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AMMAN — Lebanon’s Roger Feghali on Friday was crowned champion of Al Hussein Rumman Hill Climb after clocking 1m51.78s in his Mitsubishi EVO Proto.

Feghali deprived 2012 winner Husam Salem the opportunity to conquer the Hill again after the latter clocked a best time of 1m54.02s.

Salem settled in the second place after a disappointing 2m00.51s in the top 10 round.

Jordan’s Fadi Bikawi came third (1m56.21s).

Feghali expressed his happiness of winning this year’s event saying: “I am really proud to win the event again this year. The event was challenging and hopefully next year I will be able to continue this winning streak.” 

Twenty-five drivers from Lebanon, the UAE and Jordan took part in the event organised by Jordan Motorsport.

This year’s racetrack created a challenge to drivers especially after several cars had minor accidents that left the track slippery due to oil to which drivers of the top 10 round requested that the last round to be cancelled.

Jordan Motorsport officials after a considerable delay decided to continue the last round after the maintenance and safety officials made sure that every drop of oil was handled and that the track was ready to host the last crucial round.

Salem told The Jordan Times that Jordan Motorsport should have responded to the calls of drivers.

“The poor track conditions prevented me from going faster and registering a better time. I clocked my best time in the first round with 1m54.02s and the second round with 1m56.46s but the top 10 round I had to be careful and clocked a disappointing 2m00.51s,” he said.

“I believe Jordan Motorsport should have cancelled the last round as it was really dangerous to drive or even to push the car harder and that is why I registered the first two rounds under the two-minute barrier and failed in the top 10 round,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ziyad Masanat, race director, responded by saying that the track was cleaned and was up to hosting the final round.

“Safety is our main concern and we cleaned the track and it received the approval of the safety committee. The track was fine and some drivers even registered better timings in the top ten round. Jordan Motorsport will not allow drivers to continue unless we are sure 100 per cent that the track is safe and conditions do not pose any danger to the lives of the drivers,” he said.

The Hill Climb course is exactly three kilometres in length and three metres in width with an average rise of 8.5 per cent. There are a total of 24 bends and corners including four hairpin bends. The course is situated two kilometres north of Rumman.

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Lewis Hamilton says his Formula One title duel with Mercedes teammate and championship leader Nico Rosberg is like a game of poker but the dominant duo may not hold all the aces in Belgium this weekend.

Resurgent Williams have the same engine as the Mercedes works team and both Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa have been looking forward to Spa — and Monza in Italy after that — as their best chances of winning this season.

Spa is the longest circuit on the calendar and 70 per cent of the 7.004km lap is at full throttle — putting engine reliability and power at a premium.

The Mercedes power unit is the pick of the field and the four teams using it should be strong in Spa. Williams have already shown their car has both straight line speed and aerodynamic efficiency.

“I think in theory Spa and Monza should be the next really good ones for us, maybe the best opportunities of the season,” Bottas said before Formula One embarked on its summer break after Hungary at the end of July.

Spa, the 12th of 19 races, marks the start of the decisive phase of the season with teams and drivers refreshed and raring to go.

Last year it proved the springboard for a remarkable run of nine wins in a row by Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel that culminated in the German’s fourth successive championship.

There is no chance of that happening this time, even if Red Bull went into the break on the back of Daniel Ricciardo’s victory at the Hungaroring. Vettel has been eclipsed by the Australian and is yet to get back on top of the podium.

“It will be damage limitation in the next two races, because Force India will suddenly reappear, Williams will be quick, McLaren will be quick and obviously Mercedes will be quick,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

Even if Ricciardo intends to play as big a part as possible, the championship is a straightforward battle between Hamilton — the 2008 world champion — and his old friend and foe Rosberg.

Poker face

The pair are just 11 points apart and Hamilton recognised over the break, in an interview for sponsor Puma, that the battle felt more intense than his title tilts of 2007 and 2008.

“When I was racing against Kimi Raikkonen and Massa [then both at Ferrari], they were in a different team and their cars had different strengths and weaknesses to my car and, in my team, it was just me that was really competing with them,” recalled the Briton.

