide and light winds.

Adil Khaled, who took second place, has been selected as the UAE member of the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Team in the Volvo Ocean race which starts later this year.

Despite light winds and strong tides in Abu Dhabi, competitors managed to complete five races over the two days, showing great sailing technique and determination.

“This was a very challenging regatta”, said Barry Jarman, Commodore of Abu Dhabi Sailing Club, which is a sub-section of The Club.

Another youngster, Joss Thorne, from Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, took the third place in the Laser standard class, followed by the Commodore of the Abu Dhabi Sailing Club.

In the Laser radial class, the first three positions were taken by sailors from the Emirates Sailing School, led by Saeed Salem Al Zaidi followed by his brother Tallai Salem Al Zaidi and Hamdan Abid Al Balouchi.

In the 4.7 class, all the winning positions were taken by members of the Emirates Sailing School, which is a training school for nationals. In the senior class, the first two spots were taken by Saif Ibrahim Al Hammadi and Omar Mohammad Al Hammadi.

In the junior 4.7 class, Hamood Salem Al Zaidi claimed first place, followed by his classmate Saif al Naimi and Suhall Ali Al Ghallani, in a very tight competition.

UEFA announce ticket prices for Champions League Final THE cheapest seat on general sale for the Champion League Final at Wembley Stadium on May 28th will be £176 (AED1,046). The ‘category three’ tickets cost £150 (AED891) plus an administration fee of £26 (AED154) but for fans of the clubs involved the cheapest tickets will be around £80 (AED475).

Uefa announced that 11,000 tickets will be available on general sale and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson voiced his concerns about the pricing. “It’s a killer and a corporate deal, that,” said Ferguson. “Managers and players can’t do anything about it. I don’t know what you can do.”

Uefa’s director of competitions, Giorgio Marchetti, said the prices were in line with comparable events such as the World Cup Final. “We don’t think that the Champions League Final is overpriced,” he said. “We do not want to squeeze every single penny out of the market. We have to benchmark this event against other comparable events, like for example the final of the Euros and the World Cup.”

Nutrition Training Tips Equipment Style News / Calendar Events Adventure Features

Olympic Schedule for 2012 released THE schedule of events for the London 2012 Olympic Games has been released with women’s football kicking off proceedings on July 25th, two days before the official curtain-raiser at the Olympic Stadium.

The dates, times, venues and prices for more than 600 sessions of competition across all 26 Olympic sports have been emailed to the 2.2m people who have signed up for information prior to tickets going on sale on March 15th.

London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe said: said: “This is a really big moment, a huge moment. In my own experience as a competitor this is the point that it suddenly becomes very real. I remember this point in the build-up to Los Angeles (1984), and suddenly realising I was going to be running seven races in nine days.”

The opening ceremony of the Games will take place inside the Olympic stadium at 1930 BST on Friday, July 27th while Saturday, August 4th is already being dubbed as “Super Saturday” with the climax of the heptathlon competition and the women’s 100m final taking prime-time slots and the Olympic rowing and swimming competitions also reaching their conclusion.

The men’s 100m final, likely to feature Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt, takes place on Sunday, August 5th.

HAYE V KLITSCHKO – IT’S ON! THE heavyweight fight all boxing fans want to see is finally on. After over a year of contract wrangling WBA champion David Haye is set for a showdown with IBF and WBO champ Wladimir Klitschko in Germany this summer on either June 25 or July 2.

“I just can’t wait for that first bell to ring so I can run across the ring to stick one on his chin,” said Haye, who was first due to fight Klitschko in June 2009 before pulling out due to a back injury. “Wladimir Klitschko is getting violently knocked out.”

The fight, which was able to be made after Klitschko pulled out of his scheduled April 30 bout with Britain’s Dereck Chisora due to injury, brings about the potential for Haye to unify the heavyweight division by facing Wladimir’s elder brother, WBC champion Vitali, should he beat the younger sibling, prior to retiring in October.

“I’ve set my retirement date for my 31st birthday, which is October 13th, and said I would have two more fights before then,” said Haye.

“In an ideal world, I would get rid of Wladimir and then hopefully his brother stays unbeaten and I can fight his big brother afterwards.”

Mercedes buy out Brawn GP THE Mercedes GP Formula 1 team is now fully owned by the car manufacturer after its parent company bought the remaining shares from former the Brawn GP team’s management.

Daimler AG and Aabar acquired the final 24.9% from Ross Brawn and his management partners, whose F1 team was taken over by Mercedes in 2009.

Brawn, now the Mercedes GP team principal, believes the move is positive.

“It’s a further step in strengthening for the future,” he said. “I remain fully committed for the long term. Motor racing, particularly F1, is a very specialised industry and we are privileged to have such strong and understanding partners as Daimler and Aabar to support our joint ambitions.” www.wspglobal.com l Page13

NEWS AED292.2m outlay for Dubai Sports Council

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THE Government of Dubai has allocated a staggering budget of AED292.2 million to the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) for various sporting activities this year.

The grant was received by the executive office of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) chaired by Matar Al Tayer, DSC chairman, during a recent meeting.

Al Tayer expressed the DSC’s gratitude to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and to Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman, Dubai Sports Council, for their support and encouragement for sporting activities.

“It is the support of our leaders that keeps us going in achieving the goals set for the development of the various disciplines of sports in Dubai during this year,” said Al Tayer.

High on the priority list for the DSC during the next four years is the establishment of centres catering to the development of individual sports in the emirate while also hosting several international championships in Dubai in an attempt to further enhance its position as a sporting hub in the region.

Matar al Tayer is pictured with Lee Westwood after the Englishman’s victory in the inaugural Dubai World Championship in 2009.

Rajevac takes Qatar football post MILOVAN Rajevac has signed a three-year deal to become the new head coach of the Qatar National Football team.

Former coach Bruno Metsu was sacked following Qatar’s exit at the quarter-final stage of the Asia Cup in Doha in January and Rajevac has proven his international credentials with Ghana, who he led to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations and to the quarter-final

of last year’s World Cup. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Ahmed Al Thani, Qatar Football Association president said: “We wanted to have a good coach to replace Metsu and we know that Rajevac is a great coach.

“He has previous experience of working in Qatar as his compatriot Bora Milutinovic’s assistant at the Al Sadd Club (2004-05) and this should help him a lot.”

Serena Williams undergoes emergency surgery WIMBLEDON champion Serena Williams underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from her lungs in late February.

Her spokesman Nicole Chabot said the American remains at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she had been having treatment for a pulmonary embolism.

“Serena Williams underwent emergency treatment at Cedars for a hematoma she suffered as a result of treatment for a more critical situation,” said Chabot. “Serena suffered from a pulmonary embolism which was discovered upon her return to LA. “She had been in New York for doctor appointments for the ongoing issues with her foot.

Doctors are continuing to monitor

Aragon circuit handed six-year MotoGP deal her situation closely to avoid additional complications.”

The American has been out of action since July last year after she required surgery on her foot after she stepped on broken glass while celebrating her Wimbledon victory.

A DEAL has been struck that will see the Aragon MotorLand MotoGP remain on the schedule for the next six years after an agreement between race organisers Dorna and the Spanish venue.

MotorLand was introduced as a reserve circuit last year and it ended up hosting Round 13 of the championship after the Hungarian Grand Prix was called off. That race was won by Ducati’s Casey Stoner, who now rides for Repsol Honda, and this year Spain will stage four of the 18 rounds of the championship, including the finale in Valencia.

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March 16 – Al Ahli v Al Ahli Manama – Gulf Club Championship March 24 – Al Ahli v Al Ittihad Kalba – UFL April 14 – Al Ahli v Al Ain – UFL

www.alahliclub.ae

March March 26

Equestrian Dubai World Cup, Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, UAE The Annual Dubai World Cup is operated through the Emirates Horse Racing Authority (EHRA) whose Chairman is Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs of the United Arab Emirates and with a purse of $10m it is the richest race in the world.

Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori has ridden three winners at this prestigious meeting while last year’s race was won by the Brazilian horse Glória de Campeão rode by T.J Periera.

best of the rest March 8-12 Squash SDAT WSF World Cup, Chennai, India

March 20 Athletics IAAF World Cross Country Championships: 39th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Punta Umbria, Spain March 21-3 April Tennis ATP & WTA Sony Ericsson Open, Miami, US

March 8-13 Swimming European Diving Championships, Turin, Italy March 8-13 Badminton YONEX All England Premier Super Series 2011, Birmingham, England March 12 Boxing WBA Super World Light Middleweight Title: Miguel Angel Cotto v Ricardo Mayorga, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, USA March 12, 13, 19 Rugby RBS Six Nations Various locations, Europe

March 10-13 Golf WGC-Cadillac Championship, Doral Golf Resort & Spa, Florida, United States March 19, 25 Power Boating UIM XCAT Middle East Championships March 19 – Abu Dhabi March 25 – Dubai

March 20

Motorsport Moto GP Rd 1, Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, Losail, Qatar The opening fixture of MotoGP 2011 is one of the most spectacular on the calendar thanks largely to the switch to night time racing which took place in 2008. Since Spaniard Sete Gibernau rode his Honda to victory in the inaugural race in 2004 the event has been dominated by Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner, who both have three victories to their names over the Losail circuit.

For a full preview of the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar flick to page 20.

March 27 Motorsport World Superbike Championship Rd 2, Donington Park, England March 24-27 Motorsport FIA World Rally Championship: Rally of Portugal, Vilamoura, Portugal March 27 Motorsport, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne, Australia

March 28 Snooker China Open, Beijing, China March 31-3 April Golf Trophee Hassan II, Golf du Palais Royal and Golf de L’Ocean, Agadir, Morocco www.wspglobal.com l Page17

April April 1-7 Motorsport Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

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The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is a five-day motorsport spectacular being staged in its entirety across the Abu Dhabi emirate under the guidance of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), with the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) retaining its event organisational role.

While previous Desert Challenges have seen motorbike, quad-bike, four-wheel and truck competitors battle crossemirate stages, the event in recent years has gradually migrated towards a majority routing through Abu Dhabi’s majestic desert areas.

Prior to the Challenge, competitors face two days of documentation and scrutinising before a Super Special Stage where the starting order is decided. Competitors then brave the Liwa Desert and the Moreeb area of the Empty Quarter for five days.

April 7th - 10th Golf The Masters, Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia, USA The finest golfers from across the world descend on what is generally regarded as the finest course in the world to battle for the coveted Green Jacket. The Masters is steeped in history with a roll of honour that reads like a Who’s Who of golf. Jack Nicklaus won it six times, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer three times each and in the modern era Tiger Woods has slipped into the Jacket four times and Phil Mickelson three – including last year’s toe-to-toe victory over Lee Westwood. European golf came to the fore last year with three European Tour players winning Majors but there hasn’t been a European winner at Augusta since José Maria Olazábal won his second Major there in 1999.

best of the rest April 4-10 Tennis ATP Grand Prix Hassan II, Casablanca, Morocco

April 6-10 Table Tennis ITTF Spanish Open, Almeria, Spain April 10 Athletics Great Ireland Run, The Phoenix Park, Dublin, Northern Ireland

April 8-10 Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

April 15-16 Swimming Diving World Series, Sheffield, England

April 16- May 2 Snooker Betfred.com World Snooker Championship, Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

April 23-24 Cycling UCI Mountain Bike: UCI World Cup XCO / DHI / 4X 1, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

April 16 Boxing WBA World Light Welterweight Title: Amir Khan v TBA, UK

April 26-27 Football UEFA Champions League Semi Final first leg fixtures, Europe

April 16-17 Football FA Cup Semi-Finals, England

April 22-24 Motorsport Moto GP Rd 3, Motegi, Japan

April 30 Motorsport NASCAR Richmond International Raceway, Richmond, Virginia, USA www.wspglobal.com l Page19

Nutrition Training Tips Equipment Style News / Calendar Events Adventure Features

When, where and how to get there: Losail International Circuit is located approx. 30 km from Doha Airport and approx. 20 km from the centre of Doha.

