SINGAPORE -- The margin was closer than ever, and their rivals a tougher challenge, yet the outcome was the same as usual Saturday as Mercedes locked out
the front row for the Singapore Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton edging Nico
Rosberg by a mere seven thousandths of a second.
Jimmy Paredes Orioles Jersey . Hamilton claimed his sixth pole of the season with a time of 1 minute, 45.681 seconds in
the qualifying session, and those few yards of advantage between first and
second on the grid could prove crucial in Sundays night race on a tight and
twisty Marina Bay circuit with few passing opportunities. Rosberg leads Hamilton
by 22 points in the overall title race -- 238 vs. 216. Red Bull driver Daniel
Ricciardo, who is the only genuine threat to the Mercedes pair for the Formula
One championship, qualified third -- less than two tenths of a second off
Hamilton. Ricciardo was ahead of his teammate and three-time defending Singapore
champion Sebastian Vettel. Ferraris Fernando Alonso will start from fifth on the
grid, and later tweeted that he was "very, very happy" while Williams driver
Felipe Massa will start from sixth. Kimi Raikkonens Ferrari had engine trouble
on the final flying lap and he had to park the car out on the circuit, but still
qualified seventh, ahead of Valtteri Bottas of Williams. The top eight cars were
separated by just half a second -- a remarkably small margin on what is one of
the longest laps on the F1 calendar. "Its the most incredible feeling on the
last lap, with all the pressure, when the smallest mistake could lose you a
lot," Hamilton said. "After the first sequence of corners, I was already two
tenths down, but I said to myself Lets keep going and see what happens. "That
was one of the most exciting qualifying sessions I have had for a long time,
where there are a lot of people in the mix and you have to be spot on." When
told over his radio that he had lost out to Hamilton by just seven thousandths,
Rosberg shouted in frustration at missing pole in Singapore by less than a tenth
of a second for the second year running. But he had a smile on his face later
when lamenting the small margin. "If I think back over the lap, seven
thousandths is nothing," Rosberg said. "A little bit here or there and I could
have done it." The Mercedes team calculated after the session that seven
thousandths was equivalent to 33.5 centimetres -- roughly one foot -- at the end
of the lap had they started side by side. Ricciardo was enthused by how little
separated him from the Mercedes cars, which have shared 12 of the 13 previous
poles between them this season, usually by much more comfortable margins. "Its
definitely encouraging," Ricciardo said. "We ended up a lot closer than we
thought we would. There are a lot of cars within half a second or a second, so
it will be a fun race." McLarens Kevin Magnussen qualified ninth and Toro Rossos
Daniil Kvyat rounded out the top 10. Lotus driver Sebastian Grosjean qualified
down in 15th, and the struggles of the team this season appeared to overwhelm
him as he radioed back to his team: "I cannot believe it! Bloody engine!" When a
team member began to explain the issue, the Frenchman shot back: "I dont care.
Its too much." Among the tail-enders, Marussias Jules Bianchi caught the eye by
qualifying a full second faster than his teammate and the two Caterham cars.
Carlos Martinez Cardinals Jersey . Wayne and Cindy Tuck of Ilderton, Ont., closed out round-robin play earlier in the day
with a 7-3 win over Finland but needed a win over Austria to reach the final
eight.
Kevin Long Mets Jersey . Cabrera-Bello shot a 1-over-par 73 and was caught by Webster, who carded 70 at Doha Golf Club for
three-round totals of 12-under 204. They were only one stroke ahead of Adrien
Saddier of France, the biggest mover with six birdies in his opening seven holes
in a round of 64, South African Thomas Aiken (70) and Denmarks Thorbjorn Olesen
(68) on a packed leaderboard.LONDON -- Usually Friday night is one the quietest
times in the frenzied world of the English Premier League. Players can be found
on gaming consoles in hotel rooms on the eve of games, or resting at home in
anticipation of a Sunday game. But the pre-game calm will be shattered by the
closing of the winter transfer window on Friday, with clubs racing to sign
reinforcements or offload rejects for the final time this season. Here are five
things to know about the transfer deadline-day and the weekends Premier League
matches: CLASH OF THE CHALLENGERSManchester City and Chelsea will be relieved
their fixture has been shunted back to Monday, minimizing any disruption for
their top-of-the-table meeting. "Its the ultimate test," Chelsea defender Gary
Cahill said. "Its going to be a really, really tough game." The City squad
hardly needs much tinkering. Manuel Pellegrinis side took its goal tally this
season to 115 in all competitions with a 5-1 thumping of Tottenham that took
them back to the Premier League summit. At the same time, though, Chelsea was
being frustrated by West Ham — drawing 0-0 — and travels to the Etihad three
points behind City. The game pits the stingiest defence — Chelsea has conceded
20 in 23 — against the leagues most prolific attack — City has scored 68 in 23.
"As a collective unit, as a whole team, were working really hard defensively,
not just at the back," Cahill said. Chelsea got the better of City in their last
clash, winning 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in October. ARSENAL BLIPBeing knocked off
the top has taken the wind out of Arsenals title charge. And after being held at
Southampton, the Gunners host a resurgent Crystal Palace on Sunday. "The kind of
performance we delivered at Southampton will not move us forward, so lets focus
to come back on Sunday and produce a good performance," Arsenal manager Arsene
Wenger said. By then will there be any new faces in an Arsenal side looking to
produce a first trophy since 2005? Its unclear. "Are we acttive? Yes.
Andre Dawson Cubs Jersey. Are we close to sign anybody? No," Wenger said on Thursday. "There is not long now, that is
true." Top of the target list is Julian Draxler, but Schalke doesnt seem to be a
willing seller. Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt said he was "very
convinced" the 20-year-old attacking midfielder will remain at the German club
for the rest of the season. Arsenal will be without midfielders Jack Wilshere,
who has an ankle problem, and Aaron Ramsey, who faces several weeks out with a
thigh injury. LEAKY TOTTENHAMTottenham was brought down to earth with a bang by
City on Wednesday as Tim Sherwoods unbeaten start as manager in the league
ended. The north London club, which has conceded 11 goals to City this season,
has what seems to be an easy trip to Hull on Saturday. "We have to be positive
because we are still fifth, three points behind Liverpool," goalkeeper Hugo
Lloris said. "So it is open. We just need to be focused." NORTH-EAST
DERBYNewcastle is preparing for the derby against Sunderland on Saturday still
trying to replace Yohan Cabaye, having received more than $27 million for the
midfielder from Paris Saint-Germain this week. Manager Alan Pardew is waiting
for a bid for Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier to be accepted. "He has tremendous
creative technical ability," Pardew said. Sunderland, which is out of the
relegation zone for the first time since August, signed Argentina striker
Ignacio Scocco on Thursday from Internacional. MOYES EYES MOMENTUMManchester
United is chasing its first back-to-back league wins in a month when the
champions face Stoke on Saturday still in seventh place. David Moyes push for
the top four is being helped by how easily record-signing Juan Mata slotted into
the team for a 2-0 win over Cardiff on Tuesday after joining from Chelsea. "Juan
looked like he had been here for years," winger Ashley Young said. "He had only
been training for two days and it was his first game but he has gelled straight
away."
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