“Now I’m racing against a guy who has the same car as me — we both have access to exactly the same data and feedback so it is really hard to try and be ahead.

“It’s a little bit like playing poker — you have a set of cards and the other guy is not supposed to know what you got, but Nico and I can see each other’s cards so then it’s more difficult to beat each other.”

In Hungary, he started from the pit lane and almost hit the wall on lap one but still finished third and ahead of Rosberg, who had been on pole. The Briton saw that as a possible omen.

“Hopefully that was a sign that my fortunes are changing at just the right time,” he said.

Hamilton was on pole in Spa a year ago, and won in 2010, whereas Rosberg has yet to finish higher than fourth at a classic circuit that has long ranked as a favourite for drivers and spectators.

“It’s good to be back after the break and to see everyone looking really refreshed and up for the fight in the remaining months of the season,” the German, who finished fourth in Hungary, said this week.

“The [Spa] circuit is just unreal and it’s one I think every driver looks forward to. My record there hasn’t been as good as at some other circuits in the past, but I’m determined to change that and get the season kicked off again in style.”

Ferrari, with Raikkonen and Alonso, will also be looking forward to returning to the Ardennes forests and the ever-capricious Spa weather.

Raikkonen, who has yet to beat Alonso this season, won at Spa four times in five visits between 2004 and 2009 and the “Iceman” loves the challenge.

“Last time I drove here in a Ferrari, I won,” the Finn recalled on the team website. “And that was in a year [2009] when we had been struggling since the start.

“It would be good if the same thing could happen this year.”

AMMAN — Jordan’s six-strong team was to return to Amman empty handed after Thursday’s performance in the swimming pool at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, but the experience of competing in a major multi-sport event for the first time “will prove invaluable”, the Jordan Olympic Committee said in a statement. Swimmer Lydia Musleh finished third in her 50m freestyle heat with 27.66 seconds, a second behind winner Rahim Soharmi of Sri Lanka, while Khader Baqlah was also third in his 100m freestyle heat (51.73sec), to finish 20th, with only the top 16 qualifying. Khader’s time was a new personal best and brings him closer to the qualifying mark for the World Championships (51.12sec). “This participation was beneficial for our athletes who were excellent role models in their commitment to representing Jordan,” the statement quoted JOC Secretary General Lana Al Jaghbeer as saying. “It wasn’t about winning medals here, it was about giving our youngsters the chance to experience a major event and let them compete with the best from across the world. This can only bode well for their future participation at major events.”

AMMAN — Jordan’s Taima Habowal suffered a heartbreaking defeat on Wednesday at the Youth Olympic Games after losing to China’s Yang Chen in the taekwondo 63kg category in Nanjing, China, according to a statement from the Jordan Olympic Committee. With the match very tight in the last round, Jordan felt Habowal had struck the head of Chen with a kick which would have brought her level at a crucial time, but the referee didn’t spot it and Chen went on to win 5-2. Her coach Khader Khalifeh was not happy with the decision saying: “It was a shame to lose because it was very clear that it should have counted. Taima is still only 15 so she will learn from this experience and move on. She still has another year in the juniors before stepping up,” in the statement. Meanwhile, swimmer Lydia Musleh finished sixth in her 200m freestyle heat, going out of the competition, but she will now enter the 50m freestyle on Thursday. Khader Baqlah also will return to the pool for the 100m freestyle heats on Thursday.

AMMAN — Jordan’s national team is set to regroup on August 27 as the team prepares to play two friendlies under newly named head coach Ahmad Abdul Qader with the countdown on for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) 2015 Asian Cup in Australia.

The coach, who took over after Egyptian Hosam Hassan, sounded upbeat and positive about the task ahead as the squad prepares to leave for a friendly in Uzbekistan.

Abdul Qader said he will announce the final line-up after preliminary round Jordan Cup matches conclude this week alluding to the fact that players like Amer Shafie, who had been left out by his predecessor for disciplinary issues, and other players — the exclusion of which had caused an easy relationship with the Egyptian coach — would likely be recalled. 