Directions from Doha Airport: Drive through Al-Matar Street and turn right at Toyota Tower, then keep going through C-Ring Road.

Keep driving along Corniche road all the way until reaching the Sheraton hotel then take a left towards the City Centre.

Drive to Al-Wahda Street and turn right into Istiqlal Street. Keep straight then turn left going towards Doha Golf Club. Turn right on the roundabout going north to Al-Khor Highway until you get to Losail International Circuit.

Al Wusail, North Relief Road P.O.Box 4611 www.circuitlosail.com GPS Circuit Entrance: 25º29’1.03” N, 51º27’20.86” E Race Schedule (local time) Sunday March 20th, 2011 MotoGP WUP 18:00 - 18:20 125cc RAC 19:00 Moto2 RAC 20:15 MotoGP RAC 22:00 The Circuit: Length: 5380m. / 3343miles Width: 12m Left corners: 6 Right corners: 10 Longest straight: 1068 m. / 663miles Constructed: 2004

Position:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Points:

25 20 16 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2011 Qatar MotoGP Preview THE 2011 MotoGP World Championship gets underway in the cool evening air of Qatar later this month when the riders will take to the track at Losail aiming for a fast start to the campaign. With only 18 races for riders to make their mark, being quick out of the blocks is imperative – and what better place for the season to begin than under the floodlights of Losail at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar.

2010 Season Round-up: Jorge Lorenzo ran away with his first MotoGP Championship title, scoring an astonishing 383 points and clinching the title with a third-place finish in Malaysia with three races still to run.

The Spaniard rode his Yamaha to a second-place finish behind Valentino Rossi in the opener in Qatar before winning seven of the next nine races to take control of the Championship. Only twice during the season did he finished off the podium places – with fourth place finishes in Aragon and Japan – but none of the chasing pack, including compatriot Dani Pedrosa or Rossi, who missed four races with a broken leg, could mount a serious challenge.

With the Championship wrapped up in Malaysia Lorenzo then finished second in Australia behind Casey Stoner and won the final two stages in Portugal and Valencia.

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Losail Records: Records Fastest Lap Circuit Record Best Pole Top Speed

Season 2008 2008 2008 2009

Rider Jorge Lorenzo Casey Stoner Jorge Lorenzo Dani Pedrosa

Motorcycle Time Yamaha 1’53.927 Ducati 1’55.153 Yamaha 1’53.927 Honda

Speed 170.0 km/h 168.2 km/h 170.0 km/h 338.6 km/h

Factory Yamaha rider and 2010 MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo defends his first premier class title this year and will ride on an opposing team to great rival Valentino Rossi for the first time in the elite category.

The Spaniard, who has broken numerous records on his way to the top, will strive for the same level of consistency that delivered him the 2010 title as he battles a host of riders for his second MotoGP crown in the final season of the 800cc machines before the move to 1000cc bikes next season.

JL: “I’m very happy after the three days testing, it has been one of the best winter Tests.”

Season Category Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2010 MotoGP 18 9 5 2 2009 MotoGP 17 4 5 3 2008 MotoGP 17 1 3 2

Jorge Lorenzo

Bike: Yamaha

Tot. Poles Bike Points Pos. 16 7 Yamaha 383 1 12 5 Yamaha 261 2 6 4 Yamaha 190 4 Weight: 65 kg

DOB: May 4, 1987

Height: 172 cm

Valentino Rossi will take on one of his biggest challenges of his illustrious career this season as he rides with Ducati after seven years (and four World Titles) with Yamaha.

The seven-time MotoGP World Champion forms an Italian partnership with the Borgo Panigale factory and will ride alongside team-mate Nicky Hayden as he attempts to equal Giacomo Agostini’s record by taking an eighth premier class title.

Rossi sealed five straight premier class titles from 2001-2005, switching from Honda to Yamaha in 2004 and thus proving his ability to achieve success wherever he went. Further titles followed in 2008 and 2009 before a broken leg four rounds into last season ended a record run of 230 consecutive World Championship starts. It was the first time Rossi had missed races in his career, which makes this season all the more significant.

VR: “Although I have to change my riding style a little, I now feel much more at home with the Ducati.”

Season Category Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2010 MotoGP 14 2 2 6 2009 MotoGP 17 6 5 2 2008 MotoGP 18 9 5 2

Valentino Rossi

Bike: Ducati

Tot. Poles Bike Points Pos. 10 1 Yamaha 233 3 13 7 Yamaha 306 1 16 2 Yamaha 373 1

DOB: February 16, 1979

Weight: 67 kg

Height: 182 cm

A change of team in 2011 for Casey Stoner marks an exciting new chapter in the former MotoGP World Champion’s career as he attempts to emulate his 2007 titlewinning season in his new factory Honda colours.

Stoner romped to 10 victories on a Ducati in 2007 as he claimed the World Championship for the first time. The following three seasons saw Stoner go close to reclaiming the title, collecting 23 wins in four campaigns on the Desmosedici, but he was ultimately frustrated in his endeavours. There will be little doubt as to his aims for 2011 as he takes to the track on a Honda, with Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso sharing the factory team’s garage alongside him.

CS: “Physically I feel fantastic on the bike. I’ve got more confidence on this Honda.

The Honda simply requires a different riding style to the Ducati.”

Season Category Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2010 MotoGP 18 3 2 4 2009 MotoGP 13 4 1 3 2008 MotoGP 18 6 3 2

Casey Stoner

Bike: Honda

Tot. Poles Bike Points Pos. 9 4 Ducati 225 4 8 3 Ducati 220 4 11 9 Ducati 280 2

DOB: October 16, 1985

Weight: 58 kg

Height: 171 cm

2010 Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar Round-up: Valentino Rossi chalked up a 1.022 second victory over Jorge Lorenzo last year to end three years of dominance from Casey Stoner in Qatar. Fellow Italian Andrea Dovizioso rode his Honda to third place while Stoner, winner in 07, 08 and 09, fell out of the race with a crash on the fifth lap.

Ben Spies will be riding in his second MotoGP season with the Yamaha factory this year and he will accompany Jorge Lorenzo on the official M1 machine. Nicknamed ‘Elbowz’ duo to his unique riding style, Spies’ potential is there for all to see after being named Rookie of the Year last season. A first MotoGP victory is surely only round the corner.

BS: “It’s been good riding alongside Jorge in testing. We’ve both worked hard to deliver important information which the team can now take away and work with.”

Season Category Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2010 MotoGP 17 0 1 1 2009 MotoGP 1 0 0 0 2008 MotoGP 3 0 0 0

Ben Spies

Bike: Yamaha

DOB: July 11, 1984

Tot. Poles Bike Points Pos. 2 1 Yamaha 76 6 0 0 Yamaha 9 20 0 0 Suzuki 20 19 Weight: 71 kg

Height: 180 cm

Riding into a third season with Ducati in 2011, Nicky Hayden partners Valentino Rossi in the factory team as the two former MotoGP World Champions form an exciting line-up for the Borgo Panigale factory team on board the Desmosedici GP11.

World Champion in 2006, the final year of the 990cc machines, Hayden’s calibre in MotoGP has been proven ever since his arrival on the World Championship stage in 2003 with Honda. Now with two years of experience of the evolving Ducati bike under his belt, Hayden goes into 2011 as one of the riders with the potential to challenge for the top prize.

NH: “The team did a lot over the winter, not just on the bikes, but they’ve really stepped the game up with new tools and equipment in the garage. Everyone is clearly working hard as usual.”

Season Category Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2010 MotoGP 18 0 0 1 2009 MotoGP 17 0 0 1 2008 MotoGP 16 0 1 1

Nicky Hayden

Bike: Ducati

DOB: July 30, 1981

Tot. Poles Bike Points Pos. 1 0 Ducati 163 7 1 0 Ducati 104 13 2 0 Honda 155 6 Weight: 69 kg

Height: 173 cm

Since his introduction to the premier class in 2008 (when he rode a satellite Honda and placed fifth overall), Andrea Dovizioso has proven himself to be one of the top riders on the scene and this year will begin his third campaign as a member of the Honda factory team. One victory in 2009 (Donnington) and then seven podiums during the 2010 campaign have been an indication of Dovizioso’s constant improvement and he will be determined to take it a step further this year.

AD: “I feel optimistic. The level of the bike is really high and it’s very competitive.”

Season Category Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2010 MotoGP 18 0 3 4 2009 MotoGP 17 1 0 0 2008 MotoGP 18 0 0 1

Andrea Dovizioso

Bike: Yamaha

DOB: March 23, 1986

Tot. Poles Bike Points Pos. 7 1 Honda 206 5 1 0 Honda 160 6 1 0 Honda 174 5 Weight: 60 kg

Height: 168 cm

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2011 Qatar MotoGP Preview

Marco Simoncelli’s debut season in MotoGP in 2010 saw the Italian progress and impress in equal measures and by the end of the campaign he was pushing for a place on the podium. In 2011 he will continue his quest to climb the premier class order with the San Carlo Honda Gresini team, having ended his first year in a respectable eighth place overall and with a best result of fourth in Portugal.

He will be teamed with former 250cc rival Hiroshi Aoyama on the Gresini team, with the aim of regularly fighting for the podium a realistic target.

MS: “Overall I am 100% happy with the testing. The team has worked brilliantly, the changes have integrated well and everything has gone perfectly.”

Season Category Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2010 MotoGP 18 0 0 0 2009 250cc 15 6 1 3 2008 250cc 16 6 3 3

Marco Simoncelli

Bike: Honda

Tot. Poles Bike Points Pos. 0 0 Honda 125 8 10 3 Gilera 231 3 12 7 Gilera 281 1 Weight: 72 kg

DOB: anuary 20, 1987

Height: 183 cm

Colin Edwards enters his ninth season in the MotoGP World Championship in 2011 and the Texan with vast experience in the premier class will again be making his challenge on the M1 of the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team. As he did in 2010 with Ben Spies, Edwards will be riding alongside a newcomer to MotoGP in the shape of Brit Cal Crutchlow after he signed a one-year extension to his contract with Hervé Poncharal’s team.

CE: “I am really happy with the development that Yamaha has done on the bike for 2011. It has improved in every area.”

Season Category Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2010 MotoGP 18 0 0 0 2009 MotoGP 17 0 1 0 2008 MotoGP 18 0 0 2

Colin Edwards

Bike: Yamaha

Tot. Poles Bike Points Pos. 0 0 Yamaha 103 11 1 0 Yamaha 161 5 2 1 Yamaha 144 7

DOB: February 27, 1974

Weight: 66 kg

Height: 179 cm

Two-time MotoGP World Championship runner-up – including last season – and a topthree finisher for the past four years, Dani Pedrosa will be more determined than ever to claim a first premier class title this year on board the factory RC212V of the Repsol Honda team.

