Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/721047
22 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 31 AUGUST 2016 Sport FORMULA 1 MOTOGP FOOTBALL NICO Rosberg says he was "very surprised" to discover that team- mate and title rival Lewis Hamil- ton had recovered to finish on the podium at last weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. Hamilton started from 21st place on the grid with an array of engine penalties, having exceeded his power unit element allocation, after reliability woes earlier in the season. While Rosberg cruised to vic- tory from pole position, Hamilton moved forward during a chaotic opening few laps, aided by the red flag period, and wound up in third spot. "[I was] very surprised," Rosberg commented. "At the chequered flag I looked at the results and I knew that Daniel [Ricciardo] was behind me. "Then I saw 'HAM' in P3 I was like 'What, seriously?' I didn't know until after the race where he was." Rosberg's victory took him to within nine points of team-mate Hamilton in the standings, but he denied suggestions he would have wanted to close the gap further, due to the Briton's lowly starting position. "That's not what I'm focusing on," he emphasised. "I came [to the Belgian Grand Prix] wanting to win, and the op- position was unusually close, not in the race, but up to that [in prac- tice and qualifying] they were very close. "I'm just happy it worked out for me – Lewis did a great job to fin- ish third." Rosberg 'very surprised' by Hamilton recovery Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton Smith apologises to home fans for absence TECH 3 Yamaha rider Bradley Smith has issued an apology to supporters who were expecting to watch him compete at this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Smith suffered ligament dam- age to his right knee in a fall during practice for last week's Oschersleben 8 Hours, and will be replaced by Sam Lowes, who competes in World Superbikes. Smith, who will move to KTM next season, has also been ruled out of the San Marino Grand Prix. "First and foremost, I have to say a big sorry to the team and to the British fans for not being able to put on a show this weekend," said Smith. "I am trying to get myself as fit and healthy as possible, and things are moving in the right di- rection. "I've already scheduled a meet- ing, in a weeks' time, with the surgeon, so that we can find out the exact time frame with this injury. "I wish the best of luck to my team this weekend with their new rider Alex Lowes, and I am sure that he'll do a fantastic job." Lowes tested for Tech 3 after the last round in the Czech Re- public. "First of all, I just want to say how sorry I am to hear of Brad- ley's injury; it sounds like he has been extremely unlucky and I hope he gets well soon," said Lowes. "With regards to me getting this opportunity, it's genuinely a dream come true. "However, I have no expecta- tions at this point. I simply want to learn as much as I can from everyone." Bradley Smith NETHERLANDS assistant coach Marco van Basten is to give up the role by the end of the year as the leadership crisis sur- rounding the side took another twist on Tuesday, a week before the Dutch kick off their 2018 World Cup campaign. Van Basten is the second of Danny Blind 's assistants to an- nounce their departure in the last two weeks after Dick Advo- caat opted to take over as head coach of Turkish side Fener- bahce. The Dutch football asso- ciation (KNVB) confirmed the 51-year-old 's impending exit on Tuesday, saying Van Basten was leaving to start work with the sport's global governing body. "FIFA have offered me a chance to work in the development and reform of football, and to use my ideas and opinions over is- sues like playing rules, refer- eeing and development pro- grammes," Van Basten said in a KNVB statement. "I have agreed with Danny Blind to stay as an assistant un- til the end of the year." The loss of his deputy is the latest blow for Blind, who had asked another former European Footballer of the Year, Ruud Gullit, to assist him, only for negotiations to break down. The acrimonious fallout between Gullit and the KNVB has since dominated Dutch sports pages at a time when the team are hoping to make a positive start to World Cup qualif ying after the disappointment of missing the Euro 2016 finals in France. The Netherlands start their campaign to reach the 2018 World Cup finals away at Swe- den next Tuesday. Advocaat and Van Basten are both former national team coaches in their own right and were expected to form a powerful support team for Blind. However, Advocaat left after just three months and Van Basten's impending depar- ture is a further blow. "Of course I'm not happy but the FIFA job is something that is tailor made for Marco. Even though it means I have to find another successor, it is a great opportunity for him," Blind said in a statement yesterday. Marco Van Basten quits Dutch national team for FIFA job Marco van Basten