Abdul Qader, who had previously served on the national team under the late coach Mohammad Awad, underlined his appreciation to JFA President HRH Prince Ali for entrusting him with the task.

“Regardless of the nature of my appointment currently, me and my team will do our utmost in the upcoming stage. I am always ready to serve the national squad,” he said. “We are happy to be playing our third Asian Cup, but will strive to play for the title.”

The Jordan Football Association (JFA) is looking to arrange matches aimed at giving the line-up optimum competitive experience against leading teams as they prepare for their third participation in the AFC Asian Cup.

Jordan last played Columbia in June, losing 3-0 in an important friendly as the squad kicked off a series of high-level friendlies. They are now set to play Uzbekistan on September 4 before travelling to China for a September 9 match.

Officials at the JFA, incluing Secretary General Fadi Zureikat, expressed confidence in the team which will have four stages of preparations. After the upcoming two friendlies, the team will regroup again on September 29 for a training camp and two more friendlies. Then again on November 11 with a match against South Korea and the fourth time on December 12 with a training camp in Dubai ahead of the January 9, 2015 kick-off in Australia.

The Kingdom qualified to the AFC Asian Cup after finishing second in Group A qualifiers behind leaders Oman. They will play in Group D with 2011 titleholders Japan, Iraq and Palestine.

The qualifiers played in five groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group and the best third-placed team qualified to the tournament. Teams qualifying automatically to the finals include 2011 Asian Cup champions Japan, third-placed South Korea, hosts and runners-up Australia, AFC Challenge Cup 2012 winners North Korea and 2014 AFC Challenge Cup champ Palestine. 

In their past eight times since first taking part in Asian Cup qualifiers in 1972, Jordan reached the finals twice. In the 13th Asian Cup, they lost to Japan in the quarter-finals and jumped to the best ever FIFA rank of 37th in August 2004, and in 2011, reached the quarter-finals where they lost to Uzbekistan in 2-1.

Jordan, who finished runners-up at the 8th West Asian Football Federation Championship, was a step away from reaching the last World Cup for the first time after playing Uruguay in their intercontinental qualifying tie. The Kingdom lost the home game 5-0 and held the former World Cup champs 0-0 in the away match. 

Jordan had previously never gone past Round 3 of the World Cup qualifiers since first taking part in 1985.

BARCELONA — Barcelona have added Luis Suarez to their star-studded forward line but it could be their defensive reinforcements that make the difference as they look to win back the La Liga title.

The club’s first trophyless season in six years has sparked an overhaul with new coach Luis Enrique bringing in fresh faces for many positions ahead of the La Liga campaign that kicks off on Saturday.

All eyes will be on Suarez, signed from Liverpool for a fee reported to be 81 million euros ($107.90 million), when he finally makes his competitive bow for Barca at the end of October, after he was handed a four-month ban for biting at the World Cup.

The prospect of him lining up with Neymar and Lionel Messi in attack is mouthwatering, yet the club’s title hopes are likely to depend on them shoring up a rearguard that looked vulnerable at key times last season.

The backline has been neglected in recent years with close-season recruits Jeremy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen the first centre backs to be signed since Dmytro Chygrynskiy in 2009.

The club had previously attempted to paper over the cracks by converting midfielders into centre backs, with the idea being that they would be comfortable in possession and bring the ball out of defence.

The combative Argentine Javier Mascherano has done relatively well in this role, despite his lack of height, but Sergio Busquets and Alex Song have also been tried out in the position with little success.

Barca have now added strength and depth to their defence but there are still question marks over the signings of Mathieu and Vermaelen ahead of the Catalans’ curtain-raiser against Elche on Sunday.

The club paid 20 million euros ($26.64 million) for the 30-year-old Mathieu while Vermaelen arrives at the Nou Camp with a poor injury record, having fallen down the pecking order at former club Arsenal.

Goalkeepers Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, signed to replace Victor Valdes, would appear to be sound investments.

Barca basics

Barca struggled to adapt last season to the new tactical ideas introduced by coach Gerardo Martino, who resigned after one campaign in charge.

They have gone back to basics with Luis Enrique whose teams play the club’s typical short passing football.