The Spaniard enjoyed four victories in 2010 and was second five times before an injury interrupted his form towards the end of the campaign. This year he will again have Andrea Dovizioso as a team-mate with Casey Stoner added to the set-up.

DP: “We’re happy with the bike, it is working well and we just need to reaffirm those feelings in Qatar.”

Season Category Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2010 MotoGP 15 4 5 0 2009 MotoGP 17 2 3 6 2008 MotoGP 17 2 5 4

Dani Pedrosa

Bike: Honda

Tot. Poles Bike Points Pos. 9 4 Honda 245 2 11 2 Honda 234 3 11 2 Honda 249 3

DOB: September 29, 1985

Weight: 52 kg

Height: 160 cm

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Rocket Man set for take off

Alex Gallemore talks to the reigning MotoGP World Champion, Jorge Lorenzo, about the opening round of the 2011 season under the lights in Qatar and finds out if he really does listen to Phil Collins on his iPod!

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Sport&Fitness talked to Jorge to find out if he’s man or machine and what it takes to become a World Champion: Q: How do you feel heading into the new season – are you pleased with how the bike has performed during testing?

JL: The tests have been very good. I am very happy with my team and with the bike.

We are working so hard to be fit for the first round in Qatar. Our aim is be on the top there.

Q: The Hondas look like they’ve got good top-end speed – how can the M1 counteract this?

JL: Honda looks one step ahead at this moment, but also last season they showed their potential so it’s not new! I believe in Yamaha, we will have the best bike we can.

The M1 has improved in many things and I believe we will be at least at the same level as Honda for the start of the season.

Q: How are you feeling, personally, ahead of the new season – do you feel extra pressure being World Champion?

JL: I’m more relaxed than last year, not because I am the World Champion but because I am older so I have more experience.

Q: Where did it all start for you in motorbike racing – at what age did you start to ride and who was the most influential figure in your rise to becoming World Champion?

JL: My dad was very important. He was a mechanic and in his spare time with some pieces he found in various places he put together a bike for me and he encouraged me to start riding at the age of three. He spent a lot of time and money on it – about 4

Exclusive Jorge Lorenzo Q&A REIGNING MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo went head-to-head with the legendary Valentino Rossi last year and came out on top.

Now, as the motoring world turns its attention to the Losail Circuit in Qatar for the opening round of the 2011 MotoGP campaign, Jorge has his work cut out to keep his hands on the trophy. His famous Yamaha M1 has been off the pace during testing and it is neighbouring manufacturers and rivals Honda that have been dominating the headlines.

Considering motorsport is all about mechanical advantages and deep sponsorship pockets, Yamaha appear to be starting the year on the back foot and, while Jorge is defending champion, it appears he could well be the underdog once more.

Many MotoGP critics will argue it’s probably too early – and too outrageous -– to claim a current World Champion on a multi-title winning bike is an underdog but with the team set to start the season without a major sponsor and the bike struggling to match the Hondas for power and traction, the high-speed Qatar circuit could see the Yamaha found wanting.

On the other hand, when you analyse how Jorge has risen up the ranks you realise that this guy only knows how to win, no matter what the odds are against him. Last year he started in the shadow of fellow team-mate and World Champion, Valentino Rossi, yet ended it covered in glory. So you could say that being the underdog is a position he’s suited to as he manages to use adverse situations to ignite the afterburners and lead from the front. But his dogged determination to win doesn’t mean he manhandles the bike – his smooth riding style preserves tyres better than any other rider, giving him the edge as others struggle to find grip in the latter stages of a race.

If you watch Jorge during the post and pre race press interviews he listens intently to what everyone has to say, especially the other riders, while others switch off the moment the microphone is handed over to another rider.

When you take into consideration the Spaniard’s constant thirst for knowledge and how he arrived into the sport from a humble background, it’s no surprise that the World Champion is the rider others fear the most. The glory days of the dominant Rossi look to be over and once the rampant horsepower edge of the Hondas have been reined in then the underdog should claw back to lead the pack at the end of the season.

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Under the lights at last year’s Qatar MotoGP Lorenzo finished runner-up and he’ll have his head down to try to go one better in 2011!

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80% of the money we had went towards my racing. At a waterpark in Mallorca called Aqualand there was a little park for minibikes, go-carts and mini-cross and I spent all day every summer from the age of five onwards at the park racing or on my bike and I gradually improved and started to race competitively aged 10.

Q: At what stage did it look like you could make a career out of riding?

JL: Well, I thought I was fast and the goal of becoming a professional was in both our minds but you never know what can happen.

My dad always told me that if I can ride a 500 like I rode a broken bike I would be No.1 – because I was crazy but also controlled and really, really fast. So I decided to leave my studies and keep racing. It is one thing to dream about becoming a professional and another thing to actually achieve it.

Q: How did your partnership with exmanager Dani Amatriain come about?

JL: My dad went to Barcelona to find some sponsors and he got in touch with Daniel Amatriain who was my manager until 2008.

At first he gave him a video of me riding back in Mallorca and Dani said, “We are full of riders, but I will watch your video anyway.”

The next day he phoned my dad and said: “OK, you have to come back to Barcelona, I want your kid!”

Q: When did you start taking notice of the sport on a global scale?

JL: I started to watch the World Championship Races in 1995 so the first riders I watched on the TV were Max Biaggi, fighting with Tetsuya Harada for the 250 title. I liked Biaggi very much and also Carl Fogarty.

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Q: Your fan base is rocketing like your career but can you still travel the world without being noticed and do you enjoy fame?

JL: For me it is not a problem, but I realise every day a little more people recognise you on the streets. I like to sign autographs or take pictures with them, but obviously sometimes it is a problem like when people disturb you while you are eating, for example.

Q: Looking ahead to Qatar. What are the challenges of riding at night?

JL: I would like to win the Qatar MotoGP for first time. I’ve never done it there before. But the most important thing is to start the season well. We have to ride at night because the track temperature is too hot during the day, but the temperatures drop quickly at night as well so tyres are critical.

Q: It’s a circuit you’ve done well at before.

But with Losail’s long straight would you say it plays completely into the hands of the bike with the best top-end speed?

JL:Yes, normally it is a track Casey Stoner likes and maybe Honda will be in front. But I am confident we will begin as best as we can.

Above: Lorenzo at full tilt with his new team mate, Ben Spies, close behind at last year’s Qatar MotoGP.

Below: It’s not only Valentino Rossi that has a huge following. This picture was taken in Australia in 2007 when Jorge won the 250 class!

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Q: You’ve worn a heart rate monitor during a few races and I can’t believe that you’re able to run sustained heart rates of up to 180bpm. How do you train to prepare for this?

JL: Dorna (MotoGP commercial rights holder) was trying a new system that they might use soon during the grand prix. We were doing a documentary and they suggested I could wear it.

‘Why not’, I answered. For me it was not a problem. But after I saw it on TV I was wondering how 180 beats can be possible… I never imagined my heart was running that fast. I train a lot and when you are in MotoGP you must be working out all the time to be in peak fitness.

Running a heart rate of 180bpm for an hour means these circuit warriors need to be as fit and as strong as the bikes they ride!

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Above: Jorge’s race winning celebrations are becoming legendary, but when he dived into the track-side lake after winning the 2010 Spanish GP at Jerez, it was nearly his last as he’d not taken into consideration the weight of his race gear. Fortunately a fan dived in and saved him!

Q: Having travelled the world, where do you prefer to go to get away from it all?

JL: I love to relax in Mallorca, where I was born. But also I like Bali, I’ve been there the last two times for holidays and it is incredible. I like the beach, the pool, for me it can be summer every day.

Q: What’s your most prized possession?

JL: My MotoGP World title trophy, it’s beautiful!

Q: Do you collect anything?

JL: I collect my trophies, helmets, watches, leathers, bikes etc – I try to collect everything I’ve used so I can create my own museum at home.

Q: Which actor or actress makes you laugh the most?

JL: I like Ben Stiller, he is fantastic in his movies. But my favourites are Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson and Johnny Depp.

Q: What’s the best film you’ve seen recently?

JL: My favourite is Notebook, but recently maybe Inception.

Q: What’s on your iPod at the moment and do you listen to anything in particular before a race?

JL: I’m listening to Linkin Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sting and Phil Collins – I like many kinds of music!

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Djokovic

Maintains Dubai Domination NOVAK Djokovic continued his incredible run of recent form with a straight sets victory over Roger Federer in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships which sealed his third consecutive victory in the emirate.

The Serbian triumphed 6-3, 6-3 to end Federer’s challenge and continue his unbeaten run which stretches back to Serbia’s victory in the Davis Cup in December last year.

“I was aware of the challenge that is expected of me on the court, and I was aware of the fact that I need to be on top of my game in order to beat Roger,” said Djokovic.

“So the focus was there. I was serving really well, especially the first set. Just the perfect performance overall.”

Since reaching the semi-finals at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November, the Belgrade native has gone on a career-best 14-match unbeaten run. He led Serbia to victory in the Davis Cup final before opening his 2011 season by winning his second Grand Slam championship at the Australian Open where he defeated Andy Murray in the final. His next event was the defence of his Dubai title and he eased into the semi-finals where he faced big-hitting third seed Thomas Berdych.

The Czech gave Djokovic a scare by taking the opening set 7-6 after a tie break but then the Serb fought back to take the second set 6-2. He was ahead 4-2 in the final set before Berdych was forced to retire with a thigh injury.

“I couldn’t serve,” admitted the Czech. “So to play Novak, one of the best returners, this time to play without the serve – no chance.”

Despite the win Djokovic was not happy with the way he had played ahead of his showdown with Federer,

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saying it was his worst performance for a long time. “I hate it when I play this way, but I was still trying to fight within myself and trying to stay focused and at least hold serve,” he said.

However, it took just a day to redeem himself as he roared out of the blocks against the World No.2 in the Championship Match – their 21st head-to-head in history.

Djokovic broke Federer’s serve twice in quick succession as he took the opening set in just 33 minutes.

At 1-1 in the second set Federer finally started to find his rhythm and broke Djokovic’s serve. Federer couldn’t capitalise though and lost his service game to love with the set at 3-2. Djokovic then ran riot, winning the next three games to take the title and end the contest after 71 minutes.

“I’m a different player in the last year – I have a serve,” Djokovic said after becoming the sixth active player to win 20 ATP titles. “Last year, the serve was not there and I was struggling a lot. I was using a lot of energy. Now I get to have some free points, which is important.”

Federer said: “Well, it was a missed chance for me, really. I started bad and then kind of got into the match, but things are over in a hurry sometimes in best of three set tennis.”

Having lost to Djokovic in the last two Grand Slam tournaments and now in Dubai, Federer said: “We’ve had it kind of come and go in spells a bit when it comes to playing against each other. I definitely feel he’s playing well.

