Alinghi faces protest after race win

AUCKLAND: Alinghi of Switzerland was hauled before an international jury on Saturday to answer a protest arising from its victory over Italy's Mascalzone Latino on the third day of challenger racing at the America's Cup.

The Swiss team of bio-technology billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli defeated their Italian rivals by more than seven minutes, the largest winning margin in three days of match- racing, but were immediately protested by the race committee for a technical rules infraction.

The committee alleged that Alinghi had failed to turn on microphones aboard their 80-foot (25 meter) sloop for several minutes after the start of their race, which was sailed in lively wind conditions on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf.

Regatta rules require microphones, which capture on-board conversation, to be turned on throughout challenger matches.--Reuters

Kato takes pole position in Japan

MOTEGI, Japan: Daijiro Kato of Japan proved he can deal with a more powerful motorcycle as he took pole position in the MotoGP class in qualifying Saturday for the Pacific Grand Prix.

Kato on a Honda made his Friday time of one minute, 49.052 seconds stand up on the 4.801-kilometer Twin Ring Motegi track for his first pole in the top class of motorcycling.

Kato, last year's 250cc champion, moved up to the bigger class this year and started the season with a 500cc. Then four races ago he moved up to the four-stroke 990cc machine. He had trouble in wet conditions the last two races, sliding out by the fifth lap in both.

But in sunny and clear conditions Friday he showed the form that helped him gain 10 poles and 17 wins in 250cc. On Saturday his best was 1 minute 49.422 seconds.--AP

Gronholm closes in on world title

AUCKLAND: Richard Burns spectacularly rolled out of the Rally of New Zealand on Saturday, effectively handing the world title to Peugeot teammate Marcus Gronholm.

Burns, who needed to win the remaining three rounds in New Zealand, Australia and Britain to stand any chance of overhauling Gronholm, led the Finn by almost a minute.

But the reigning champion from Britain crashed out when he rolled his Peugeot towards the end of the 15th stage of the event at Paparoa Station.

Luckily, he was unhurt in the incident.

Gronholm now needs to score just five points to pass the maximum mark Frenchman Gilles Panizzi can still potentially achieve.--Reuters

Mayfair shares lead with Duval

WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia: Looking to break long winless streaks, David Duval and Billy Mayfair are both at nine-under-par and leading after two rounds in the US$$3.7 million Michelob Championship on Friday.

Mayfair shot a tournament-low eight-under-par 63 to catch Duval, who followed up his first-round 64 with a non-descript 69. Japan's Hidemichi Tanaka lies third on 134 after a 70.

Duval, 30, winner at this event in 1997 and '98, has not won on the PGA Tour since the 2001 British Open.

After mediocre showings in this last two events, Duval featured in the Ryder Cup, earning 1.5 points.

Mayfair has not won on the PGA Tour since his multi-win season in 1998.--Reuters

Warne puts quick end to Pakistan

COLOMBO: Australian off-spinner Shane Warne took Pakistan's last five wickets on Saturday for a haul of seven for 94 as he single-handedly ended their first innings on the third day of the first test on Saturday.

It was the fifth time Warne had taken more than five wickets in an innings against Pakistan.

Pakistan were 279 all out in the morning session after an overnight score of 210 for five, trailing Australia by 188 runs on first innings.

Australia were 45 for no wicket at the lunch break.

Warne, whose test career best is eight wickets in an innings against England, wasted no time in the morning, ending a fightback from the middle order that began late on Friday.--Reuters