“We will play the attacking style that has caught the imagination of millions of people around the world but we also need to defend,” Luis Enrique told a news conference in Barcelona.

“We have an incredibly talented squad. My work and that of my staff is to find a system that fits. We will look at all possibilities and consider the qualities of the players.

“Basically, the three forwards will play centrally but at times they will vary this and a lot will depend on the approach of the opponent. We will do different things.

“The team is prepared physically but as regards the football I would have liked two months more as we have a new coach, seven or eight new signings and youth players coming in.”

Luis Enrique coached the Barca B (youth) team for three seasons until 2011 and is keen to give the young players a chance.

Eighteen-year-old forward Munir El Haddadi has shone during pre-season and is pushing for a chance in attack.

“It will depend on his performances if he is in the first team. I think he has done well and it is clear he has a lot of quality,” said Luis Enrique.

“It is the same with the other youth players. I am always saying it is great to have young players like we have that have plenty of drive and ambition.”

AMMAN — Team Jordan young athletes at the Youth Olympic Games are gaining invaluable experience from the world-class competition in Nanjing, China, according to a statement from the Jordan Olympic Committee. Balqis Al Qudah, 16, faced some of the world’s best young fencers and gave a great account of herself, eventually losing in the epee knock-out stages to Asian champion Mio Yushimora of Japan (15-9). Earlier in the group stages, she lost to Korea’s Sun Li (5-0), Poland’s Maria Marsouz (5-0), Egypt’s Sheroet Ibrahim (5-3), Hungary’s Kenga Naggi (5-2) and Sweden’s Asa Lendi (5-0). “She was very disappointed after the group stage but gave a fantastic performance against the very experienced Japanese fencer in the knock-out stage to show she has the potential to do very well in this sport,” coach Anas Al Kayed was quoted in the statement as saying. Meanwhile, Yazan Abandeh, 17, was knocked out of the gymnastic competition after finishing 33rd out of 42 competitors. He accumulated 72.5 points from the six disciplines. Eman Al Adayleh on Sunday lost 5-2 to Britain’s Abigail Stones in the -44kg women’s taekwondo quarter-final 3 action. Swimmer Khader Baqlah, 17, set a new personal best (1:53:28) in the 200m freestyle, finished third in his heat but failed to qualify. He goes again in the pool, for the 100m freestyle, on Thursday. Team Jordan took a break from action on Tuesday, before returning to the pool on Wednesday where Lydia Musleh will compete in the 200m freestyle. Also on Wednesday, taekwondo fighter Taima Hbowal will meet China’s Xang Chen in the 63kg weight class. 

BARCELONA, Spain — Real Madrid were set to place an even greater emphasis on winning the Spanish league title after ending their quest for an elusive 10th European Cup last season.

For 12 straight years, Madrid’s coaches and players had been tasked with winning another Champions League title, a mission that had grown into an obsession that overshadowed winning the domestic crown.

Now Madrid can turn their full attention to winning the title, which they have raised just once in the last six season.

“Above all it takes away the pressure,” said Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas on having won the European title. “I hope that having won it we have opened an escape valve to reduce some of the anxiety and anguish.”

Ronaldo’s rebound

Seemingly insatiable when it comes to basking in the spotlight, Cristiano Ronaldo should be eager to rebound from a disappointing World Cup with Portugal as he tries to repeat being voted the FIFA World Player of the Year.

Hampered by nagging injuries, Ronaldo couldn’t help Portugal make it out of the group stage at this summer’s World Cup. Instead, he had to watch as Barcelona rival Lionel Messi guided Argentina to the final before succumbing to Germany.

Last year, the 29-year-old Ronaldo ended Messi’s four-year run as the world best player en route to scoring a record-setting 17 goals to help Madrid to the Champions League title as well as leading the Spanish league with 31 goals.

Ronaldo has started the season in fine form by scoring twice to give Madrid the European Super Cup title over Sevilla.

“I had problems at the end of last season and at the World Cup, but that is over,” said Ronaldo. “I am back.”

Who is in goal?

The main drama in Madrid will be between the goal posts as Iker Casillas competes with new signing Keylor Navas for the starting job.