“I thought he was already playing well at the end of last year. We had a couple of real close ones but this one has been one of the rather disappointing matches for me against him.” n

Route to the final [seed in brackets] First Round [2] N Djokovic (SRB) def M Llodra (FRA) 6-3, 6-3 [1] R Federer (SWI) def S Dewarrman (IND) 6-3, 6-3 Second Round [2] N Djokovic (SRB) def F Lopez (SPA) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 [1] R Federer (SWI) def M Granollers (SPA) 6-3, 6-4 Quarter-finals [2] N Djokovic (SRB) def F Mayer (GER) 7-5, 6-1 [1] R Federer (SWI) def S Stakhosky (UKR) 6-3, 6-4 Semi-finals [2] N Djokovic (SRB) def [3] T Berdych (CZ) 6-7, 6-2, 4-2 ret. (thigh) [1] R Federer (SWI) def R Gasquet (FRA) 6-2, 7-5 Final [2] N Djokovic (SRB) def [1] R Federer (SWI) 6-3, 6-3

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Wozniacki

On top of the World in Dubai WORLD NO.1 Caroline Wozniacki enhanced her reputation as one of the strongest competitors on the ladies circuit with a resounding 6-1 6-3 victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The delightful Dane didn’t drop a set throughout the entire tournament as she romped to her 13th career WTA title. World No.23 Kuznetsova, who endured her third loss in the Dubai final, had no answer to Wozniacki’s game as the 20-year-old wrapped up the final in 75 minutes.

Wozniacki dominated from the start, breaking Kuznetsova to take a 2-0 lead. The Russian then held her service game to make it 2-1 but Wozniacki took control and won the next four games to take the opening set. She continued to dominate and forced Kuznetsova to save two match points at 5-2 before eventually serving out for the championship in one hour and 15 minutes.

“I was hitting the ball cleanly and aggressively. I knew I had to, because if Svetlana is allowed to dictate, she’s just too strong,” said Wozniacki. “It was very important to stay pretty close to the baseline and keep her moving. I’m a player that can play aggressively, I can play defensively, and I can mix it up and wait for the right moment. It depends on the opponent and it depends on how I feel.”

Kuznetsova, who was runner-up in 2004 and 2008, again had to settle for second place and paid tribute to her opponent.

“I was just making so many unforced errors,” said the

Route to the final [seed in brackets] First Round [1] C Wozniacki (DEN) bye [16] S Kuznetsova (RUS) def [Q] N Llagostera Vives (ESP) 64, 62 Second Round [1] C Wozniacki (DEN) def A Chakvetadze (RUS) 6-1, 3-5 ret. (illness) [16] S Kuznetsova (RUS) def T Pironkova (BUL) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 Third Round [1] C Wozniacki (DEN) def [Q] A Morita (JPN) 6-1, 6-0 [16] S Kuznetsova (RUS) def [3] F Schiavone (ITA) 1-6, 6-0, 7-5 Quarter-finals [1] C Wozniacki (DEN) def [9] S Peer (ISR) 6-2, 6-4 [16] S Kuznetsova (RUS) def [8] A Radwanska (POL) 7-6(7), 6-3 Semi-finals [1] C Wozniacki (DEN) def [6] J Jankovic (SRB) 7-5, 6-3 [16] S Kuznetsova (RUS) def [11] F Pennetta (ITA) 6-4, 6-4 Final [1] C Wozniacki (DEN) def [16] S Kuznetsova (RUS) 6-1, 6-3

Russian. “She defends well and doesn’t really give you many free points. She plays a stable game and she wins.

“I just kept changing my strategy all match instead of just choosing one thing and playing it. She’s just a smarter player. That’s it.”

After receiving a bye in the opening round Wozniacki despatched Anna Chakvetadze, Ayumi Morita and Shahar Peer to set up a semi-final match up with Jelena Jankovic and in doing so regained the World No.1 spot just four days after losing it to Kim Clijsters.

“It’s nice to see your name at the top,” she said ahead of her match with Jankovic. “That’s what I practice for. But when I go into a tournament, the most important thing for me is to do my best and try to win that tournament. If I play well, the rankings will come automatically.”

Wozniacki needed to be at the top of her game as she pitted her wits against Jankovic as the Serbian came flying out of the traps in their semi-final match and stormed into a 3-0 lead.

Jankovic looked to be heading for the set when leading 5-3 but she failed to capitalise and Wozniacki forced a forehand error to break her serve. Wozniacki then broke again to go 6-5 up and held off two break points against her own serve to take the set.

After an epic first set the World No. 1 finished off a visibly tiring Jankovic 6-3 to earn her place in the final and where she made light work of Kuznetsova to take her first title in the Middle East. n

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH

BY RICHARD BEVAN

SEBASTIAN Vettel completed his meteoric rise to the summit of F1 last year by becoming, at 23 years and 134 days, the youngest World Champion ever.

The likeable German came out on top in one of the closest and most thrilling seasons the sport has witnessed in recent memory, after a stunning drive in the last race of the year at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi gave him his fifth victory of the season and the Drivers’ World Championship.

The win also gave Red Bull Racing a sensational double, having already wrapped up the Constructors’ Championship a week earlier in Brazil when Vettel and his team-mate, Mark Webber, did a one-two.

Vettel has always been destined for greatness.

As a karting ‘Wunderkind’, who idolised his fellow countryman Michael Schumacher, he won a hatfull of titles over an eight-year period, having started racing competitively at just 7-years-old.

Red Bull were the quickest to notice his potential, offering him his first sponsorship deal at the tender age of nine. It’s fair to say that since joining the team’s F1 ranks, first for Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2007, and then with the top-tier Red Bull Racing in 2009, Vettel has repaid their faith in droves.

In 2008 he became the youngest driver ever to win an F1 Grand Prix by demonstrating his skill in the rain at Monza in the Italian GP, aged just 21 years and 74 days. The victory was the first by a Red Bull-owned team and Vettel ended the season with 35 points – more than the Red Bull Racing pairing of Mark Webber and David Coulthard combined.

Vettel was promoted to Red Bull Racing the following year when Coulthard retired and came agonisingly close to claiming the World Championship, winning four races to finish runnerup to Jenson Button before victories in Malaysia, Valencia, Japan, Brazil and Abu Dhabi saw him go one better last year.

With the cancellation, or perhaps postponement, of the Bahrain GP he’ll have to wait another couple of weeks to begin his Championship defence. But Sebastian Vettel’s feathers aren’t easily ruffled and he’s proved a master at dealing with whatever comes his way, both on and off the track.

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SFME: How is the new car feeling ahead of the season, how does it compare to the RB6 and what are your thoughts about defending your World Championship crown?

SV: It’s still early in the season but I was very satisfied after the first tests with the new car.

The RB7 is an evolution of the RB6, so it feels pretty much the same as last season. How good – and how good compared to the others – it is will probably only dawn on us for the first time in Australia. But why shouldn’t we be on the same performance level as last season? There is nothing to be said against us again being one of the hottest candidates for the titles.

SFME: You’re known to keep in very good shape physically – what work have you done over the break to prepare for the seasonopener in Australia?

SV: January and February are the months when you begin the basic training to raise your fitness level. There are no races, so you can train physically more and you can go a little on the edge. The amount of training and the intensity is higher. Cardiovascular training is longer (more time, more kilometers), power training is more basic strength and even a little building of muscle in the important areas (specifically for training areas like the neck, upper back and hips, (middle core). There are different games – badminton, tennis, squash, etc which help. Also different speed coordinations, are included. The main idea of training in January and February is that you can really concentrate on training and recovery. Also you can do different things like snow-shoe walking and skiing because you have time to go into the mountains and train.

SFME: How has your life changed since becoming World Champion and does this make it more difficult to put in the hours in the gym and on the track practicing?

SV: Not at all. For sure I had to attend a lot of functions and events after the win but after

Christmas everything calmed down and I had the chance to spend time on my own and with my family and friends, which was important.

For me life hasn’t changed so far, only that I received a nice trophy with my name on it!

SFME: How difficult is it to become World Champion in today’s ultra competitive F1 world and did you ever dream success would happen so fast?

SV: It’s difficult, for sure, because you win the title against the best racing drivers in the world.

When you’ve got it, it’s just amazing. I never dreamt I would become the youngest World Champion of all time, but, yes, I dreamt to become World Champion.

SFME: What went through your mind when you crossed the line in Abu Dhabi and how did you celebrate afterwards?

SV: It was funny when I crossed the line, I was waiting for my engineer to call me, then he came on the radio and said, ‘OK’ and I thought ‘hmmm, it didn’t work’. Then he said we had to wait for the other cars to cross the line and I then knew exactly what he was talking about, I knew he was going through the positions. And all of a sudden he was starting to scream ‘World Champion’ and everything just stopped. I was just so happy in the moment and totally out of my mind. When I heard the recording of myself on the radio, initially I was a bit embarrassed because I sounded like a little kid or a baby girl screaming. It was funny for me to hear it for the first time. It was very special because immediately you have the situation replaying in your head and all the good feelings are coming up again – it was incredible.

SFME: When did it actually sink in that you were World Champion – how does it feel to be racing this season with No.1 on your car?

SV: I had a moment during the test in Valencia, when I was on an in-lap. The sun was shining,

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above me, there was beautiful blue sky, the blue of my car was shining and the No.1 on the car was shining. At this moment I thought, ‘Boy, this feels so good.’

SFME: How successful was the new points system last year in making races more exciting and what were your highlights of the season?

SV: The new points system was all right, because it was the same for all of us. The highlight of the year for me was winning the Championship in Abu Dhabi!

SFME: Does the fact that we had such a close Championship last season with four drivers in contention right to the end, signal that we’re entering a golden period for F1?

SV: It could be. There are seven drivers or more who could win the title this year so it’s a great time for the sport.

SFME: You and Lewis Hamilton are both still young and yet already have a World title each – what are your thoughts on Lewis and your rivalry with him?

SV: Lewis is a great driver, for sure, one of the best. But it’s not only him I have to beat! There are a lot of great drivers out there.

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SFME: You like to name your cars. What have you named your car for the 2011 season?

SV: We still need a few test sessions to give the car a name. But it will certainly be a she.

Of course, some things have changed as I am more recognised now, so I get asked for my autograph more often than before. But I think my personality hasn’t changed. This is a good thing and I try to be reliable and strong. Maybe we can find a name that fits this character.

SFME: There have been inevitable comparisons between you and Michael Schumacher but I know you prefer to create your own legacy – has winning the Championship helped do that, has it made it worse or do the people of Germany now expect you to win another six!

SV: The secret is to now stay who I am and continue doing it my own way. You cannot go out there and say, ‘I’ll do it exactly like my role model, Michael, I will do it like him and win seven titles’ – that doesn’t work because everyone is different. I think there will always be certain things you can learn from others, great teams like Ferrari or McLaren, great champions like Michael, but in the end they are so different – but still they managed to win three or four titles. Take Senna and Prost – I don’t think they were going out for dinner together very often!

SFME: Many people assume that all racing drivers come from a privileged background but it’s not always the case – what sacrifices did your family have to make to enable you to progress in the sport?

SV: As we travelled nearly every weekend to a kart race my family had to sacrifice much of their own private life for my career.

SV: Belief – always believing in your team and yourself.

SFME: You’re known to like British TV classics such as Monty Python and music like the Beatles – what is it about British culture that appeals to you?

SV: Well, I just like this special kind of British culture and humour.

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SFME: Who do you think will be your main rivals for the World title this season and can you ward them off to make it two in a row?

SV: I think Ferrari, McLaren and maybe Mercedes. But who knows, maybe an outsider like Renault has got it dead right and we will see some surprises this year. What I want to say is that you have to bank on your own strength but never lose track of the others – insider or outsider alike!

SFME: You are the hunted prey this season who everyone has to catch. Do you feel more comfortable as the hunter or the hunted?

