MOTOR SPORT:Niall Breen became the first Irishman to win a round of the Lloyds TSB Insurance British Formula Three Championship in five years, when he won the seventh round of the prestigious series at Snetterton in Norfolk yesterday, Brian Foleyreports.
The last driver to win a round of the series was Clonakilty's Michael Keohane, who won the double-header at Donington Park in 2002.
The 21-year-old Dundalk driver, the 2006 Formula BMW British title holder, qualified second during Saturday morning's qualifying session.
Breen made a brilliant start and was in the lead by the end of the pit lane. From there he kept his cool throughout, despite being pressurised by Carlin team-mates, Sam Bird and Alberto Valerio.
After the race, Breen said: "It's a brilliant result. I felt in control throughout and I knew as long as I didn't make any mistakes, Sam (Bird) wouldn't get by me. He got alongside at one point as we came up to back markers, but I had no intention of letting him past.
"It's fantastic to be the first Irishman since Michael Keohane to win a round - I hope it will be the first of many this year!"
MOTOR CYCLING:Valentino Rossi won the Italian MotoGP race in front of an ecstatic home crowd to slash Casey Stoner's world championship points lead to nine. The Fiat Yamaha rider, who kept up his record of never losing a MotoGP race at Mugello, recovered from a poor start to take the victory ahead of the Repsol Honda of Dani Pedrosa, Alex Barros' Pramac d'Antin Ducati and Stoner's Ducati Marlboro machine.
Stoner, who has dominated the series so far this season, had to give way after leading from pole position.
Rossi's win helped him reduce the gap from 21 points to nine after coming back from a sluggish start.
Pedrosa worked his way past early race leader Stoner and was then joined by Rossi who then took over at the front on lap nine of 23. Rossi held off Pedrosa to pull away and with Barros moving into third near the end of the race the Italian was able to further reduce Stoner's points advantage.
The 125cc race was won by Spaniard Hector Faubel on the Bancaja Aspar Aprilia as he took over the points lead from Pesek.
The 250cc race was won by Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo on the Fortuna Aprilia to extend his championship points lead to 27.
Irishman Eugene Laverty was 20th on the LCR Honda.
WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Ireland completed their three match series against Scotland with a scoreless draw at Belfield yesterday, to add to Friday's victory and Saturday's 1-1 draw, writes Mary Hannigan. Cathy McKean gave the hosts the lead five minutes before the break on Saturday before Samantha Judge equalised 10 minutes into the second half. The teams will meet again in the Setanta Cup at Belfield later this month.