Casillas is beloved by a large segment of Madrid fans, but the team captain hasn’t been Madrid’s starter in league play since former coach Jose Mourinho demoted him two seasons ago.

Casillas’ disastrous showing for Spain in the World Cup was followed by Madrid acquiring Navas after his outstanding play with Costa Rica.

So despite Diego Lopez’s exit for AC Milan the debate will rage on over who should be Madrid’s No. 1 goalkeeper.

“What happened in the World Cup has been forgotten,” said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “This is a new season for [Casillas] and for us. We all believe in him.”

Bigger Bale

Gareth Bale scored two of Real Madrid’s most important goals in his first season after a world record €100 million ($132 million) transfer from Tottenham.

First came his electrifying sprint to net the winner the Copa del Rey final over Barcelona in April. A month later his header proved to be the decisive goal in the Champions League final and 4-1 victory over Atletico Madrid.

Bale scored 22 goals in all competitions for Madrid last season, but with a year in Spain under his belt an even bigger season could be in store for the speedy Welshman.

“Everyone comes to Real Madrid to win trophies,” said Bale. “So we will be looking to win everything that is up for grabs this season.”

Too much talent?

Teams dream of having the problem facing Real Madrid this season: a glut of many talented players.

Club president Florentino Perez rarely lets a summer go by without making a splash in the transfer market, and this year was no exception.

Madrid spent around €115 million ($154 million) to add the World Cup’s leading scorer, Colombia’s James Rodriguez, new world champion Toni Kroos of Germany and Costa Rica goalkeeper Navas to its team.

With Ronaldo, Bale and Karim Benzema fixtures in attack, that leaves a surplus of midfielders to vie for playing time.

Besides Rodriguez and Kroos, coach Carlo Ancelotti will have to divvy up minutes among Angel Di Maria, Luka Modric, Isco, Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso and Asier Illarramendi.

“To be competitive we will need to rotate our staring line-up,” Ancelotti said.

Cool Carlo

Carlo Ancelotti enters his second season at Real Madrid with the complete backing of the club, its fans and the Madrid sports press after conquering the Champions League last spring.

Ancelotti’s relaxed, hands-off approach — the exact opposite of Jose Mourinho’s us-against-the-world mentality — has proven to be just what Madrid’s star-studded squad needed to finally fulfil its promise in Europe.

The Italian manager now has a different goal: restore Madrid’s rule of the Spanish league that it has failed to consolidate in a decade dominated by Barcelona.

MANCHESTER — Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini remains wary of avoiding another “disaster” the season after winning a Premier League title, despite the comfortable nature of Sunday’s opening 2-0 victory at Newcastle United.

Three years ago, City claimed their first top-flight title in 44 years under Italian Roberto Mancini but were off the pace during their defence the following season, finishing well behind local rivals Manchester United in second spot.

Last season brought another league crown to the Etihad Stadium in Pellegrini’s first campaign at the club, and he said they could not afford to rest on their laurels if they hoped to avoid another letdown.

“This team won the title two years ago and the next season was a disaster, it wasn’t a useful year for anyone,” the Chilean told the BBC.

“Last season, Manchester United had a disaster [finished seventh] after winning the title.

“It’s important from the beginning that we understand we won the title last season and need to win again this year.”

City were not at their thrilling best at St James’ Park, with some players not up to full fitness and Newcastle showing some steel that was missing for much of last season.

However, their attacking riches proved the difference, Yaya Toure and Edin Dzeko combining to set up David Silva before halftime and Sergio Aguero adding a second late on.

Fernando, a 15 million euros ($20.08 million) arrival from Porto, was confident on his midfield debut and with Eliaquim Mangala, Bacary Sagna, Willy Caballero and Frank Lampard not featuring, Pellegrini was confident he had the squad depth to claim repeat Premier League titles for the first time.

“It’s very difficult to compare each year. Maybe last year a lot of people doubted we could win the title because it was my first season here in the Premier League,” Pellegrini said.

“Today, we have one year more working with the players and we have a strong squad.

“You have five or six teams that can win the title, so we need the same attitude, the hunger with which we have started the season and the same humility in every game.