SV: When it means that it’s a sign that I am the champion – then it feels good. But I’m well aware of the fact that I have to attack from the very beginning because, champion or not, we all start at zero again.

SFME: Have you been impressed with the growth of F1 in the Middle East and how do you enjoy racing in the region?

SV: It’s really amazing to watch every year how the area is developing. And, yes, I enjoy driving on the Middle East tracks very much.

SFME: How much does your upbringing help you keep you grounded and not get carried away with success but to stay focused on improving?

SV: My family and my friends – the same friends I have had now for many years – help me to keep my feet on the ground and stay who I am.

SFME: Which of your qualities or character traits have been most important in making you into a World Champion?

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F1 IS BACK…EVENTUALLY! THE news that F1’s season-opening Bahrain GP has been postponed is undoubtedly a blow to the region and to race fans both locally and around the world however it also brings into sharp focus that fact that while many of us live and breathe it, some things in life make sport pale into insignificance.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Organisers gave a clear hint that the race would still take place later in the schedule with the Australian GP on March 27th restored to its old position as Round 1 on the race calendar.

“Bahrain’s Grand Prix is a time of celebration and hosting the race is a source of great pride for Bahrain and Bahrainis,” said Zayed R Alzayani, Chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit. “It is a showcase to the world and we look forward to welcoming the teams and drivers and everyone involved in Formula One back to Bahrain in the very near future.

“I hope that F1 and our friends around the world will understand our decision at this difficult time.”

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone added: “It is sad that Bahrain has had to withdraw from the race, we wish the whole nation well as they begin to heal their country.

“The hospitality and warmth of the people of Bahrain is a hallmark of the race there, as anyone who has been at a Bahrain Grand Prix will testify. We look forward to being back in Bahrain soon.”

So we’ll just have to wait a little longer to see the F1 road show role back to the Middle East but in the meantime there will still be plenty of racing action around the world for us to feast our eyes on, starting with the Albert Park showdown in Oz.

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Team: Red Bull Nationality:German Date of Birth:03/07/1987 Podiums:19 Victories:10 Points: 381 Grand Prix entered: 62 World Championships:1

Team: Ferrari Nationality: Spanish Date of Birth: 29/07/1981 Podiums: 63 Points: 829 Victories: 26 World Championships: 2

Team: Red Bull Nationality: Australian Date of Birth: 27/08/1976 Podiums: 20 Points: 411.5 Victories: 6

Vettel became, at 23 years, 134 days, the youngest F1 World Champion in history last year after some sensational performances that yielded 10 poles and five victories. Back for the Constructors’ Champions Red Bull Racing with teammate Mark Webber in the RB7, all eyes will be on the German as he bids to make it two in a row. But expect this composed young champion to keep his cool. A tenacious and intelligent driver, Vettel is a master at reacting to different conditions and circumstances.

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Two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso is regarded as perhaps the most complete driver in F1. Alonso overhauled a 47-point deficit last year to enter the final race in Abu Dhabi top of the standings but lost out to Sebastian Vettel after the German won at the Yas Marina Circuit. Ferrari haven’t won the World Championship since 2007 and the Italians will be desperate to do so this year. Alonso got better as the year went on in his debut season for the Scuderia and has a strong chance of going one better than last year’s runner-up spot in the 2011 World Championship.

Mark Webber enjoyed the season of his career last year, winning four times in the lightening-quick RB6 and helping Red Bull win the Constructors’ Championship with team-mate and five-time winner Sebastian Vettel.

Webber was in with a shout of the World Championship heading into Abu Dhabi but an eighth place finish left him third in the Drivers’ standings as Vettel took the spoils. Never afraid to speak his mind, the Aussie is equally uncompromising on the track and his performances last season will ensure that nobody will underestimate him in 2011.

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Team: McLaren Nationality: British Date of Birth: 07/01/1985 Podiums: 36 Points: 496 Victories: 14 World Championships: 1

Nationality: British Date of Birth: 19/01/1980 Podiums: 31 Points: 541 Victories:9 World Championships:1

Team: Mercedes GP Nationality: German Date of Birth: 03/01/1969 Podiums: 154 Points: 1441 Victories: 91 World Championships: 7

F1 is privileged to have not one but two young superstar drivers at the moment and Lewis Hamilton certainly joins Vettel in fitting that category of world-class drivers under the age of 26. The 2008 World Champion struggled with an uncompetitive car for much of 2009 and was often bettered for pace by the Red Bulls and Ferraris last year but with typical gutsy, intelligent driving, he still managed three victories to finish fourth in the overall standings.

The 2009 World Champion proved that he wasn’t going to live in Lewis Hamilton’s shadow after joining McLaren last year, by winning two of the first four GPs with stunning drives in Australia and China. He was in contention for the title right up until the penultimate race in Brazil and eventually finished fifth in the Drivers’ Championship. Silky smooth and as clever around the track as they come, Button has proved beyond doubt that when he’s given the right weapon, he can hold off all comers.

Expect the seven-time World Champion to return even stronger this season after a tough comeback year. Schumie was forced play second fiddle to team-mate Nico Rosberg last season but put together a string of decent results over the closing stages of the Championship. Ninth place in the final standings won’t sit comfortably with a born winner like Schumacher but with the cobwebs now dusted off he’s sure to improve this year, providing Mercedes are able to come up with a competitive car.

Team: Ferrari Nationality: Brazilian Date of Birth: 25/04/1981 Podiums: 33 Points: 464 Victories: 11

Team: Mercedes GP Nationality: German Date of Birth: 27/06/1985 Podiums: 5 Points: 217.5

Team: Force India Nationality: German Date of Birth: 11/01/1983 Podiums: 0 Points: 53 Grand Prix entered: 71

Felipe Massa will be going flat out to prove he’s not just Fernando Alonso’s wing man this season. The Brazilian attracted controversy when he moved aside at the German GP to let his new team-mate through as Ferrari threw their weight behind the Spaniard. But Massa has shown many times in the past that he’s more than capable of winning the Championship himself. He missed out by a single point to Lewis Hamilton in 2008 after six victories before a life-threatening injury suffered in qualifying for the Hungarian GP forced him to miss half of the 2009 campaign.

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Nico Rosberg is another of the fast rising stars in F1. He impressed everyone by stealing the limelight from Michael Schumacher in the Mercedes team last year and despite not yet having won a GP he’s been on the podium five times If he gets a quick enough car he’ll definitely be one to keep your eye on.

For the dark horse of the 2011 Championship keep a look out for Adrian Sutil. The Force India driver has proved to be extremely competent behind the wheel in his three seasons in F1 and has demonstrated his impressive ability to get the very best out of largely uncompetitive cars. If the Force India car has any kind of power he may be able to sneak his first win around some of the tighter circuits.

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“I’m fitter than ever, I hope we’ve built another strong car and I’m looking forward to winning more races. With a field as strong as the one we had in 2010, and the drivers I’ll be racing against in 2011, it’s never going to be easy to win consistently, but that’s half the fun – sometimes. I’m simply looking forward to another fantastic year.”

“I know the team better now. I know the names of the mechanics, which I didn’t last year, and I’m now far more integrated within the team. What has been carried out in 2010 has continued in the development of this new car. I feel it will be easier for me to adapt to the new car and I hope it will be as strong and as beautiful.”

“You always feel the pressure when you drive for Ferrari, but especially for me in 2011 because last year was a very difficult one. So I would like to start this season with positive results, and I’m confident I will be able to do this.”

“I very much look forward to the new season. We have said it several times already but again we are really building up something big together. I am very confident that this season we will be standing on the podium much more regularly – ideally in the middle!”

“Looking back at the 2010 season from a personal angle I have to say it was a good season. I was able to beat Michael and delivered the best possible results with the car I was given. For my career that meant a pretty good leap forward and in the end that is all that matters. Sure, on the other hand it was a bit disappointing because, naturally, you want to walk away with better results overall.”

“I have had good years and bad years, but this season promises to be one of the best I have been involved in. We will have five world champions on the grid, plus guys like Mark Webber (Red Bull’s Australian driver), who have gone close to winning in the past. It’s going to be very close and it’s going to be a good fight.”

“It’s been an encouraging start. We’ve had good reliability and a reasonable performance. It’s a solid foundation to start developing towards the first race of the season.”

“The (World Championship) trophy bears my name, and should there be any doubt it, all I have to do is look at the trophy to convince myself that it’s not a dream. It makes you very proud, but then as a professional athlete you put aside all that vanity very quickly and concentrate again on your core business.”

‘I’m genuinely excited about the 2011 season. I just missed out on the top 10 last year in the drivers’ standings but I’m pretty hopeful I can get in there this season! The progress the team has shown over the past two years has been very impressive and what I’ve seen in the factory and at the wind tunnel over recent weeks indicates that the rate will continue this year. I feel very good and confident; the team and I know each other very well and we know how to get the most from each other.”

IT’S all change once again in the world of F1 as the rule book is rewritten for the 2011 season. But what does it all mean?

KERS RETURNS It debuted in 2009, was out in 2010, and now it’s back. Make your mind up guys! The Kinetic Energy Recovery System takes waste energy generated by braking and converts it into a power ‘boost’ available via a button on the steering wheel. Anyone who’s ever played Super Mario Kart will get the idea. With refueling during races now banned the tanks are bigger which means there’s less room to accommodate the battery packs, so with maximum weight also increased to 640kg we could see chunkier bodywork in places. KERS is not compulsory.

Adjustable rear wings While the moveable front wing we saw in 2010 is out, the moveable rear wing is in. The electronically-controlled rear wing can be altered by the driver at any time during practice or qualifying but when the race is on, the system can only be activated when the driver is less than one second behind the car in front at pre-determined points on the track. Used in conjunction with KERS we should see an increase in overtaking this season. Adjustable rear wings are not compulsory.

No F-ducts or double diffusers Banned for 2011, as is any device or procedure that ‘uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car’ – so that means the much-debated F-ducts is a non-starter. Also out are the controversial double diffusers that helped Brawn GP to their shock World Championship win two years ago.

Wheel tethers After the increasingly frequent sight of wheels rolling across the track minus their cars during the in 2010 campaign, the teams are now obliged to attach a second tether, while both tethers must be contained in separate areas of the suspension. This one’s all about safety rather than performance.

Tyres One of the most significant changes for the 2011 season is the switch to Pirelli tyres after Bridgestone’s decision to withdraw from F1 after 13 years, at the end of last season. Pirelli, who were last involved in F1 in 1991, will provide tyres for the next three years. This year will see the allocation reduced from 14 to 11 sets of dry-weather tyres available to drivers on a race weekend. They will each receive three sets – two prime, one option – to use in P1 and P2 and will return one set after each session. They’ll then get eight sets for the rest of the weekend but must hand back one set of each specification before qualifying takes place.

Drivers must use both specifications of ‘drys’ during a dry race or they will be disqualified.

Gearboxes In another money-saving initiative for the sport, gearboxes will now have to last five weekends instead of four.

Race Rule Changes 107% Qualifying Rule Drivers must now get within 107% of the fastest lap time in Q1 to be allowed to start the race, so expect it to be full-on from the start in qualifying. In exceptional circumstances a driver who has set a quick enough time in practice may be permitted to start.

Team Curfew The FIA have decided that the boys in the paddock are working too hard and have imposed a restriction on operating hours prior to practice sessions. Teams will not be allowed onto the circuit between 12.0midnight and 6.0am the night before a 10.0am practice session and between 1.0am and 7.0am before an 11.0am practice session. Each team will be allowed four exceptions to this rule throughout the season.

