(Adds 250cc pole)
LE MANS, France, May 17 (Reuters) - MotoGP championship leader Dani Pedrosa of Spain put his Honda on pole for Sunday's French Grand Prix with his last lap in Saturday's qualifying session.
On the least technical circuit of the season, Pedrosa clocked a best time of one minute 32.647 to beat Yamaha's American Colin Edwards by 0.127 seconds and take his 10th pole in the top category.
Australian world champion Casey Stoner was third on his Ducati with Italian Valentino Rossi fourth on his Yamaha.
Spain's Jorge Lorenzo, also on a Yamaha, took fifth place despite having fractured both of his ankles in a crash during free practice for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai two weeks ago.
In the 250cc category, Alex Debon of Spain won pole on an Aprilia after beating compatriot Alvaro Bautista, also riding an Aprilia, by 0.018 seconds.
In the 125cc category, Spaniard Sergio Gadea riding an Aprilia took pole position ahead of Britain's Bradley Smith, also on an Aprilia.
(Writing by Julien Pretot in Paris, editing by Alan Baldwin) ((julien.pretot@thomsonreuters.com; RM: julien.pretot.reuters.com@reuters.net; +33 1 4949 5370; For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com))
Please double-click on the following newslink:
[MOCY-LEN] for more motorcycling news
Keywords: MOTORCYCLING PRIX/POLE
JAKARTA, May 17 (Reuters) - China beat hosts Indonesia 3-0 on Saturday to win the Uber Cup women's team tournament for the sixth time in a row.
The Chinese outclassed Indonesia in a final showdown in front of a noisy home crowd at the Istora Bung Karno sport hall.
China play South Korea in the men's Thomas Cup team badminton tournament on Sunday.
(Reporting by Ahmad Pathoni, editing by Alan Baldwin)
((Reuters Messaging: ahmad.pathoni.reuters.com@reuters.net: Tel: +62-21-384-6364; For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com))
Please double-click on the newslink below:
[BADM-LEN] for stories on badminton
Keywords: BADMINTON CUP/
May 17 (Reuters) - Final result in the Uber Cup women's team
tournament in Jakarta on Saturday.
China beat Indonesia 3-0
(Reporting by Ahmad Pathoni)
((neil.maidment@reuters.com; +44207 542 0856; Reuters
Messaging: neil.maidment.reuters.com@reuters.net; For the
latest Reuters Premier League and international football news
see: http://football.uk.reuters.com/))
Keywords: BADMINTON CUP/RESULT
LE MANS, France, May 17 (Reuters) - MotoGP championship leader Dani Pedrosa of Spain put his Honda on pole for Sunday's French Grand Prix with his last lap in Saturday's qualifying session.
On the least technical circuit of the season, Pedrosa clocked a best time of one minute 32.647 to beat Yamaha's American Colin Edwards by 0.127 seconds.
Australian world champion Casey Stoner was third on his Ducati with Italian Valentino Rossi fourth on his Yamaha.
Spain's Jorge Lorenzo, also on a Yamaha, took fifth place despite having fractured both of his ankles in a crash during free practice for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai two weeks ago.
In the 125cc category, Spaniard Sergio Gadea riding an Aprilia took pole position ahead of Britain's Bradley Smith, also on an Aprilia.
(Writing by Julien Pretot in Paris, editing by Alan Baldwin) ((julien.pretot@thomsonreuters.com; RM: julien.pretot.reuters.com@reuters.net; +33 1 4949 5370; For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com))
Please double-click on the following newslink:
[MOCY-LEN] for more motorcycling news
Keywords: MOTORCYCLING PRIX/POLE
SYDNEY, May 17 (Reuters) - The New South Wales Waratahs beat their Australian arch-rivals the Queensland Reds 18-11 at Brisbane on Saturday to seal their Super 14 semi-final place.
The Waratahs scored two unanswered tries to lead 12-3 at the break then added two penalties in the second half to reach the last four for the third time in the last four seasons.
They faced the prospect of missing out if they had failed to win but ensured a regular season second place finish behind New Zealand's Canterbury Crusaders to secure a home semi-final in Sydney next weekend against the eventual third-placed team.
"It wasn't pretty tonight but we got away with a win," NSW captain Phil Waugh said in a televised interview.
"We knew it was going to be tough and we've got a lot to work on but it's great to be heading back to Sydney."
Queensland, who were already out of the running for a spot in the playoffs, scored a last-minute consolation try through left wing Peter Hynes to likely end the season in 12th place after finishing bottom last year.
"The boys put in a big effort but we just didn't come away the points because we didn't hold on to the ball long enough," Queensland skipper James Horwill said.
"We've made a lot of improvement this year but we're still not where we want to be so there's a lot of work still to do."
The Waratahs seized control of the match when Dean Mumm crashed over for a 21st minute try after a sustained buildup. Teenaged flyhalf Kurtley Beale landed the conversion after missing two earlier penalty attempts.
Queensland replied with a penalty from fullback Clinton Schifcofske but the Waratahs struck a vital blow when Wycliff Palu burst through a hole and scored on the stroke of halftime.
The Reds closed to within six points early in the second half with a drop goal from flyhalf Berrick Barnes but NSW pulled clear when Beale booted two penalties before Hynes' consolation.
(Reporting by Julian Linden; Editing by Padraic Halpin) ((julian.linden@thomsonreuters.com; +61409121090; Reuters Messaging: julian.linden.reuters.com@reuters.net.; For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com/))
Please double click on the news links below:
[RUGU-LEN] for more rugby stories
Keywords: RUGBY SUPER/QUEENSLAND
Next: Rugby-NSW beat Queensland to reach Super 14 semi-finals