Alex Hales smashes a 110 from 56 balls as the Sydney Thunder compiles the BBL's biggest ever single-innings total on their way to beating the Sydney Sixers in Adelaide.

Fire-throwing Jet Dragsters will lead an exciting field of racers for this weekend’s Night of Fire event at the Perth Motorplex.

Jet Dragster drivers Pieter De Wit (Iron Horse) and Ian Wood (Banshee) will provide plenty of blazing runs and ear-bursting burner pops this Saturday January 23 when they line up for the event alongside Doorslammers, Nitro Bikes and more.

“The Night of Fire event has been a real attraction over the years and the kids especially always seem to have a really great time – they are fascinated with the jet cars and afterburner pops and of course also the fireworks at the end of the night,” De Wit said.

“The Jet Cars are quite unique and turn a lot of heads. Aside from being so impressive on the track, the good thing about them too is that they are pretty low maintenance between runs which allows more time for spectators to interact with us in the pits.

“Iron Horse does well over 450 kilometres per hour and that is quite an exhilarating feeling! Even just being on the startline at 70 percent RPM doing burner pops for the crowd gets the heart rate and adrenalin up and pumping.

“This weekend we will be looking to put on a great show with both full-blazing runs down the track and plenty of ear-bursting burner pops, while hopefully running a ‘five second’ pass.”

De Wit’s role in motorsport is not limited to his Jet Dragster driving duties either.

“When we migrated to Australia from South Africa, I thought I was leaving competitive racing behind. I originally made contact with Gary Miocevich asking for direction to stay involved in the sport – which turned out to be a lot more than I could have hoped for as it led to me racing Jet Dragsters,” he said.

“In 2013 I had quite a bad accident, and after experiencing first-hand the work of Terry Dorrington, the Motorplex’s track chaplain of more than 20 years, I decided to not only be a competitor but also a volunteer in supporting and helping at other events.

“I undertook the chaplain’s course and now I am the Motorplex’s Assistant Chaplain. The role allows me to build relationships not only with fellow competitors but also with the track staff and volunteers, and I find it extremely rewarding.”

With decades of racing behind him and showing no signs of slowing down, De Wit has a number of people he would like to single out for their support.

“I do want to thank my family who still supports me in my racing endeavours,” he said.

“I would also like to thank Daniel Miocevich who allows me to race Iron Horse. And of course, all of the Perth Motorplex track staff, officials and my fellow competitors who make race day possible.”

The Perth Motorplex will host the Night of Fire event this Saturday, January 23. The event will feature the return of the Iron Horse and Banshee Jet Dragsters, the Summer Slam Series and Nitro Bike. Also battling it out on track for points in the WA Drag Racing Championship Series will be competitors in Top Comp, Super Comp, Comp Bike, Supercharged Outlaws, Top Sportsman, Outlaw Radial, Modified, Super Sedan, Modified Bike, Super Street and Junior Dragster, while a huge fireworks show will also delight the fans.

For event information, visit www.motorplex.com.au

Pic: High Octane Photos

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The AFL has announced updated fixtures for the opening two rounds of the 2021 AFLW season in response to border restrictions across the country.

Japan’s government has privately concluded the Tokyo Olympics will have to be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, The Times reported, citing an unnamed senior member of the ruling coalition.

The government’s focus is now on securing the Games for Tokyo in the next available year, 2032, the newspaper said.

Japan has been hit less severely by the pandemic than many other advanced economies, but a recent surge in cases has spurred it to close its borders to non-resident foreigners and declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and major cities.

About 80 per cent of people in Japan do not want the Games to be held this summer, recent opinion polls show, over fears the influx of athletes will spread the virus further.

Against this backdrop, the government is seeking a way to save face by announcing a cancellation that leaves the door open to Tokyo hosting at a later date, The Times report said.

“No one wants to be the first to say so but the consensus is that it’s too difficult,” The Times quoted the source as saying. “Personally, I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Games organisers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

Organisers and the Japanese government have previously vowed to press ahead with preparations for the Games, scheduled to open on July 23.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga this week said the showpiece event would “bring hope and courage to the world.”

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach reaffirmed his commitment to holding the Games this year in an interview with Kyodo News on Thursday.

“We have at this moment, no reason whatsoever to believe that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on the 23rd of July in the Olympic stadium in Tokyo,” Bach told Kyodo.