Penalties Stewards are to be given more power to impose penalties on drivers or teams who break the rules. They’ll be able to issue time penalties, disqualify drivers and exclude them from subsequent races.

Team Orders The furore caused by Felipe Massa in letting his team-mate Fernando Alonso pass him, seemingly under ‘Team Orders’ last season, brought the issue under focus and exposed a grey area of what exactly constitutes a ‘Team Order’ so the decision has been made to allow them for the 2011 season.

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AS the RBS Six Nations Championship comes to the crunch with the final rounds, the biggest competition in Northern Hemisphere Rugby Union, involving England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy, is enjoying its most enthralling and entertaining series since its inception. MIKE GALLEMORE talks to Wales’ outstanding second row forward, Bradley Davies, about the thrill and the honour of playing for Wales and the importance of giving the fans what they want to watch.

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G

ENTLE GIANT Bradley Davies has made his mark in more ways than one on the international rugby union scene in recent seasons as one of the game’s most talented second row forwards.

Yet the 6’ 6”, 19 stone powerhouse is mindful of the responsibility he feels the players should shoulder in producing attractive, attacking rugby.

He also believes that playing international rugby and representing Wales on the World stage is an extraordinary honour. He’s a man who always gives his all and he’s grateful to be enjoying life at the highest level.

“Playing international rugby for Wales is a very special thing,” says Davies. “Not many players get the chance but when it happens you’ve got to enjoy every minute of it, on and off the field. It’s a momentous occasion to play for your country.

“I’m really enjoying this year’s Six Nations – it’s become a very level series over the past few years. There’s very little difference between the strength of all six teams. The newcomers to the series, Italy, have improved enormously through their players competing in top-flight club rugby and the national team playing in the Six Nations.

On their day Italy are capable of beating any of us. They were desperately unlucky to lose 11-13 to Ireland when they deserved to win and they surprised everyone by beating France 22-21.”

The 2010 autumn internationals proved that the Europeans could match the likes of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and Davies argues that they are no longer teams to be feared. “The gap is certainly getting smaller and recent results show that the Northern Hemisphere sides can give as good as they get. Wales pushed a lot of the top teams all the way last year for the majority of the games but we slipped up and made

“Don’t forget, we’ve all been taught from a very young age that if you’ve got space in front of you then you go for it. If you’ve got a team-mate on your outside you give him the ball at the right moment.”

– Bradley Davies too many costly mistakes.” Davies reckons it’s an aspect of the Wales game that is gradually improving. “We’re getting better but we did the same thing against England in the Six Nations at the Millennium Stadium last month when we lost 19-26,” says Davies. “We started poorly and gave them a couple of soft tries. From then on we were chasing the game and although we finished strongly we couldn’t get back.

“But we realised our mistake and talked about getting some early momentum. We knew

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we had to make a solid start against the Scots at Murrayfield. We regrouped and managed to make a massive start and put the Scots under pressure right from the outset. That made all the difference in finishing 24-6 winners.”

Davies reckons that Wales rugby is on the up, saying: “We’ve built a very strong squad.

The boys who have come into the team have all stepped up to the mark and we’ve got a number of world-class players.

“We like to test ourselves against great teams and we believe we can beat any team in the world when we get it right. We pride ourselves on playing good rugby. The better the competition the better we become. We try not to be a boring team. We pride ourselves on playing good rugby.

“In Wales we’ve got a long tradition to live up to of playing good, open rugby – but you’ve got to have the ball before you can do that.

“Wales took a lot of criticism a few seasons ago for not being strong enough in the set piece. We took that on board. We knew we had to get it right at the set piece and tighten our defence. But we also knew that once we’ve got possession we’re a dangerous prospect for any team to face.

“Don’t forget, we’ve all been taught from a very young age that if you’ve got space in front

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of you then you go for it. If you’ve got a teammate on your outside you give him the ball at the right moment. Play the game in front of you – we’re born with that. It’s in our DNA. “There’s no point having a world-class back line if you don’t get the ball to them and our backs have proved how effective they can be if they get enough good ball. It’s the job of the forwards to provide good ball. Now we’ve got a solid pack and a strong front five and we’re a good team.

“We’re also strong in the line-out and we’re dominant in the scrum. We believe in ourselves as players and as a team. We’ve stamped our mark on the international game and opposition teams look at us in a different way now.”

Davies admits he’s earned the reputation of being the joker in the Wales pack. “I like to have a bit of fun and crack a few jokes and I suppose I’m a bit of a practical joker, although I’m biding my time at the moment,” he says.

“On the field you want to tear each others’ heads off but after the game you’re the best of friends.”

– Bradley Davies “The camaraderie in the Welsh team is great, although we play for different clubs. Eight weeks over the period of the Six Nations is a long time to be together so it’s great that we all get on so well with one another. It would be a hard eight weeks if we didn’t get on. We enjoy each other’s company and you’ve certainly got to have a thick skin to be in this squad.

“There’s always a lot of banter flying round and we all have to get used to having our leg pulled – if you’ve got a stupid haircut or something like that for a bet or for a charity you know you’re in for a hard time. It’s part of the fun. The Wales dressing room is a great place to be and I always enjoy going to camp with the boys.”

Davies believes that it’s not only the strength and skill displayed on the pitch that matters but also what happens before and after games. “The big thing about rugby is learning when to switch off,” he says. “Rugby, and particularly international rugby, is a very intense environment. If you’re not careful, your life can become too rugby intense. You pump yourself up for the game but you’ve got to know how to recover after the game. There’s a time and place for everything in rugby. You’ve got to enjoy the game but you’ve also got to enjoy the time you have off the pitch.

“The great thing about rugby is that after a match you can have a laugh not only with your

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own team-mates but also with the opposition.

On the field you want to tear each others’ heads off but after the game you’re the best of friends.

“You make a lot of friends off the field, many of whom last a lifetime. It’s one of the most important traditions of rugby. Whatever happens over the 80 minutes, at the end you shake hands and have a laugh.

“Playing international rugby enables you meet a lot of new people, experience totally different cultures and nationalities. It’s an education and a wonderful experience.”

Although England are heading the table going into the final round following their 22-16 win against Scotland, Davies says it’s not all over yet. “We were desperately disappointed after the England defeat but the competition is still very much alive. It could all come down to our final game in France and England’s last match in Ireland. It’s that close, which is great for the Six Nations.”

Davies is renowned for his ball-winning qualities but he’s also a ferocious weapon with ball in hand running at the opposition line. He’s the epitome of today’s rugby player – fit, fast and forceful. He hones his skills and his fitness on the training ground with his Club, Cardiff Blues and with the Wales team at training camp.

“We train very hard at both speed and power,” he says. “With Wales we take it easier earlier in the week before a match and then step up the training on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, mostly on power and endurance.

“There’s always a danger that too much training in the gym can make you go over the top and you risk becoming too muscular. I know I have to be nimble and fast off the mark as well as strong. I often train doing 10 metre sprints and do short and sharp sprints from a standing start.

“Sticking to your diet is important. There’s a time and a place for good food and a few drinks. Giving yourself enough recovery time is also important. Today’s game is so physical you sometimes don’t appreciate how much it takes out of you. When I was younger I could play matches Saturday and Sunday but that would be impossible today.

“I’m a big believer that rugby is not all about strength and skill. It’s also about your mental strength. You’ve got to be quick-thinking to be able to make the right decision at the right time.

“It’s one thing to be strong physically but you’ve got to be mentally strong under pressure to make the right pass, the right kick, the right decision and be in the right place at the right time. It’s a mental sport just as much as it’s a physical sport.”

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– Bradley Davies Any time you get the ball and you see a lovely No.10 or a young winger in front of you then that’s preferable to taking on a big lump of a guy who can stop you dead in your tracks.

“It’s one thing to be strong physically but you’ve got to be mentally strong under pressure to make the right pass, the right kick, the right decision and be in the right place at the right time. It’s a mental sport just as much as it’s a physical sport. In an international match you don’t get much time to consider your options.

You’ve got a split second to decide before you’re hammered to the ground.

“I try and play the best I can and give it my all. It doesn’t always happen but I always give it everything I’ve got. I believe that at the end of the day even if the game doesn’t work the way you want it to, your skill and ability will win out in the end.”

Davies reckons that the recently introduced new rules and the directive to the referees to speed up the game is making rugby more spectator-friendly.

“We’ve all got that vital will to win and sometimes you go over the mark. It’s not deliberate but it’s part of the game. Yellow cards may be more plentiful these days but they’ve been introduced to combat the criticism that the game was getting stale and slow – and it’s working.

It’s now getting faster,

thanks to the interpretation of the refs. The public want to see running rugby and the refs are doing a great job in encouraging attacking rugby.

“A couple of years ago the game was more defensively orientated, players were killing the ball and coming in from the side but the public want to watch running rugby – and that’s what they’re getting with this Six Nations series.”

Like so many families in Wales, rugby is in the blood of the Davies’. Bradley’s father, Bleddyn, played for Pontypridd and it’s no coincidence that he played at lock.

As a youngster, playing outside half with Pontyclun Juniors, Bradley soon found his natural position at lock with Beddau Youth before joining the Cardiff Blues Academy. He signed professional terms with the Blues at the age of 18 and played for Wales at all age groups, Captaining Wales’ Grand Slam-winning Under-20s team in 2005. He made full his debut for Wales against Scotland at Murrayfield in February 2009 and now has 20 caps.

Does the likeable, fun-loving giant have any targets still in his sights?

“My first ambition was to play for Wales – that meant everything to me,” he says. “My aims are to win success for Wales and for Cardiff Blues and play for the British Lions, which is every player’s goal.

“I want to be the best player I can be – and hope that people one day, some time in the future, will remember me.” n

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ASK SFME

by Hisem Hagras, Fitness First

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that in 2010 the five countries with the largest numbers of people with diabetes are India, China, the United States, Russia and Brazil.

PROGNOSIS

WEIGHTS

THE SIGNS

Swiss-ball deadlift Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, 1m or so in front of a Swiss ball. With a straight back, bend at the knees and push your hips back. Reach for the ball and pick it up, then stand straight and put the ball back down.

DIAGNOSIS

Lateral raise to bicep curl Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumb-bells against your thighs, elbows slightly bent. Lift the weights so your arms and shoulders are in line, and return to the start. Next, bend your elbows to curl the weight to the shoulders, knees bent.

Excessive thirst, hunger and urination; tiredness; numbness in the hands and feet; and foot and skin complications.

Consult your doctor if you also have a family history of diabetes, are 45 or over, have high blood pressure and cholesterol, or are obese.

Your GP will do a “fasting glucose test” to check how much sugar is in your blood 8 hours after your last meal. If it’s above the normal level, then you may have type 2 diabetes or what’s known as “pre-diabetes”, the stage before the full-blown condition.

CAUSES

Your body breaks down food into glucose so that it can be used as energy. In normal circumstances the hormone insulin helps glucose get into the muscle cells and other body cells – such as those in your brain. If you have type 2 diabetes, the insulin often isn’t recognised by the body’s cells and doesn’t let the glucose in. Therefore it is likely to stay in your blood and build up.

You’ll be left with less energy and serious health problems can develop. Research has found that 80 per cent of people with type 2 diabetes are obese. Exercise and good nutrition will help reduce your risks.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

According to the American Diabetes Association, weight training can be used to improve endurance and strength in nearly all people with diabetes.