“I am sure this squad can fight, and we will see at the end of the season which titles we will win.”

Pellegrini said Bosnia striker Dzeko was set to commit his long-term future to the club, joining Samir Nasri, Vincent Kompany, Aleksandar Kolarov and Aguero in penning new deals.

Dzeko scored 16 league goals last season, and while he did not open his account on Sunday, his clever backheel to set up Silva was the highlight of a strong performance.

ZURICH — Napoli’s first game of the season could also be one of their most difficult and important as they host Spain’s Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie on Tuesday.

Arsenal, who visit Besiktas, will be aiming to reach the lucrative group stage for the 17th consecutive season while, at the other extreme Slovan Bratislava, Ludogorets Razgrad and Malmo are all trying to qualify for the first time.

Millions of euros are at stake for the clubs involved in this week’s 10 matches thanks to the huge appearance fees, performance bonuses and television money handed out by UEFA to those who reached the group stage.

Last season, UEFA awarded each of the 32 teams 8.6 million euros just for taking part in the group stage, with more thrown in for wins and draws.

Napoli’s participation last season brought them 38.6 million euros, including 4 million in the so-called performance bonuses and 26 million euros their share of the television market pool.

Failure to beat Athletic, Europa League runners-up in 2012, could put immediate pressure on Napoli coach Rafael Benitez, whose debut season last season was regarded as only satisfactory.

A third place Serie A finish and the Coppa Italia title were the bare minimum expected from the Spaniard at Italy’s biggest-spending club who performed only in fits and starts last term, repeatedly dropping precious Serie A points against lower-placed opposition.

“Those two matches can shape a season because it’s true that the Champions League provides a different dimension to the club, the city and to us players,” said Napoli forward Marek Hamsik.

“Among the five possible opponents, with Athletic we have been landed with the most difficult,” warned Benitez. “They’re a team who play good football and, at home, the 50,000 at San Mames give them a big push. It will be a very good, and very intense game.”

Former champions

Arsenal will have played one Premier League match before they visit Besiktas in Istanbul on Tuesday, although last season’s 5-0 aggregate win over Fenerbahce suggests they should be able to cope with the Turks.

Slovan Bratislava host Belarus champions BATE Borisov on Wednesday as they attempt to emulate MSK Zilina, MFK Kosice and Petrzalke by representing Slovakia in the group stage.

Ludogorets Razgrad begin their attempt to become only the second Bulgarian side to qualify when they visit former European champions Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday.

Malmo, runners-up in the old European Cup, visit Austrian champions Salzburg on Tuesday, hoping to become the first Swedish team to qualify for 14 years.

Salzburg themselves have not qualified since the takeover by the Red Bull energy drinks manufacturers in 2005 although they did qualify in 1994-95, back in the old days when they still played in violet and white.

Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel will return to his old club with Zenit St. Petersburg when the Russians, led by Portuguese coach Andre Villas-Boas, visit Standard Liege on Wednesday.

Ambitious Zenit, whose new signings included Argentina World Cup defender Ezequiel Garay, have made a flying start to the Russian Premier League, winning their first four games and beating Torpedo Moscow 8-1 in the process.

Group stage regulars Porto, the club where Villas-Boas made his name, have a tough trip to Lille while Celtic, who like Porto are former European champions, visit Slovenian champions Maribor, provided the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) does not intervene.

Celtic were thrashed 6-1 on aggregate by Legia Warsaw in the previous round, only for the Poles to forfeit the second leg after fielding an ineligible player in the last few minutes.

UEFA turned Legia’s 2-0 win at Murrayfield into a 3-0 win for Celtic, which sent the Scottish champions through on away goals.

Legia have appealed to CAS who are due to announce on Monday whether they will grant “provisional measures” which would allow the Polish champions back into the draw.

Denmark has a chance to have two teams in the group stage for the first time as FC Copenhagen hosts Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday with Aarborg at home to APOEL, surprise quarter-finalists two seasons ago, on Wednesday.

The second legs will be played on August 26 and 27 with the draw for the group stage taking place in Monaco on August 28.