-AAP

The post Tokyo Olympic Games ‘to be cancelled’ over coronavirus appeared first on The New Daily.

The Australian Olympic Committee is pushing ahead with planning for the Tokyo Games despite a report the event will be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It’s been reported the Japan government will cancel the Games due to start in July and focus on staging it in 2032, when Brisbane hope to host the event.

“Both Japanese Prime Minister Suga and IOC President Bach have this week strongly reaffirmed their commitment to the Tokyo Olympic Games going ahead in July this year,” the AOC said in a statement on Friday.

“The AOC is continuing its planning to ensuring the Australian Olympic Team arrives in Tokyo, competes and returns home safe and COVID-free.

“The AOC, federal government, Queensland government and Brisbane City Council are continuing to progress the candidature for the Olympic Games to be held in Queensland in 2032 – and that process continues.”

Japan’s government has privately concluded the Tokyo Olympics will have to be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, The Times reported, citing an unnamed senior member of the ruling coalition.

The government’s focus is now on securing the Games for Tokyo in the next available year, 2032, the newspaper said.

Japan has been hit less severely by the pandemic than many other advanced economies, but a recent surge in cases has spurred it to close its borders to non-resident foreigners and declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and major cities.

About 80 per cent of people in Japan do not want the Games to be held this summer, recent opinion polls show, over fears the influx of athletes will spread the virus further.

Against this backdrop, the government is seeking a way to save face by announcing a cancellation that leaves the door open to Tokyo hosting at a later date, The Times report said.

“No one wants to be the first to say so but the consensus is that it’s too difficult,” The Times quoted the source as saying. “Personally, I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Games organisers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

Organisers and the Japanese government have previously vowed to press ahead with preparations for the Games, scheduled to open on July 23.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga this week said the showpiece event would “bring hope and courage to the world.”

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach reaffirmed his commitment to holding the Games this year in an interview with Kyodo News on Thursday.

“We have at this moment, no reason whatsoever to believe that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on the 23rd of July in the Olympic stadium in Tokyo,” Bach told Kyodo.

-AAP

The post AOC rejects report Tokyo Olympic Games ‘to be cancelled’ over coronavirus appeared first on The New Daily.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews reacted angrily Friday to news that divisive former tennis great Margaret Court would be included in the Australia Day honours list.

The list of Australia Day honours recipients is generally kept confidential until January 26, but news of Court’s award was made public on social media by Victorian journalist Justin Smith, who said he had been made aware by “other sources”.

The 78-year-old Court is expected to be made a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC).

Court holds 24 major singles titles and is regarded as an all time great of the game, but her legacy has been tarnished in recent years over her critical stance LGBTQ community including her religious-based opposition to same-sex marriage and transgender athletes.

“I don’t believe that she has views that accord with the vast majority of people across our nation, that see people – particularly from the LGBTIQ community – as equal and deserving of dignity, respect and safety,” Mr Andrews told media conference then asked about Court’s honour.

“I don’t believe she shares those views and I don’t believe she should be honoured because of that,” he said.

Court, who was named an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2007 for her services to tennis, also has one of the Melbourne Park tennis courts named in her honour.

Calls for Margaret Court Arena to be renamed are repeated each January as the attention of world tennis turns to Melbourne for the Australian Open.

Current and former players including Andy Murray, Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe have previously called for Court’s name to be stripped from the stadium.

“I am sick of talking about that person every summer,” Mr Andrews said.

“We finish up having this discussion in one form or another every single summer. I would prefer not to be giving oxygen to some of these views.” but you have asked me a question and I have answered it honestly.

The Premier said the decision include Court in the Australia Day honours was not his decision.

“That is not a matter for me. You might want to speak to [the people who made the decision] about why they think those views, which are disgraceful, hurtful and cost lives, should be honoured,” Mr Andrews said.

Tennis Australia invited Court to Melbourne Park at the 2020 tournament to recognise the 50th anniversary of her 1970 calendar grand slam, while saying it disagreed with her “personal views”.

The post Premier lashes out at news of Margaret Court’s Australia Day honour appeared first on The New Daily.

King twins Max and Ben are ready to take another step in their AFL development in 2021.

The free agency pool for 2021 will feature more AFL superstars than ever before with rival clubs certain to be working overtime to target available players.

Young leg-spinner Peter Hatzoglou has enjoyed a rapid rise from third grade local cricket to taking wickets against T20 stars in the Big Bash League.