PRESCRIPTION CARDIO

Five times a week, go for a 10-minute walk and increase it by 3-4 minutes each week until you’re doing 30-minute brisk walks. Always wear well-fitting footwear, as diabetics are prone to foot ulcers. Minimise any jumping and quick changes in direction. This walking will boost your fitness levels and help the pounds drop off. Before you embark on any exercise routine, ask your GP to check your blood sugar levels. Also, have some form of ID with you when you’re exercising, so that others will be aware of your condition should anything untoward occur.

Bench press-up Get into a press-up position, but with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart on a bench. Tense your abs and bend the elbows to lower your chest to the bench.

Straighten your arms you push back to the start position.

Seated rows Sit upright on the seated cable machine. Hold the handles so your palms face each other. Bend your elbows to pull the weight to your chest. Tuck your elbows close to your sides.

Slowly release it back to the start.

Assisted Swiss-ball lunge Place a Swiss ball outside your right leg and place your hand on top of the ball. Lunge forward with your right leg and roll the ball with you. Bend your left knee until it touches the ground. Rise to the start position. Repeat, then switch legs.

Seated abs rotations Sit holding a medicine ball or dumb-bell in front of your torso.

Keep your abs tensed and rotate the ball to the right while keeping your hips and legs facing forward. Bring the ball or dumb-bell back to the centre and then to the left. That’s one rep. Do 2 sets of 15-20 reps, 2-3 times a week. It will build muscle, aid weight loss and help you store more glucose.

Do the exercises one after the other, without a rest, as a circuit. Do the circuit twice.

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The estimated global diabetes prevalence for 2011 is 285 million and is expected to affect 438 million people by 2030

NUTRITION Carry a fast-acting carb food with you when you train such as raisins, glucose tablets or a sports drink and drink 500ml of water before, during and after your session to compensate for fluids lost through sweating.

Eat one of these snacks an hour before you train: l Bowl of wholegrain cereal with semi-skimmed milk l Tuna salad on a brown baguette l Cottage cheese pizza l Peanut butter and jam sandwich Eat one of these snacks straight after training: l Chicken wrap and piece of fruit l Protein shake and cereal bar l Fruit smoothie with added protein powder l Yoghurt and a handful of mixed nuts If you’re on medication, your GP will advise on pre- and post- exercise nutrition.

Always consult your doctor before trying an exercise programme and wear identification at all times.

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The big breakfast Egg white omelette Serves 1

Ten minutes from fridge to mouth Egg white is both fat and cholesterol free and is also the only form of protein instantly absorbed into the body. It’s ideal if you’re on a low-carb diet or in need of a protein hit which will keep you satisfied until lunchtime. Everyone has their preferred ingredients for an omelette and here is a recipe which includes two super-foods – parsley and spinach. Parsley is a great internal cleanser and great for digestion. Spinach is packed with vitamins A and K and acts as brain food, helping concentration – just what we all need to start the day. l 3-4 egg whites l Small handful of chopped parsley l Salt and pepper l Olive oil l A good handful of rinsed baby spinach l 1-2 tbsp Parmesan cheese Put the egg whites and parsley in a bowl, season and whisk with a fork until bubbly.

Heat a small frying pan over a medium-high heat and add a little olive oil. Wilt the spinach in the pan with a little seasoning and spread evenly around the base.

Pour the egg mixture over the spinach and allow the outer rim of the mixture to set. Use a spatula to gently lift the edges so the uncooked mixture oozes underneath toward the heat.

Once the egg is almost cooked through, top with the Parmesan before carefully folding the omelette in half. Count to 20 and serve.

Cook’s tip – this is also great for lunch or supper, accompanied with a tomato salad.

The perfect fold

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Secrets about your DNA A scientist has become the first person to have a DNA screening, giving him details of his future health – we find out what DNA is and how it can help you.

The stuff of life Deoxyribonucleic acid, commonly referred to as DNA, is the molecule that contains all our genetic information – the details that are passed from generation to generation.

interrelated. For example, humans share a common ancestor with chimpanzees five million years ago and with mice 300 million years ago. This means you could connect us to countless different species.

Keeping it in the family The term for the entire DNA you possess is your genome. You inherit one copy of the genome from your mother and one from your father.

Not so futuristic Genetic research may seem futuristic, but scientists have been studying inheritance and human origins since the 19th Century.

One of the earliest landmarks in terms of health research was the identification of inherited metabolic defects, including a condition called phenylketonuria (PKU), which means the body is unable to process a protein called phenylalanine. Now babies are checked for it with the heel prick test and can avoid symptoms of the disease through careful monitoring of their diet.

Breaking the code Your genome consists of 3000 million pairs of letters from the DNA alphabet and each of the four letters – A, C, G and T – refers to a specific chemical. These letters could effectively fill 200 500-page telephone directories. That’s how complicated your genetic coding is. These letters are packaged up into chromosomes, of which there are 23 pairs in most cells in the body. Each chromosome may have several thousand genes, which influence characteristics such as our eye colour and height.

Nature vs Nurture Aside from our looks, our genetic makeup also influences everything from our behaviour to our risk of developing certain diseases. But many things handed down by your parents are not genetic – including your social skills – and there are mental, social, cultural and emotional factors that make you who you are.

We’re all related It is often quoted that humans are closely related to fruit flies because we share two thirds of our DNA make-up. There is truth in this, but it’s far more technical than meets the eye. Evolutionarily, all organisms are

Defective genes When there’s a defect in a gene, it can cause a disease. There may be a defect in just one inherited gene, or disease can occur when someone inherits two copies of a mutation.

Cystic fibrosis is an example of this – one in 25 people of northern European descent carry a copy of a defective cystic fibrosis gene, but it’s recessive, so it won’t have an effect unless you have a child with someone who is also a carrier and that child inherits both copies of the defective gene.

Genetics and health issues Your risk of developing diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart diseases tends to be determined by a mix of genetic inheritance and environment. A genetic predisposition may make you more likely to go on and develop a disease, but the circumstances and timing aren’t inevitable or predictable.

Unlocking your code Earlier this year, for the first time, a healthy man had his genome mapped to try and predict his future risk of developing a range of common illnesses. But it will be several years, at best, before our genetic profile will be logged by GPs alongside more traditional health data.

Bank of Information Another landmark on the horizon is an exciting research project in Britain called the UK Biobank (www.ukbiobank.ac.uk).

It was launched in 2006 with the aim of obtaining DNA samples from up to 500,000 people aged 40-69, in order to track their health. The main hope is that it will enable scientists to understand more about the combination of genetics and environmental factors that mean some of us develop diseases such as hearth disease and cancer and some of us don’t.

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Boost your sperm count, clear up your skin, feel happier, look younger and stay sneezefree all winter – what’s not to like about this essential nutrient?

What is it?

Zinc is an amazing nutrient. After iron, it’s the most common mineral in your body, responsible for more than 100 different actions – from supporting fertility and immunity to regulating mood and reducing the impact of ageing. Yet most of us don’t get enough of it from our diets.

Like many minerals, zinc is absorbed via the soil in the foods we eat – although intensive farming means levels in food today can be depleted.

Ensuring your get an adequate intake is important throughout life – from conception to old age.

How do I use it?

Shellfish, red meat, poultry and pumpkin seeds are all rich in zinc, and it is also found in beans (such as lima, pinto, soya and black-eyed peas), wholegrains, greens, mushrooms, green beans, tahini and sunflower seeds. For maximum absorption, sources are best eaten with protein such as meat or eggs.

The food of love?

Oysters are the richest food source of zinc, a key player in sex hormone balance in women and sexual function in men. Zinc may also boost fertility, a study in the Archives of Andrology revealed. It looked at 22 men with low testosterone and sperm counts who had experienced infertility for more than five years. Within three months of supplementing zinc, nine of the 22 men’s partners were pregnant.

How much do I need?

The recommended daily allowance for zinc is 15mg a day, yet some people only consume half of this – with vegetarians, teenage boys and older people at the greatest risk of deficiency. If you suffer with depression, infertility, frequent infections, a poor sense of taste or smell, or have more than two white marks on your fingernails, you could be deficient.

How can it help me?

Improve Mood: A study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition monitored levels of depression in men and found they improved after supplementing 7mg of zinc daily for 10 weeks.

Boost immunity: A deficiency in zinc is associated with a higher risk of infection, especially in older people. A study published in 2007 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition randomly assigned either 45mg of daily zinc or a placebo to a group of 50 people aged between 55 and 87. After 12 months, the research found that infections in the zinc group were ‘significantly lower’.

Relieve acne: Research suggests that acne sufferers tend to have lower-than-normal levels of zinc. A trial in the British journal of Dermatology found that acne sufferers given zinc supplements for 12 weeks had a 70 per cent decrease in acne symptoms – the same rating scored by those who received antibiotics.

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Six Pack Secrets Your countdown to ripped abs starts here Pedal away excess body fat and work that core THE question ‘what’s the best exercise for a six-pack?’ is the oftheard refrain from gym-goers, both new and experienced, hellbent on attaining that holy grail of male physiques – the chiselled midsection.

The answer isn’t sit ups, crunches, reverse crunches, sit ups on a Swiss Ball, sit ups using one of those cage contraptions, sit ups with twists, or, indeed sit ups holding a medicine ball. The rectus abdominus muscle is narrow and flat, and if you’re doing resistance training with good form and posture, from squats and dealifts to pull ups, then you’re already sufficiently recruiting your abs.

US bodybuilding expert Drew Baye famously won a major tournament having done no specific ab work, yet displayed an admirable six-pack. What’s really required to achieve this is to burn away bodyfat so that those abs are actually visible – that’s the key.

Assuming that you’re doing the quality resistance work and your diet is good, then the fastest, safest, route that gives most fat-burning bang for your buck is Tabata intervals. They’re simple but not easy, and are best done on an exercise bike.

You’ll be pedalling flat-out for 20 seconds, then easy pedalling for a mere 10 seconds. Four minutes is all you’ll be doing, but it should feel like the longest four minutes of your life. As Arthur Jones, inventor of the Nautilus range of exercise machines commented: “If you like an exercise, chances are you’re doing it wrong!”

After those four minutes, to counter the postural imbalance that can result from all that hunched cycling, you’ll be doing The Plank.

That’ll also tax your core muscles, including those abs. Over the following days, because of the intensity of the four minutes, your metabolism will be boosted considerably, leading to greater fat loss and a greater likelihood of the emergence of a six-pack!

The Workout Begin with a 2-minute easy pedal warm-up.

Then spend 4 minutes alternating between 20 seconds flat-out pedalling on a reasonably high resistance (where 100-115 revolutions per minutes is very tough but just about manageable) and 10 seconds easy recovery on a lower resistance.

Perform ‘The Plank’ for 60 seconds – maintaining good posture – and don’t let that lower back slump. Finish with 3 minutes of easy pedalling.

Use this method three times per week with regular weight training sessions in between.

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Enjoy the special anniversary package for the centenary of Trianon Palace Versailles

Customise your package Make your stay unforgettable by choosing two options from an incredible selection of offers The pleasures of the Spa Guerlain O Afternoon tea or champagne and tapas at the Gallery Bar O Gifts and activities for children O Trésors de la Reine (gifts for Her) O Secrets de Louis XIV (gifts for Him) O A romantic experience O Cultural events O

Bookings : +33 1 30 84 51 20 Or by email reservations.trianon@hilton.com Booking code: “Anniversary package” 1 Boulevard de la Reine t 78000 Versailles t France

www.trianonpalace.com/100years

For all bookings from 4 May to 31 December 2010 with a supplement of € 100

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Burn fat the heart way

Do our tailored interval routines with a heart monitor and you’ll shed the pounds in double-quick time.

Your action plan Three workouts that force your body to burn fat for energy long after you’ve stopped exercising.

Why? The “fat-burning zone” on most cardio machines means a long, slow slog to nowhere. Yes, you’ll burn fat, but as a study by the American College of Sports Medicine shows, if you push your effort level behind this zone and combine sprints with rests you’ll burn more calories overall and shift just as much fat in less time.

How? Strap on your heart-rate monitor and pick up a new plan each day depending on your goals and schedule. It’s as easy as choosing a shirt in the morning.

Who? Anyone who has a heart-rate monitor who wants to get rid of those unwanted calories.

When?

Do a new workout three times a week or focus on a particular goal such as boosting your match fitness for an entire week. Match the programme to suit your needs but make sure you leave a day’s rest between each bout to fully recover.

The myth 220 minus your age is your max heart rate.

The truth A 2007 study in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found that 207 minus (your age x 0.7) is the most accurate measure of your maximum heart rate. So, if you’re 30 your max heart rate is 207 – (30 x 0.7) = 186 beats per minute (bpm). Next, calculate 35%, 50%, 65% and 90% of that figure as you’ll need to know these to follow these routines.

A: Best for a tight schedule l Run at an easy pace – normally about 35% of your maximum heart rate – for three minutes. l Sprint so your heart rate reaches 90% of your maximum. Maintain this for 6 seconds. l Slowly jog or walk until your heart rate drops to 60-65% of your max and keep it there for 12 seconds. l Repeat this for a period of 16 minutes then walk for 2 minutes until your heart rate drops to 35% of your maximum.

WHY? A study in the European Journal of Applied Physiology asked men to do long or short intervals for 16 minutes. The first group sprinted at approx.

90% of their maximum for 6 seconds and had 9 seconds rest at 60-65%. The second group did intervals four times as long. The short intervals were found to burn almost three times more fat than the longer intervals. “These intervals are generally impractical on gym machines as it takes too long to alternate speeds, so try a 15-second sprint followed by 30 seconds of recovery instead,” says Christian Finn, author of website: www.thefactsaboutfitness.com

B: Best for weight loss l Cycle at 30% of your maximum heart rate for 5 minutes. l Stand up in the saddle and sprint for 8 seconds at 90%. l Sit down on your seat and cycle gently until your heart rate drops to 65% of your maximum and keep it there for 12 seconds. l Repeat this for 20 minutes.

WHY? Research at the University of New South Wales, Australia found that sprinting on a bike for 8 seconds followed by 12 seconds of recovery burnt five times

more fat than riding at one speed for 40 minutes.

“Other types of interval training using longer work and rest periods were not found to be as effective,” says the study’s co-author Professor Steve Boutcher.

This regime can be applied to any cardio exercise, so there’s no excuse for any cyclophobes out there.

C: Best for getting fitter l Warm up by running at 50% of your max heart rate for 5 minutes. l Row for 2 minutes on resistance level 8 at 90% of your max heart rate. l Recover by rowing for 3 minutes on resistance level 10 at 30% of your max. l Repeat this for 30 minutes.

WHY? A study in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found that when people alternate between 2 minutes of exercised at 90% of their max heart rate then recovered for 3 minutes at 30% of their heart rate they increased their cardiovascular fitness by 13% over those who exercised at the same pace. Both groups were trained until 300 calories were burnt but the interval group’s metabolism was 5.4% higher 24 hours after exercise. Proof that fitness equals belly flatness.

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A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE FOR the first time in Columbia, 20 athletes gathered at one of the most emblematic dams in the country to participate in the Red Bull Psicobloc.

If you think this event is as simple as just scaling a rock face and throwing yourself in the water, then you’d be wrong! Free climbing supremos, The Pou Brothers, certainly know their stuff and are convinced that the best ‘Psicoblocers’ are those whose minds are stronger than their grip.

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N a Colombian hidden place called Prado, just four hours away from Bogotá, nature – assisted by man’s hand – has created a beautiful landscape in a hydroelectric dam where water sports have always been a constant feature. But during an autumn day last year, a group of rock-climbers arrived to face the unknown. Two special guests would lead the adventure. The Red Bull Psicobloc event would put these athletes’ courage to the test while exploring the conditions of a young rock in a very unique and special location.

Prado, in Colombia’s Tolima state, was discovered in the year of 1545 and officially founded in 1781. Initially it was only a small village inhabited by an indigenous tribe called Poicos, who lived there between two adjacent rivers, the Negro and Cunday, until the Spaniards arrived in the XVI century. Years later, on March 1st 1959, in this very same place, the construction of the Hidroprado Dam, which would also be called Colombia’s inner sea, started. It took 13 years before a new marvel was born.

The scenery chosen by the group of rockclimbers was a delicious spot inside that amazing sea. An enormous spring, located 15 meters above the dam’s level, is known by the locals as the Enchanted Lake. It is also a fisherman’s backyard, who shares the area with monkeys, small crocodiles, wild birds and all sorts of inhabitant insects of this place.

“This is a landscape that has been here for a long time, even before the dam was built. It has always been here,” says Don Julio, who knows every corner of its jungle and its waters. Having spent his whole life there he’s still amazed by the greatness of a rock wall over 80 metres high that expands itself from south to north over his lake.

Enchanted

“They call it enchanted because when you look at it you simply fall in love with it,” he says.

He also thinks it could be called enchanted because it changes colours sometimes or because it gets agitated when someone bothers it. On that giant wall that everyone loves, Don Julio has only seen nesting parrots. He never thought someone would ever have anything else to do there.

Climbing mountains is as old as man itself.

For whatever reason, we’ve always wanted or needed to conquer them. Religion has pushed us to build temples on giant monoliths like the ones in Meteora. Science has wanted to know what happens to our bodies the higher we go, and adrenaline is the fuel that drives athletes who have made danger a form of quiet pleasure.

Watercolour paintings from ancient China depict men hanging from rocks near their villages. In the XXI century, two of the best climbers in the world would visit Prado to awe and be awed. It would be a new conquest.

Iker and Eneko Pou, two Basque brothers, climbers, born to do this, don’t remember the exact date in which they had their first contact with the mountain. They say their father was responsible for that. They also remember that at

15 they already knew that going up, and nothing more than going up, would be the biggest part of their lives. Since then, they have only lived the demand and success of their sport. During the last 12 years, all of their projects, as ambitious as they might have been, have culminated with strength and great skill. “Seven walls, seven continents”, “Expedition Antarctica” and “Orbayu, the hardest big wall on the planet” are some of the names of the victories they have collected.

Psicobloc, as a discipline of sports climbing, is not even 30 years old. The English coasts, and the ones in the island of Mallorca, were the first scenarios in which some found the way of doing a “free solo” of up to 20 metres with water as their crash pad. A gigantic challenge for the mind more than it is for the muscles of those who try it. Iker and Eneko have the mental mettle to go with the muscle.

The geological description of the wall of the Enchanted Lake says that it’s a block of sedimentary rock. Not exactly the ideal type of formation for climbing but one that doesn’t make the task impossible either. Victor, Jairo, Jorge, Richi and Toño are the Colombian climbers responsible for mastering and finding the way of making it climbable.

Lots of strings, two drills, hundreds of kilograms of equipment and up to 12 hours of daily work in amazing tropical weather were what it took to prepare it and set it up for Psicobloc. “It’s an unstable ground,” the routers agreed after five days of a great job during which they opened the five routes of up to 20 metres, which the Pou brothers and the

Colombian climbers would dare to challenge for the first time in their lives. One day before the competition, Iker and Eneko enjoy an afternoon alone with the rock. They are amazed by the place and by the difference of this particular task. They predict that everyone will have fun.

Next day, they introduce Psicobloc to the 20 participants before taking their place as jurors of the competition. Each one of them performs two routes that inspire the first-timers. “It’s a complicated Psicobloc you have right here,” says Iker. “Usually we do it on overhanging rock, here you have a plate”. “Besides, there is no reward,” jokes Eneko. “You reach the top and there’s nothing to do, you have to fall”.

Participants make their attempts. Iker and Eneko motivate them all without exception, shouting at them. It seems as though they inspire them to go on and want to chain the entire wall. After nine hours the event ends.

It’s fair to say that all of them pushed beyond their expected limit. The rock behaved itself. In addition to good climbing, the best and freshest falls were seen and all the competitors made their way home, exhausted but happy in the knowledge that they came, they saw and they conquered. n

A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

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Sleep More to Lose Fat – Not Muscle Take note: more sleep also burns twice as much fat, according to research conducted at Chicago University.

When the study participants skimped on sleep, most of their weight loss came from lean body tissue rather than fat. Plamen Penec, assistant professor of Medicine at Chicago University, says: “If your goal is to lose fat, skipping sleep is like poking sticks in your bicycle spokes. Cutting back on sleep appears to compromise efforts to lose fat through dieting. In our study it reduced fat loss by 55 per cent.”

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runa ajiya

BRUNA Kajiya is among the hottest female kitesufers on the planet.

The Brazilian beauty was the 2009 Freestyle World Champion on the PKRA Tour and then finished second in the 2010 rankings despite a tricky season. Oh, and she’s still only 24 years old!

SFME: What’s your favourite kitesurfing move?

BK: A powered back mobe.

SFME: What’s the worst crash you’ve had?

BK: In one of my first competitions I attempted to do a trick too close to the beach with on-shore winds and crashed head first on the sand. I had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance and had a neck brace for a week. That’s were I learned not to do tricks with on shore wind less then 3m away from the beach!

SFME: What do you never travel without?

BK: My laptop computer, I have my whole life on it.

Once it was stolen – I had to manage without it for 10 days and I just couldn’t get my things organised!

SFME: What’s your favourite spot in the world?

BK: North Brazil – Cauipe and Paracuru. It’s a bummer that these spots are getting way too crowded.

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SFME: What’s on your iPod? BK: I’m a music lover and every part of my day has a different theme, that’s why I have a little bit of everything on my iPod. But my artists for any time are John Meyer, Matt Costa and G Love.

SFME: Who are you inspired by?

BK: I don’t have one person – I get inspired everyday by the people around me. Everyone has their unique thing that can inspire others.

SFME: What’s your favourite meal?

BK: I change that a lot but right now I’m into yogurt with bananas, strawberries, musli and honey.

SFME: What was the biggest challenge about turning Pro? SF: Managing the pressure to perform and keeping your sponsors happy. You have to be careful not to have the fun in riding taken away by that.

“I get inspired everyday by the people around me. Everyone has their unique thing that can inspire others” – B Kajiya SFME: What one piece of advice would you give to other kiters?

BK: Always have fun on the water, no matter what the conditions are. Sometimes I’m having a hard day free-styling and I don’t enjoy it until I realise that the conditions are actually perfect for surfing or big air. I recommend to try to see all the opportunities kiting offers you, being such a versatile sport.

SFME: What’s your goal for this year?

BK: To push girls riding to another level, get the title as World Champion and the most important.....enjoy it!

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